Annoying, Unsolicited Advertisement of Services

[Hans.Trondheim]

Well, this is how it's gone so far. I'm open for suggestions, but @Hoshino did a very good solid with their take:

My first "video game" story commission. Be honest *^^*

I really want to make sure I'm doing this okay, so could I have a few comments yay or nay? I'm not sure it qualifies for LitRPG or not. Anyway, this is what I have so far: Morri snatched up his smartphone after a dozen rings and angrily growled, “What?!” “Geez, Morri!” the voice on the other...

forum.scribblehub.com

Yeahhh, I know. When I typed that I felt like I should probably not say it like that. AHEM.
Focus on making yourself happy with what you do, because that's what's most important. ?

'Nyways, thanks for the time! Imma be waking up early today so I can come to work early. We got a quarterly examination later, and I'm one of the proctors.

At least they reveal their intentions on the first letter. I'm getting some that start off as generally normal greetings or convos then up-sell their services.

They evolve, and it is still one that irks me.

Like dude, I'm pretty invested, then suddenly reads the selling part. All points of sincerity suddenly comes crashing down.

 

[MarikoRawralton]

I keep getting messages via the site's messaging system and I get real excited and it's just a bot. It's really disappointing...

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

I keep getting messages via the site's messaging system and I get real excited and it's just a bot. It's really disappointing...

Yes, this is it. The same frustration I feel whenever I receive one, though yesterday really ticked me off coz I'm waiting for important emails.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Heh. Playing with one of them now... He wants to discuss the cover art for "My Stubs" ... Umm... yeah...

 

[DireBadger]

well, at least the jack-aces here aren't actually the mods, like on RR.

 

[goth_dropping_in]

I got two of these on my smut piece today. Ah yes, I am sure you wish to illustrate two bedicked girls, one of whom has cock spines, getting it on kinky style. I simply report and move on; these people are scammers, plain and simple. They spam dozens of threads within moments, clearly botting, and don't even vary the pitch.

That's how they get the most gullible people — it's the rule of large numbers plus simple averages. Someone will be inexperienced or tired today or just not paying attention and bite, if they just spam enough — and the form letter being crappy means only people who are in vulnerable states get "hooked", which saves the scammers time and energy.

I'm personally a supporter of AI generation because it gives stronger accessibility of art (lets people direct their own artwork rather than relying entirely on an artist's interpretation, reduces costs for projects involving large amounts of art, makes it easier to find art for erotica pieces, etc), so scammers like this really annoy me because they're using something that could have been a huge boon for humanity in a deceitful way that only tarnishes AI's already suffering reputation further.

Hard moderation problem, though. You ban one account and they just make another one. It's like playing whack-a-mole.

Anyway. I do love to ramble. (Guess that's how I ended up writing over 100k words on this site, huh?) Main thing is, report and move on, don't waste your breath.

 

[Bartun]

Never got any of those. Guess I'm lucky... or I'm eternally alone.

 

[DireBadger]

Never got any of those. Guess I'm lucky... or I'm eternally alone.

It's all about timing. If you post during certain hours, your story chapters gain more visibility. It's like being a deer... the grass is longer and greener by the railroad tracks, but that's also where the hunters and wolves prefer to hunt.

And nine times out of ten, if someone sends you a message that talks about how 'great' your story is without any actual details, they are building up to try and rip you off. Especially if they ask you if they ask you for some other way to contact you... guaranteed they are trying to find a way to stick a straw in your wallet, every time.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Never got any of those. Guess I'm lucky... or I'm eternally alone.

I've had three. One was before I knew about them, and even gave me a free example of their art. One cited inspiration from one story which was the WORST fit for the style in that person's portfolio of any of my stories (and the best fit has not been posted anywhere). One wanted to discuss the cover of "MyStubs"... That one went away when I explained exactly what MyStubs is...

 

[DireBadger]

I've had three. One was before I knew about them, and even gave me a free example of their art. One cited inspiration from one story which was the WORST fit for the style in that person's portfolio of any of my stories (and the best fit has not been posted anywhere). One wanted to discuss the cover of "MyStubs"... That one went away when I explained exactly what MyStubs is...

Yep, usually informing them of the holes in their argument shuts them up.

Your best bet in most cases is finding someone with a cover you like, and then asking them to use their 'AI Alpha Dominance' to make you something you can use. I have actually done that SEVERAL times for other writers I like, because it only takes a few moments if they know what they are doing, and if you do decide to seek a professional artist, you already have an example of what you'd like them to produce, which helps enormously.

