So conflicted. · 9:47pm Jan 10th, 2014
I found this really awesome artist on DeviantArt whose style I find perfect for MLP and I'm just so tempted to commission a piece for the characters in Somber Ties.
But it would cost so much money! It would be somewhere in the ballpark of ~$70 for a three-character piece. It's not that I couldn't afford it, but I'm just not certain of whether or not it would be a wise investment. I mean, this is a hobby and I've spent money on all my other hobbies so far. And there's also the fact that a new cover art might help interest more people in the story itself.
I'm just so damn indecisive.
What do you guys think? Would a commission for a new cover art be an interesting idea? Anyway, regardless of that I would also like to announce that I have a new chapter in the works as we speak. I received some interesting new ideas from an editor on ways I could improve story flow, and I'm excited to try them out.
Lemme know what you guys think!
Well... I don't mind, if it makes any difference.
It might be nice to see a rendition of the three main characters, but I think as far as cover art goes, the current one works well.
Don't do it, man! Think of how many Little Caesar's pizzas you could buy with that kinda cash!
Jokes aside, I would look at it like, "How badly do I want to see this work of art created?" I would personally love to see Silver and Olivia lovingly rendered in an artist's style.
If you're looking at it from an investment angle... Well... It is your money, and you can do with it as you like. It can't hurt your story's chance of being noticed; nobody's gonna look at it and say, "Ew, good cover art. Pass."
Realistically, and I hate realism, I wouldn't count on dozens of new readers because of new cover art. Maybe a couple. Hope that a few people look at the front page at the exact hour you update and are drawn to your new cover art.
I've found the best way to advertise stories is to add them to a lot of groups. A lot a lot of groups. Like, you'll get maybe two new readers from every group you add it to.
Though, if I actually knew how to get popular, I'd have done so by now, so take my advice with a grain of salt.
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So you three would like to see the girls in art? I have to admit that's my main reason for considering it. The thought of seeing a well-drawn interpretation of Crux and the girls makes me so excited.
And even if new art won't attract more readers, a shark can dream can't he?
I'd get it mostly to make girly noises over what it looks like rather than use it to try and schmooze new readers anyway.
But thanks for the opinions gentlemen.
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Well, my squee-er is ready, should you decide to drop the dough.
I know that this comment may be a little late, but sue me, I'm commenting anyway.Personally, I would say hold off on it for now. I would see if you could possibly find other artists as well, and if they're not too fussy on commissions, perhaps you could commission a couple pieces from different artists in the meantime and see if you find someone who will have a fair artistic interpretation of your characters that can work as just sort of a stepping stone. It's not unusual for stories to go through different cover art a handful of times. (I've personally seen a story [for a different fandom] that was both on deviantArt and FFNet undergo six different covers before the writer finally settled on one she liked.) I don't think it's too much of an issue, really, and in any case, if you can get a much cheaper, decent commission in the meantime, you'll have time to save up money for the $70 commission and you'll still get lovely art of your characters.