We don't need AI Slop illustration [RANT]

[SirTainlysleepy]

The point of the thread being that when your readers don't like AI illustrations, you need to shell out hundreds of dollars to commission an artist?

And the point of what I replied to was that readers should be allowed to post threads in the Scribble Hub Discussion forum.

 

[code_sike]

I can understand it for the cover image, although I would prefer that the authors who are able to pay a genuine artist do so.

Not even. I made my cover image myself, for zero dollars, using google fucking slides. Maybe it looks bad, but it uses 1 stock image and otherwise simple slide assets. However, it's 100% mine. (and better than the blank default which we're all trying to avoid.)

Obviously not everyone can/will make/order an original cover art themselves, nor do they have to. I'm not saying that. Neither does it really put anyone in the wrong for using it when their other options are bad. But I personally have a low tolerance policy for AI. I simply avoid engaging with it whenever possible. All you can do is just try not to support those works. personal preference should dictate what you read, not what people write. I'm not that interested in smut. Am I gonna purge the site?????

Basically, If that limits me, so be it. It's absolutely your right to complain and voice your thoughts.

 

[Kurayami]

I love how people will get upset about a reader criticizing something as if they are being personally attacked. If you get offended and felt like you caught a stray from a reader's opinion, that is a bad look.

 

[JayMark]

Dear Authors:

At this point, having a quality, flashy, AI gen cover is still a net benefit in the attention economy over a simple or even a decent hand drawn cover.

Just be aware fellow authors, with the emergence of LLM writing and fictions being scraped by AI, mixed, and sold on Amazon, having an AI cover will get your work associated with LLM writing by some readers. Whether we like it or not, there will be a growing backlash from a small but devoted reader group that will be Anti-AI generated covers. It's just one more excuse to be downvoted and ignored.

I'm phasing out my AI covers so as to not be associated with the LLM writing posters.

Dear Artists:

If more of you would come into the indie writing space and support writers of original fiction, you'd see less AI covers. As it stands, artists tend to look down on writers and see the visual medium as superior. They'll seethe about AI art, but won't give two cents worth of attention to the issue of LLMs stealing stories. They complain about how hard it is to get attention for their art, when a talented artist has it hundreds of times easier in the attention economy than a talented writer.

I've seen very few artists come to writing spaces and engage with writers. But they'll jump at the chance to scold and hurt the writers they refuse to support with so much as a kind word, simply for using AI covers to try and get a click.

The ones that do are a rare breed and ussually writers themselves. Shoutout to @Hans.Trondheim and @pangmida who are both talented artists that understand what writers go through. I love you guys.

Dear Readers:

There are very few good readers that will engage with a quality work of original fiction in the indie space that isn't smut. Ya'll complain about a lack of original content while never bothering to search the indie slush pile for something that might be good. Hell, there are more groups dedicated to lambasting original characters and stories as cringe then there are readers searching for good original stories. If one percent of the circle jerking for Nintendo, Disney, and other big properties was diverted to indie authors of new content, even that would go a long way to reviving our dead culture.

But it seems nobody wants to revive it.

As a reader, you're appreciated for just being here. But you have no idea what writers go through trying to be discovered. Writers aren't appreciated, they have to earn every glance, every click, with blood, sweat, tears, and anxiety. Then when they so desperately want to see their ideas come to some form of visual life they resort to generating a few pretty pictures, they get further punished and vilified for even that.

This was the spot I was in when I first discovered AI generated art. It felt like being heard, even if only by a machine. I posted AI gen art everywhere just because it was fun at the time and for the first time I could see my character. Yes, I later regretted it, but it felt amazing at the time to even see an approximation of my vision.

Anyway, please don't downvote, degrade, or look down on original stories because of the way the author chooses to advertise.

Please support authors of original fiction in the indie space.

I came, I saw, I MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

 

[Bimbanana]

What a coincidence, a week ago i got 2.5 star review on RR. He praise my story but curse my AI pics (he literally wrote the classic–pay for artist or make your own–line), hence the 2.5 star.
But yesterday, somehow he deleted that review after what i assume he reads way more chapters. (bitch please, i don't pressure him or anything, we don't have any communication)

So what did i learn from this?

