Illustrations and you...

SageFury · Jan 27, 2008

Not everyone is an artist and even then most people don't have or just don't want to put the time in to illustrating for their novels.

My questions are:

A: Have you or currently do you plan on using illustrations for your novel?

B: Do you draw your own illustrations or do you pay someone to do it for you? and why? to either answer...

C: Do you feel illustrations help the novel, if so why?

OR

Just D: Do you draw at all and if so in what way does it help you novel wise =)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

My Reply,

A: I plan to illustrate for all my novels
B: I draw my own, I have a minor in Art and can illustrate well. I believe it is better to illustrate your own images because you have the best view of what the scene looks like, being your story and all.
C: I think it depends on the focus more than anything. When it comes to first person a lot of information is left out, I think a well designed picture can visually help the reader better understand what the writer was visualizing when thinking of that particular moment.

Dreamer3702 · Jan 27, 2008

You can illustrate all you want, but publishers don't care. At least, not unless you have a kickass portfolio or something. There's actually a thread about this in Children's thread http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34843.

I know some writers like to draw their characters and look at them while they write. I do that with maps and such (I write fantasy), but not characters. I do keep a file that has each characters stats.... appearance and relevant things I should remember.

Albedo · Jan 27, 2008

Sometimes I sketch characters, places, floorplans, just for my own benefit. I'm not exactly an artist (in fact my attempts at proper facial proportions could kill a fine arts major at 50 metres), so noone else sees this stuff.

SageFury · Jan 27, 2008

Dreamer3702 said:
You can illustrate all you want, but publishers don't care. At least, not unless you have a kickass portfolio or something. There's actually a thread about this in Children's thread http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34843.

I agree with that for children's books but as far as novels go I think thats questionable. Description is everything but there are times where you can't describe you just have to draw the visual... at least I have those moments =)

If it came to a dispute that they want their artist over me I would say bye... My story not theirs =P I can always sell my book myself, agent is not a requirement after all =)

This is in response to that thread you posted

Dreamer3702 said:
I know some writers like to draw their characters and look at them while they write. I do that with maps and such (I write fantasy), but not characters. I do keep a file that has each characters stats.... appearance and relevant things I should remember. http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34843.

I actually use the geographical Map in Simcity 4 to make my world map and then edit in photoshop =)

KTC · Jan 27, 2008

I like to read novels without illustrations. I feel they are pretentious. Having said that, I just finished Michael Chabon's latest novel, Gentlemen of the Road. It had fabulous illustrations. Still...I could have done without them. I do, though, often illustrate scenes when I am just holding a pencil and have nothing to do. I like to just doodle one of my scenes and see if I 'see' it in the same way that I wrote it. But that is just for fun. I gave up visual art years ago, so it's nice to sketch a scene every once in a while just to know that I still know how to draw. (-;

KTC · Jan 27, 2008

Albedo said:
Sometimes I sketch characters, places, floorplans, just for my own benefit. I'm not exactly an artist (in fact my attempts at proper facial proportions could kill a fine arts major at 50 metres), so noone else sees this stuff.

I don't worry too much about fine arts majors. I can draw life-like and I didn't pursue a major in anything. You don't have to be taught to draw if you already know how to do it. If I went on to attempt a major, I'm sure it would have only served to make me less of an artist. School isn't all it's cracked up to be...especially when it comes to the arts.

SageFury · Jan 27, 2008

KTC said:
I don't worry too much about fine arts majors. I can draw life-like and I didn't pursue a major in anything. You don't have to be taught to draw if you already know how to do it. If I went on to attempt a major, I'm sure it would have only served to make me less of an artist. School isn't all it's cracked up to be...especially when it comes to the arts.

I love to draw ever since I was a young one, school was just a plus because my major was art required for web designing.

I agree if you can draw you don't need school, but it really can't hurt you if you goto the right school. My teacher helped me on areas I lacked and did not try to change my style in any way which pleased me a lot =)

KTC · Jan 27, 2008

SageFury said:
I love to draw ever since I was a young one, school was just a plus because my major was art required for web designing.

I agree if you can draw you don't need school, but it really can't hurt you if you goto the right school. My teacher helped me on areas I lacked and did not try to change my style in any way which pleased me a lot =)

Well, I agree that sometimes it can't hurt. I was a better artist than any of my high school art teachers. They told me this. And had I had a desire to do something in the field...I would have gone to school for it, of course. Credentials speak volumes...and I'm sure I would have learned a whole crapload of stuff I don't know. But for me I just always felt that studying it would have been my downfall.