And sometimes, well, those volunteer efforts are more than good enough for the finished cover. At least a hell of a lot better than the abominations that were the sci-fi 'Signet Publishing' covers.


Most important rule for art... or for purchasing anything, in fact, is that you NEVER trust anyone that is trying to sell it to you. Maybe some good artists get lost, but this is the seller for YOUR Artwork. You deserve to have control over every aspect of it.


-BTW, I like your diamond cover. It very much evokes the 'feel' of your book, despite the amateurish graphics, and in fact, the lack of graphic sophistication actually adds to the gumshoe aesthetic.

 

[Xam_I_Am]

I do commissions and give T & Cs with 50-50 payment scheme. I update my clients about the progress of the work, sometines even spam them with the progress just to enaure they knew I was working on their art.

There is nothing wrong with protecting yourself from wishy-washy clients.

I wasn't talking about the 50% now and the other half later. I'm 110% a okay with that. But what happened to me was they wanted 100% of the money once the simple line art was done. Which was more or less just some awful scribbles and looked nothing like the work from their samples. Trust me I loooooooove art and artists. Look at my book, I have dozens of pieces posted under my chapters from commissioned artists of all walks. And almost always have more in the works.

These "artists" will literally read maybe one chapter, maybe. And maybe comment on something from it. But more than likely they will inbox you with some generic compliment like. "Oh my God I can't put your book down and now I'm waiting for more!" When their reading lists are enabled and empty cause they're too dumb to disable them. I'm a firm believer that if someone wants to do fan art of your work they aren't gonna charge you for it they're just gonna do it.

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

I wasn't talking about the 50% now and the other half later. I'm 110% a okay with that. But what happened to me was they wanted 100% of the money once the simple line art was done. Which was more or less just some awful scribbles and looked nothing like the work from their samples. Trust me I loooooooove art and artists. Look at my book, I have dozens of pieces posted under my chapters from commissioned artists of all walks. And almost always have more in the works.

These "artists" will literally read maybe one chapter, maybe. And maybe comment on something from it. But more than likely they will inbox you with some generic compliment like. "Oh my God I can't put your book down and now I'm waiting for more!" When their reading lists are enabled and empty cause they're too dumb to disable them. I'm a firm believer that if someone wants to do fan art of your work they aren't gonna charge you for it they're just gonna do it.

The 50-50 payment scheme is also part of my work ethics, a way to show my clients I'm not only after the money, but also the quality of my work. If my clients want to pay me in full immediately, I have no qualms about it. The 50% is also my way of earning something in case a client backed out due to various reasons, mainly because I literally use pen and paper in all my drawings (and art supplies are expensive).

As for these 'artists' I don't know about them; haven't tried one coz I do my own story's artworks. I even get insulted when they offer they'd draw my work, like telling me my artwork sucks. I do traditional art, and it may not look like others' works, but I still got my pride as an illustrator. And yes, if you're really a fan and you like to do a fanart of my story, you'll do it for free simply for the fact that I didn't even need your art...though I'm happy you enjoyed it enough to make one.

 

[LeilaniOtter]

Hehe, I figured out what else shuts them up when they ask about making my stories into comics.
Received two requests yesterday and replied with the following:

"Thank you so much for contacting me with this unique opportunity. Unfortunately, I already co-own three comics and work with three highly skilled comic artists with a combined 100+ years experience with DC, Marvel, Image, and Seven Seas Entertainment, and approximately 75 years of experience working with Walt Disney Animation, DIC Enterprises, and Marvel Animation as character designers and inbetweeners. You are, of course, free to send me your full resume for my review. Thanks!"

*crickets*

?

 

[DireBadger]

Meh, I used to pay a walt disney artist after the studio canned like 75% of their staff, but after a while, I realized that she wasn't 'getting any better' as an artist, and refused to try another job.

I already raised children. I ain't payin' for someone else's kids to act like that.

 

[AnEmberOfSundown]

"We're trying to reach you about your story's extended warranty."

My go to answer is "I have an artist I work with, thank you." That's usually enough to scare them off.

 

[DireBadger]

Hey Buddy, wanna buy a plot?

 

[CharlesEBrown]

Hey Buddy, wanna buy a plot?

I came not to buy a plot but to bury one...

 

[AnEmberOfSundown]

Hot Single Readers in your area want your plot! Generic vAIgra cover art without a prescription!


...my ass is gonna get flagged as an actual spam bot.