Question about cover art

[yibala2]

Hi!

I hope this is the place to pose this question.

I've been writing Lit stories for several months and intend to slightly revise and self-publish them. I've also been researching artists in places like DeviantArt and Artstation to do cover work. I've contacted a few and received either "no" or "not now". Because I'm sure they are busy, but I suspect also because my stories are erotic (though the cover work does not necessarily need to be). I've noticed that a lot of self-published erotica cover work seems to be photo-based, which probably won't work as well in a fantasy setting.

My stories are all medieval fantasy in an African milieu. They follow several of the same characters, primarily female, and I anticipate having several novella length pieces within a year or so, so ideally I'll find someone who is comfortable with that content, and who has the time to do several works.

I've seen some impressive art on Lit, but it is not categorized by genre, so it seems hard to find what I'm looking for. Is there a good way to find a collaborative artist here, and if not, where might I look?

Thanks for taking the time to read this!

My stories

yib

 

[THROBBS]

This is (nearly) "as good a place as any" to look. Though deviant art, has a larger pool, but you've put your toe in there.

"Up Front" LIT erotic Art has quite a few shortcomings, one being (as you noted) no good search function.

Give a few "moments" (days/weeks) for folk to read some of you work, and in the mean time, dig around and see if anyone's style suits you. It seems unlikely that you will find someone creating imagery of your precise subject, but maybe there will be a style you like.

Do you mean NORTH Africa? (to narrow down a little). Africa is a pretty ginormous continent. And by "medieval" (that's a bit of a span too, time-wise rather than acreage) 500 CE until...1600's ?


Yep, it seems most self-published works do utilize photography (stock photos and manipulated (sadly, often poorly) and some use "3D" applications, which could be more "easily" tailored to your theme, using digital props, costuming and settings.

The other factor is — $ Generally speaking, "you get what you pay for", unless your stories really "click" with someone and they "just gotta do it".

 

[yibala2]

Do you mean NORTH Africa? (to narrow down a little). Africa is a pretty ginormous continent. And by "medieval" (that's a bit of a span too, time-wise rather than acreage) 500 CE until...1600's ?

It's a fantasy world, so no attempt to fully replicate any particular time or place, but pre-industrial, and thus far most modeled upon the Swahili coast, Southern and Central Africa.

Thanks for the advice! I feel like since I was a kid, cover art was what drew me to f/sf books before anything, because it sparked my imagination and made me want to see what was inside. Art also inspires my writing - helping me to visualize and flesh out setting and character. Given the importance of the artwork, I will take my time and peruse what's available, as you suggest. I can hope that on the off chance an artist is intrigued by my work, and get ready to shell out some cash!

Yib

My stories

 

[ElectricBlue]

It's a fantasy world, so no attempt to fully replicate any particular time or place, but pre-industrial, and thus far most modeled upon the Swahili coast, Southern and Central Africa.

Thanks for the advice! I feel like since I was a kid, cover art was what drew me to f/sf books before anything, because it sparked my imagination and made me want to see what was inside. Art also inspires my writing - helping me to visualize and flesh out setting and character. Given the importance of the artwork, I will take my time and peruse what's available, as you suggest. I can hope that on the off chance an artist is intrigued by my work, and get ready to shell out some cash!

You only need cover art if you're thinking of publishing books (ebook or print). Having done that myself (links to my bookshelves below) I'd be researching the potential platforms and realities of publishing first. There are some here who make good money publishing, but there are many more who don't.

With cover art especially, you get what you pay for - there's hundreds of cover artists doing pre-paids or commissions and the quality and prices range from laughable to extortionate and everything in between.

Good luck with your search, though.

 

[yibala2]

I'd be researching the potential platforms and realities of publishing first. There are some here who make good money publishing, but there are many more who don't.

I have a handful of friends who traditionally publish or self-publish regularly, so I don't have any illusions about quitting my day job. Mostly I just want to tell the stories that bubble up in my brain, and that I think ought to be told.

But I do want to reach the broadest audience possible, which is why I think the art is critical.

I'm so glad I ended up here. There are so many experienced people. I've been a Lit reader for a long time, and an (unpublished) writer of non-erotic fiction, but never tried my hand at erotica, and it only just occurred to me to ask here about artwork.

Thanks for the well wishes,

Yib

My stories

 

[CuttingEdge]

I have had experience with this, and it was both good and bad.

By happenstance, I teamed up with a website owner for awhile who loved to do artwork, but lacked the interest in writing erotic stories that went with his art, and I have limited art ability. So I would write the stories, and he would put the cover art on, and it worked out really well, a paying situation for me.

But then we both got married, had kids and moved on with life, so that website is defunct, and all contact lost.

Out of the blue I had put a photo of my wife on a forum (dressed), and a artist thought it was neat, asked if he could redo it, and came back with a post-apocolictic drawing of her in that dress and pose, but totally redone background. So that was unexpected, but a great drawing!

Sadly, another artist asked if he could do a nude drawing of my wife, and so I let him since to that point, I had great experiences with that sort of thing. But the drawing done was not so well made. Parts of it were, but some parts of her looked really disfigured, so I was a little disappointed.

As for self-publishing, I do it, and it works out well, as long as the expectations are realistic. These are non-fiction books, and not electronic, and so I can control all aspects of the book. You have to buy the right printer honestly, but a publisher wanted $3500 up front for my latest book, and yet I can self-print and bind for $10 per paperback book, and $12 per hardcover. If I charge $20, I am not going to quit my day job, but I am getting my books in the hands of those who want to read them.

 

[ElectricBlue]

I'm so glad I ended up here. There are so many experienced people. I've been a Lit reader for a long time, and an (unpublished) writer of non-erotic fiction, but never tried my hand at erotica, and it only just occurred to me to ask here about artwork.

My stories

Impressive story list - that's hitting the ground running!

 

[yibala2]

Impressive story list - that's hitting the ground running!

I've been trying out this sort of fantasy adventure erotica for several years, never finishing a story. I think there were several reasons, but one was not having anyone to write for... which was resolved by deciding to post works here, and then realizing that at least a few people liked them.

Another was finding artwork and photography online to use as inspiration, making the people and places feel so much more real to me. Which just underscores how powerful the collaboration between writer and artist can be.

I suppose the flip side of that is that many readers like to have room left for their own imagination. But there's probably a happyish medium there.

Yib

My stories

 

[GoldRogue]

It's a challenge

But not impossible. I was lucky enough to find someone for my first book. I wasn't interested in paying for it as I didn't anticipate selling very many, it was just selling one that I was interested in. Like you I was writing for fun and giving it away free on here so I was just interested in finding someone else who wanted to do a cover for free. He did and it worked out great. He does have a business so couldn't take on my other books so I ended up just doing it my self, simply, and it certainly lacks the curb side appeal. So all the best and I'll have to give your work a read when I can get a chance. Sounds interesting!

 

[tbob69]

3D rendered Art would fit your request. there are tons of medieval and fantasy costumes and sets available with fully customizable characters of all races. Scifi and fantasy work is fun since it does not have to be totally photo-realistic. you need atmosphere and lighting and effects to make it work.