RickN · Jan 27, 2008

Albedo said:
Sometimes I sketch characters, places, floorplans, just for my own benefit. I'm not exactly an artist (in fact my attempts at proper facial proportions could kill a fine arts major at 50 metres), so noone else sees this stuff.

This made me think about the Monty Python sketch about WWI military research into a joke so funny it could kill people. I remember shots of the British army advancing toward enemy lines reading this joke off notecards and the Germans keeling over dead.

The only illustrations I do are floorplans, area maps. One of my current WiPs involves a haunted house, so much of the action involves moving around the floorplan, can I see X from this window, etc.

HeronW · Jan 27, 2008

I've a graphic arts degree and drawings and paintings all over in assorted meduiums, making up stories to go along with the pictures. Lots of words later, read and written, I know what my characters look like, but I'd keep that to me, preferring a cover that's evocative vs direct. So many covers set up a char. that doesn't align with what I read. Every fantasy bookshelf has the same heroes and thieves and wizards on the covers and hey, great artists but it doesn't make me buy the book, the writer/genre/suject does. I'd rather include maps which are great for keeping track of travels and situations.

HourglassMemory · Jan 27, 2008

I've drawn a few "blueprints" of places... And I can't draw human characters at all.

I once tried to do it and an alien came out of that attempt. That drawing inspired me for another completely new story!
I do have my sketches in folders and such but they're just a pass-time. I don't have any desire to put it in my books or something, unless I mention it and the publishers want to see it.
If I knew how to do it I would draw big colored pictures on Photoshop, trying to put into images the stuff I have in my head...but I can't make anything on Photoshop look good...

Pantsonfire · Jan 27, 2008

My seven year old draws better than I do. I would never try to illistrate anything because I have no skills.

~grace~ · Jan 27, 2008

I can't draw. Or at least I haven't learned how yet.

I think my novel might benefit from a sketch or two per chapter, if it were the right kind of art. Like if Neil Gaiman wanted to illustrate my book, that would be cool. Or Dame Darcy.

I do maps and stuff though (fantasy). Things that involve only straight or squiggly lines.

Danger Jane · Jan 27, 2008

Publishers don't include illustrations in most cases, even if the author really wants them or is willing to provide them himself. It's expensive. In most cases, the illustrations don't add enough to the story to offset the cost. Unless your illustrations are absolutely necessary to the story or you're a big name author already with a following that'll without a doubt buy your illustrated book...too expensive.

Also, agents aren't the ones who purchase/print the book. That's publishers. And...I wouldn't recommend going the self-publishing route simply because you can't get your illustrations published with the prose. You might consider a less traditional medium, like graphic novels, if your heart is so set on drawings.

I'm a relatively accomplished artist, for my age, but I don't spend a lot of time drawing my characters. If I'm in the mood to think so much about them, I generally channel that into actual writing.

veinglory · Jan 27, 2008

I own maybe 300 novels and only one has illustrations. I would note that one, good as it is, is a self-published book.

PinkUnicorn · Jan 27, 2008

This is why I moved straight into self publishing instead of seeking out traditional publishing. Big house publishers, large press publishers, mid-sized publishers, and most small press publishers hire artists. They NEVER look at author art and well, I just think all books should have pictures.

The only way for an author to illustrate their own book, is if they are a published illustrator with several published illustrated books. The artist who has proven themselves as an arist, once established, can send manuscripts with their art, but even than these are rarely considered.

If you want to illustrate your own work you have two choices:

#1) Do your research and seek out a small press (possibly local) publisher that is willing to work with artist-authors. They do exist, but they are very hard to find.

#2) Self publish... not an easy road.

I'm an artist-author, drawing what I write. I love to write. I love to draw. I love to paint. I love to create full layouts for books, so for me I took the self publishing road. It doesn't get your books out to a wide audience, but for me it's the act of creation that is most important, being able to hold a book in my hand and say: "I did it all!" (and I do too, because I wrote the book, illustrated the pages, and than I hand sew the pages, mix my own paste, and cloth bind my own boards. I take my books to the level of total works of art, and I love doing it!)

JoNightshade · Jan 28, 2008

I'm going to say that 99% of the time, I do not like illustrations in (adult) books. The 1% exception being Sherlock Holmes.