HELL YEAH I WILL KEEP USING AI PICS!
MAJORITY OF MY READERS ENJOY IT! (I already make polls of it)

Anyone who tells unestablished author to stop using ai pics and use artists instead are just like those kind of people who goes to the slum, shaming everyone for eating junkfood instead of avocado and other organic foods.

Well duh, we will do that when we have money. Can you buy it for us now?

 

[AliceMoonvale]

Ayyy this is like a re-run of Friends. How many times has this convo come up? Well, guess I'll post again.

I use Ai art, cause like others, I have no intention to spend hundreds of dollars on art on stories posted for free that I'm not even fully confident will be a long term thing. At most, I've spent $20 on higher quality LLM usage for images. I could of bought a couple burgers for that, but I'll live.

That being said, I can see how illlustrations would be annoying. It's one thing to have your cover ai generated, but then having extra illustrations every chapter would be a bit much, for me at least.

I'll also be the reasonable, rational hypocrite in citing that all ai works that aren't specifically used as placeholders or templates are cringe and trash. Don't like that? fight me. I'd rather see ai covers than ai writing, which is arguably more garbage, especially if it's terrible and illegal translations.

 

[Bimbanana]

It's one thing to have your cover ai generated, but then having extra illustrations every chapter would be a bit much, for me at least.

*slowly and stealthily steps back to the exit

 

[JayMark]

What a coincidence, a week ago i got 2.5 star review on RR. He praise my story but curse my AI pics (he literally wrote the classic–pay for artist or make your own–line), hence the 2.5 star.
But yesterday, somehow he deleted that review after what i assume he reads way more chapters. (bitch please, i don't pressure him or anything, we don't have any communication)

So what did i learn from this?

HELL YEAH I WILL KEEP USING AI PICS!
MAJORITY OF MY READERS ENJOY IT! (I already make polls of it)

Anyone who tells unestablished author to stop using ai pics and use artists instead are just like those kind of people who goes to the slum, shaming everyone for eating junkfood instead of avocado and other organic foods.

Well duh, we will do that when we have money. Can you buy it for us now?

The fact that someone would downvote your work and attempt destruction of your visibility because of how you choose to promote or have some extra fun with your work when you have no other options, is frankly, heartbreaking and digusting.

It's not like they're going to bother to come back to adjust the rating if you replace the image either.

It's simply bullying. I'm sorry that happened to you.

 

[Bimbanana]

The fact that someone would downvote your work and attempt destruction of your visibility because of how you choose to promote or have some extra fun with your work when you have no other options, is frankly, heartbreaking and digusting.

It's not like they're going to bother to come back to adjust the rating if you replace the image either.

It's simply bullying. I'm sorry that happened to you.

Why... this bull is being kind instead of being... a bull?

*carefully approach him to give a pat



Ooff this if fun, but i gtg and cook for my son (nope, still cant afford to make him organic food everytime)

Toodle doo~

 

[Eldoria]

What a coincidence, a week ago i got 2.5 star review on RR. He praise my story but curse my AI pics (he literally wrote the classic–pay for artist or make your own–line), hence the 2.5 star.
But yesterday, somehow he deleted that review after what i assume he reads way more chapters. (bitch please, i don't pressure him or anything, we don't have any communication)

Dude... you got a 2.5 rating and then it was deleted. You're lucky. Your luck might be better than mine. I got a 1.5 rating from a random reader who happened to be passing by, no review, no comment, just a cold, selfish assessment. I hope you continue to have good luck there.

 

[ThrillingHuman]

I disagree, using AI is just another form of art, and it allows for massive creative freedom.

 

[YukieSama]

The point of the thread being that when your readers don't like AI illustrations, you need to shell out hundreds of dollars to commission an artist?

Wasn't the main complaint about Authors putting AI images in the story itself and not for cover art. I came across a few stories like that and imo it does take away from the experience when it's spammed. You have lightnovels that also include illustration but those are sparse

 

[JayMark]

Dude... you got a 2.5 rating and then it was deleted. You're lucky. Your luck might be better than mine. I got a 1.5 rating from a random reader who happened to be passing by, no review, no comment, just a cold, selfish assessment. I hope you continue to have good luck there.

Try getting 6 half stars and having a near nervous breakdown trying to figure out why.

 

[Makimaam]

I also want to add that illustration are not necessary to the story, and reading has always been about imagination.

