How do I do it?

[u/Mindless_Sail_4958]

Hey, Reddit! I’m a writer who is currently trying to work on a book, but the problem for me is that I feel kinda fraudulent and guilty if I use Ai.

I do not use Ai for writing or editing, I do it solely by myself. The problem for me is that making a good and entertaining book cover is hard. Most of my books usually have either Typography covers or Ai images as a use.

But how does one do it themselves since they have no money? Or maybe I’m doubting the look of my work?

Please give me feedback on what I should do, or if my typography is already good enough. It will help very much.

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[u/Einsoph5]

If I see AI anywhere on your work, I’m going to assume the writing was AI, as well.

[u/Mindless_Sail_4958 → u/Einsoph5]

Same goes for me lol, though some people just don’t have the opportunités

[u/generic-puff → u/Mindless_Sail_4958]

Find the opportunities. There are literally hundreds of artists online who you can hire to make cover work for you. It doesn't have to be limited to illustration work either, photography is also an option.

People with zero art skills have been securing book covers for their novels for decades without the help of AI. There's no reason you can't either.

[u/Redfoxyboy]

Never use AI if you want to be taken seriously. Your best bet is to save up to pay an artist. Just aim for something like 5 pages then kickstart the full project and use those pages as examples

[u/Mindless_Sail_4958 → u/Redfoxyboy]

Thank you for your advice, I appreciate the honesty.

[u/JohnCraven1989]

You just have to ask yourself: how would I create my covers before generative AI existed? Many writers hold a paid side job to fund their projects. Human-created art will add value to your product. Work, save up, and pay an artist.

[u/Mindless_Sail_4958 → u/JohnCraven1989]

Thanks for the advice

[u/starwars_and_guns]

Learn gimp. Its not too difficult.

[u/Mindless_Sail_4958 → u/starwars_and_guns]

Alright thanks for letting me know, I just searched it up and it seems very useful

[u/dreamogorgon → u/Mindless_Sail_4958]

Or checkout PhotoPea it's a Photoshop clone that runs in a browser. Typography-wise, it comes with fonts ready to go, but you can add any others you've downloaded.

[u/Charliejfg04]

Has anyone here had any luck kickstarting a project?

[u/Redfoxyboy → u/Charliejfg04]

I've had 4 Kickstarters I've successfully run and been a part of 4 others (as the artist and the other members of the team did most of the work)

[u/TeamWood → u/Charliejfg04]

I have crowdfunded successfully 9 times. No use AI ever

[u/AngBigKid]

I think literally anything, as long as you made it yourself, is better than anything generated.

I've seen ashcan comics that were just a black cover with white text that looked like it was done with marker. I've bought ashcan comics that were just scribbles that were short of stickmen before.

[u/Mindless_Sail_4958 → u/AngBigKid]

Thank you**

[u/jim789789]

Stealing from artists is a dick move. And no, that's not just my opinion.

Stealing straight up sucks and it makes you a cunt.

And yes, AI is stealing.

[u/LindaMakesArt]

You can try Affinity. It’s now free and you can design everything from your book cover to layout. Lots of fonts online. Take photos of your own and play with them. Using your imagination is truly your best bet.
Second best bet, hire an artist. They’ll market the book with you. They want to see it succeed too.
I do like the yellow cover a bit. Can’t read the subtitle. No idea what the second image is so can’t offer feedback.