Illustrations, anyone?

[pmmg]

While it is generally considered a thing for younger readers, but what do you think of having illustrations in your book as a way of adding to the beauty of it? Do you think they add to the experience or detract? Would you like them in your own work? Do you have the skill to be your own illustrator and do you use it?

 

[Devor]

I think they're cool. But they don't go well with e-readers and art is expensive. I briefly considered using AI for it, as it's purely an extra, but it's pretty clear a lot of people would not tolerate it. You also need some consistency of what you're illustrating which never quite leaped out at me. I could probably figure something out though.

Given the price of art, I think of it as a DIY project. If you can figure out something on the cheap that works, go for it. Otherwise it's not a big deal.

 

[Oldgnome]

Although I am a trained fine artist and much of my work might be considered illustrative (well very nearly) I have been reluctant to illustrate my stories, even those that might (at a stretch) be considered enjoyable for younger readers. I think this might be because I am old fashioned in my writing and my narrators tend to indulge in describing settings and characters thoroughly. Once I have described a place or a person I cannot find room for a second view provided by illustration. At the same time I am sorely tempted to illustrate. I think if I were to take the plunge and illustrate I would opt for mixed media, simply because when I choose one medium, say pencil or ink, I get too serious too quickly. I think mixed media, especially where there is a loose splashy beginning and then details added on a tracing paper layer that is then scanned in (as animators used to do it) might be less intense. I tend to get very picky and perfectionist very quickly when I am working in just one medium and then the full-on art would distract from the story, meaning it would begin to tell a story of its own.

 

[Prince of Spires]

I love illustrations in books. The only reason not to have them I think is cost. They're just very expensive.

Brandon Sanderson uses them in the Stormlight Archive. Throughout the books, there are pages with in-world drawings, supposedly created by some of the characters. They're great and really highligh the otherworldly aspects of the setting. They increase my immersion and enjoyment of the books.

The thing to keep in mind here though is that he also basically threw all considerations for money out of the window with those books. He got away with it because he'd just published the ending to The Wheel of Time, and his publisher just wanted a next big epic fantasy series from him to ride that hype train. He's referenced this on multiple occasions. For instance, he'd make a lot more money if he split each book in three (which is definitely possible since each installment is basically a trilogy like Lord of the Rings). After all, you can sell 3 books for more than 1 big book, while cost is roughly the same. However, he placed his artistic vision over making a profit.

 

[Devor]

I kind of wish I could just go to a character builder like HeroForge or from a video game, design a model for a different character in each chapter, apply a few photoshop filters, and run with them. I bet I could get it to look amazing. But you’d have get the company onboard (which is more possible than it sounds), and my worldbuilding means that only a few characters could even fit any existing character maker.

 

[Filifjonken]

I think adding illustrations to a book is a lovely option, if that’s what one would like to do.

From my own bookshelf: The Princess Bride by S. Morgenstern and The Summer Book by Tove Jansson both include art, even if it’s just once per chapter.
My Anne of Green Gables has a little simplistic flower here and there. Even something like that can add a lot to the experience.
I also wouldn’t mind getting my hands on an illustrated version of Frankenstein at some point.

For myself, I add art to what I write, and I make it myself. It can show all those extra little bits one might have felt forced to cut from the page. I especially like it when it’s used for symbolism.
Books certainly don’t need to include art, but it’s fun when it’s there. It's like a hat!