That is a preference, not a fact. Not every reader shares the same opinion. Some even go out of their way to ask for reference images. There are popular novels with illustrations and readers specifically praise the author’s effort and commitment.

That being said, imo, there are always so many posts complaining that writers shouldn’t do this, or that, or some other thing, while most readers don’t even pay a modicum of respect to the stories that entertain them. You mostly see complaints instead of praise. You see comments when writers make mistakes, rather than when they don’t.

What can I say?

Poor writers. Not only do they have to write for free, but they also have their work, their own creative choices, pulled into endless, useless discussions like this, rather than actually discussing their stories themselves.

 

[Bimbanana]

Try getting 6 half stars and having a near nervous breakdown trying to figure out why.

Dude... you got a 2.5 rating and then it was deleted. You're lucky. Your luck might be better than mine. I got a 1.5 rating from a random reader who happened to be passing by, no review, no comment, just a cold, selfish assessment. I hope you continue to have good luck there.

samesies, but in my case that storm is over after i rewrite my first 30 chapters. TWICE

That is a preference, not a fact. Not every reader shares the same opinion. Some even go out of their way to ask for reference images. There are popular novels with illustrations and readers specifically praise the author’s effort and commitment.

That being said, imo, there are always so many posts complaining that writers shouldn’t do this, or that, or some other thing, while most readers don’t even pay a modicum of respect to the stories that entertain them. You mostly see complaints instead of praise. You see comments when writers make mistakes, rather than when they don’t.

What can I say?

Poor writers. Not only do they have to write for free, but they also have their work, their own creative choices, pulled into endless, useless discussions like this, rather than actually discussing their stories themselves.

Ma'am, you just became my favorite internet person
*take off my hat

 

[CountVanBadger]

Wasn't the main complaint about Authors putting AI images in the story itself and not for cover art.

Same difference. Art is expensive no matter where in the book it goes, so unless you're offering up your own money to cover the commission fee(s), you've got no right to tell the artist what to do with the story they're letting you read for free.

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

I'm an artist and also an author. I've been mulling to reply to this thread since this is a highly-opinionated take on something that is really divisive, and I don't want to waste my time explaining my take.

But then again, I think I should weigh in my take just to add perspective to this issue. So, I'll comment as an AUTHOR and an ARTIST.

-----

About the use of AI art in novels...

I don't mind them, simply for the fact I see AI art as something non-monetized authors put in to add flair to their works. If others see that as bad, it's their problem, not mine. But, for me, I don't mind it.

"But Hans, aren't you taking commissions too? Aren't you going to be affected by the AI art?"

I am affected. However, it's their money, so it's their rules. I won't force someone to do something they don't like and label them with some disparaging titles when they don't agree.

Likewise, you also have the right to rant, and the same applies to others contesting your rant.

-----

About the use of AI apps on writing novels...

Again, I don't mind. Writing is something I do for my personal satisfaction, and so, if a fellow author use an AI app to write their stuff, it's a 'them' problem and not mine. They'll be the ones to answer to their readers anyway.

And to all of this, I am confident I can always redo the work that got AI'd from me. I also don't mind having clients give me AI reference to aid in their commish; it makes my job easier and faster. What I only don't like about AI is the prompters getting cocky and "know-it-alls".

-----

About the use of illustrations in novels...

My novel, my rules. If you don't like it, feel free to drop it. Train your mind to have a vivid imagination so a few drawings won't interfere with how you see things. Otherwise, leave.

Dear Authors:

At this point, having a quality, flashy, AI gen cover is still a net benefit in the attention economy over a simple or even a decent hand drawn cover.

Just be aware fellow authors, with the emergence of LLM writing and fictions being scraped by AI, mixed, and sold on Amazon, having an AI cover will get your work associated with LLM writing by some readers. Whether we like it or not, there will be a growing backlash from a small but devoted reader group that will be Anti-AI generated covers. It's just one more excuse to be downvoted and ignored.

I'm phasing out my AI covers so as to not be associated with the LLM writing posters.

Dear Artists:

If more of you would come into the indie writing space and support writers of original fiction, you'd see less AI covers. As it stands, artists tend to look down on writers and see the visual medium as superior. They'll seethe about AI art, but won't give two cents worth of attention to the issue of LLMs stealing stories. They complain about how hard it is to get attention for their art, when a talented artist has it hundreds of times easier in the attention economy than a talented writer.