Mainly because the illustrations never match up to my imagination. I find them obtrusive and annoying. Let's say we have a handsome man as the main character... I imagine my idea of handsome. Then I turn the page and see the artist's rendering of some blonde hunk in a tank top. Guess what? Not my idea of handsome. Or even if it's just a picture of the imaginary world or landscape... the point is that it DIFFERS from my mental image, and this causes me consternation. I read books because I like to imagine things, and I don't need other people's ideas impinging upon that.

loiterer · Jan 28, 2008

KTC said:
Well, I agree that sometimes it can't hurt. I was a better artist than any of my high school art teachers. They told me this. And had I had a desire to do something in the field...I would have gone to school for it, of course. Credentials speak volumes...and I'm sure I would have learned a whole crapload of stuff I don't know. But for me I just always felt that studying it would have been my downfall.

I wish I had done what you did.

I used to be an obsessive drawer. Actually, I preferred drawing over writing when growing up. I won my high school's art award in my graduating year. In my family it was assumed one would go to University and study something practical. So I felt pressured by expectations to go into Graphic Design. I hated it. I then dropped out to go to a tech college (one step down from Uni in Australia) to study Fine Art, but doing things one's own way wasn't really encouraged. Any element of realism in student work was taboo. The instructors were very big on conceptual art, which I hated. I dropped out of that, too.

Somehow, I lost the taste for drawing my own stuff amidst all this. I've never drawn again. I tried to a couple of years ago after more than a decade and found out I'd lost most of my talent.

I can only hope all my creative talent transferred itself into writing...

Stew21 · Jan 28, 2008

I am definitely no artist. I see it in words and in my head. That is all. I've never had a knack for drawing, painting, or really any visual art.

Just words.

Toothpaste · Jan 28, 2008

I have to say I find it odd that the only way that the author can describe something is to draw a picture of it. Isn't that the challenge on the author? To try to create a unique and interesting description that perfectly encapsulates whatever it is they are describing?

I guess pictures in novels isn't a bad idea, (I have a lovely Peter Pan with gorgeous pictures by the fabulous Trina Schart Hyman that I worship) but in my opinion they should augment, not replace, the descriptions.

Nakhlasmoke · Jan 28, 2008

Didn't Jonathan Strange And Mr Norrel have illustrations. I liked them...

Ali B · Jan 28, 2008

I am an artist, as well as a writer, (<<<glances at avatar) and I find that my story is best if I draw pictures to help me envision everything better. With that said, I find adult novels with illustrations sooo 1800s.
For my children's book I did write and illustrate it, though I was the design director for the publishing house (now defunct)...so I guess that fact doesn't really help anyone else. lol

Ali B · Jan 28, 2008

JoNightshade said:
... the illustrations never match up to my imagination. I find them obtrusive and annoying. Let's say we have a handsome man as the main character... I imagine my idea of handsome. Then I turn the page and see the artist's rendering of some blonde hunk in a tank top. Guess what? Not my idea of handsome. Or even if it's just a picture of the imaginary world or landscape... the point is that it DIFFERS from my mental image, and this causes me consternation. I read books because I like to imagine things, and I don't need other people's ideas impinging upon that.

Exactly. Adults, and most kids, don't need pictures to imagine what is going on in a good story. If you need pictures then you need a better story.

Claudia Gray · Jan 28, 2008

If you care more about your illustrations than your book, you may be an illustrator, not an author.

KTC · Jan 28, 2008

Like I said, I feel they are pretentious. I can only think of two on my shelf that contain illustrations. The Michael Chabon one I mentioned in my first post...I believe he would be indulged because of his newfound power. And he did not illustrate. I believe he was going for a vintage adventure novel look...complete with map on the inside cover. The other one is a rather old copy of Dickens's Great Expectations. NO...I have three. I just remembered. I have a Mark Twain with illustrations too.

I would say forget about doing something like this. No publisher is going to want to see them.

Illustrations and you...

Overcoming the Darkness

a real life cupcake

Alex

Overcoming the Darkness

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Overcoming the Darkness

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Down Under Fan

the good old days

volitare nequeo

Tossing Elves in bed with Unicorns

has finally arrived

THE RECKLESS RESCUE is out now!

yes

Just Hanging Around

Just Hanging Around

Stand in the Place Where You Live