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Haven’t used this picture for a while, but I guess it works. So, I mentioned yesterday that I completed the first draft of Do I Need to Use a Dragon? (Fantasy Writing Tips). I don’t know if I should keep that part in the parenthesis though. Feels too clunky and the blurb will make it clear what it is. Anyway, I’m now left with the following issues:
- I need to find a few beta readers who are willing to do so with specific targets. Not sure how well this works with guidelines. If I’m going to publish then it will be a summer thing.
- The cover art and the 4 internal pictures. I think I can do pictures in a Word document and they’ll fit? I’ve never done that before with an eBook. Are full page interior pictures even possible? Honestly, I don’t even know where to go with this one because I don’t have a lot of money to spend on 5 pieces and I’m twitchy about this one since all of them will have my characters. I kind of want an artist familiar with them and not risk their pictures looking nothing like what they do in the books. For some reason, I’m worried about that. Then again, I also have these issues:
- First picture is from Legends of Windemere, but I don’t know what it should be. All 6 champions together? Just Luke Callindor looking out over a wilderness since this is for the ‘World’ section? So confused here.
- Second picture is from War of Nytefall, but I again don’t know what I should do here. It’s for the ‘Character’ section and I’ve got is that Clyde should be prominent here. Again, do I have him be alone or match him up with Mab? Should they be relaxing or in action? I’m extra worried here because I know when people see the word ‘vampire’, they’ll make the characters look monstrous and villain-like.
- Do I use Fizzle or Lost for the good-bye picture? I’m leaning towards Fizzle only because I want him looking either confused or sad on the cover.
- Just to clear things up, the third picture for the ‘Quest’ section is Ichabod Brooks. That’s the only one that I think I have, but I don’t know what he should be doing.
I hate this part of the whole thing because it’s where a massive amount of doubt and my anxiety turns up. The moment I have to interact with somebody new, I start to lock up and consider hiding. Then, I say yes to whoever responds to my request first and become submissive during the process. Probably a terrible author to work with when it comes to art. That or a great one because I agree to nearly everything. Definitely need an agent or publicist here.
Legends of Windemere 
I know exactly how you feel, Charles. I’m a bit like ‘You did a book cover for me? That’s great. Love it.’ Then later, when it’s too late, I might decide it’s not so great a fit after all.
Personally, I love think you should leave the patentheses on the title. It meand no one will read it thinking it’s a novel and be disappointed. It makes it clear from the start.
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With covers, I run into a problem of people praising them running up to publishing. I love all my covers, so this fits with what I think. Then, I publish and several people start complaining about the cover. Many times some of them are the praisers from before. A little too late on that one since all the promos use the cover art. I wonder if most indie authors see covers as easily exchanged pieces, so they have no problem junking them after publishing.
I could put the (fantasy writing tips) as a subtitle. My only worry is that it’s so long.
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No complaints here Charles. The cover is evocative and also made me smile!
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What cover?
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Best wishes on this project, Charles.
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Thanks.
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You’ll have time to figure things out. I try to buy my art in groups, but only deliver one request at a time. That means you can go with Ichabod, and figure the others out while you wait.
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Thanks.
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FWIW, I think you should keep the descriptive element (Fantasy Writing Tips) or some variation of it. What seems obvious to you may not be obvious to prospective readers. How many books have you seen with a subtitle like “fifty sure-fire story hooks” that explains the book in a very accessible way.
Besides, “fantasy writing tips” is a very likely search term that could lead people straight to your book.
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Thanks. I guess it does help since people don’t always read blurbs. Might switch ‘tips’ with ‘advice’ though.
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But people like tips. They think it’s secret knowledge.
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Tips seem to be geared more towards small pieces of information while these are essay-like. I’ve got plenty of time to tinker though. Without an artist, this project is stalled.
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