I've seen very few artists come to writing spaces and engage with writers. But they'll jump at the chance to scold and hurt the writers they refuse to support with so much as a kind word, simply for using AI covers to try and get a click.

The ones that do are a rare breed and ussually writers themselves. Shoutout to @Hans.Trondheim and @pangmida who are both talented artists that understand what writers go through. I love you guys.

Dear Readers:

There are very few good readers that will engage with a quality work of original fiction in the indie space that isn't smut. Ya'll complain about a lack of original content while never bothering to search the indie slush pile for something that might be good. Hell, there are more groups dedicated to lambasting original characters and stories as cringe then there are readers searching for good original stories. If one percent of the circle jerking for Nintendo, Disney, and other big properties was diverted to indie authors of new content, even that would go a long way to reviving our dead culture.

But it seems nobody wants to revive it.

As a reader, you're appreciated for just being here. But you have no idea what writers go through trying to be discovered. Writers aren't appreciated, they have to earn every glance, every click, with blood, sweat, tears, and anxiety. Then when they so desperately want to see their ideas come to some form of visual life they resort to generating a few pretty pictures, they get further punished and vilified for even that.

This was the spot I was in when I first discovered AI generated art. It felt like being heard, even if only by a machine. I posted AI gen art everywhere just because it was fun at the time and for the first time I could see my character. Yes, I later regretted it, but it felt amazing at the time to even see an approximation of my vision.

Anyway, please don't downvote, degrade, or look down on original stories because of the way the author chooses to advertise.

Please support authors of original fiction in the indie space.

I came, I saw, I MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I always try to help whenever I can help. Thanks for the appreciation!

 

[AliceMoonvale]

samesies, but in my case that storm is over after i rewrite my first 30 chapters. TWICE


Ma'am, you just became my favorite internet person
*take off my hat

Ayyy welcome to the @Makimaam fan club. I've taken the lead spot as #1 fan.

 

[SouthernMaiden]

Very small contribution to this thread.

Yes, covers cost money. But not 100s, if you're willing to put in a little work or find an artist that offers decent prices. I comm'd art of my protag, then (with the permission of the artist) used that art to make the cover myself. Cost about 60usd. Thats it.

The new cover like tripled the views I got per chapter.

Edit: the artist is credited in my synopsis is anyone wants to comm him. Good guy, easy to work with

 

[TinaMigarlo]

Ayyy this is like a re-run of Friends. How many times has this convo come up? Well, guess I'll post again.

I use Ai art, cause like others, I have no intention to spend hundreds of dollars on art on stories posted for free that I'm not even fully confident will be a long term thing. At most, I've spent $20 on higher quality LLM usage for images. I could of bought a couple burgers for that, but I'll live.

That being said, I can see how illlustrations would be annoying. It's one thing to have your cover ai generated, but then having extra illustrations every chapter would be a bit much, for me at least.

I'll also be the reasonable, rational hypocrite in citing that all ai works that aren't specifically used as placeholders or templates are cringe and trash. Don't like that? fight me. I'd rather see ai covers than ai writing, which is arguably more garbage, especially if it's terrible and illegal translations.

alice? agreeing with you here.

I use AI for covers, because why not.
when a reader is browsing books, the FIRST thing is the cover.
I use AI images, but I also do some "GIMP-fu" here and there.

hey. when I start getting paid enough to write that it generates disposable income? Sure. Artist time.
until then... if you're reading my years of work on demand for free, then my art will be on demand and free.

PS - I actually have a real *license* by licensing agreement with management...
to use a real life glamour model's professional photographs.
its hard to sort through all her commercial images, to find that *one*...
that I can crop something use-able out and make it work.

I just wish to GOD I could get something for the cover that would work out of that.
but, for certain inside illustrations... its solid gold.

if that book ever hit "kindle" one day, you can bet your sweet ass,
that *her* sweet ass will be in there a couple times.
I mean, she's photogenic, she's a glamous model, so go figure.

I managed to get what I thought was the perfect "high school yearbook" photo of my character,
and its used prominently in the plot.
I'm not sure any artist could do that for me.
I *scoured* the big website looking for another model that might fit my other character, but, nothing.