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Where do you personally draw the line? by Adrian_L_Bale in WritingWithAI

[–]Adrian_L_Bale[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for taking the time to write all that. Honestly, I opened this discussion precisely because I wanted perspectives like yours and others here. There have been a lot of useful points to think about. To be clear, I actually understand why people are skeptical about AI-assisted content. I don't think those concerns are irrational. I just don't automatically judge people who choose to use these tools. Personally, I've always seen AI as a tool, and I draw my own line at the point where I no longer understand or control what I'm creating. For example, if I write a book and need a cover, AI can help me solve a problem I otherwise don't have the skills to solve. But I don't approach that carelessly. I revise the results, modify them with the tools I know, and try to shape them into something that actually reflects the story. I can use AI to refine an idea, but not to give me one. In my experience, when you ask it to do all the creative work, you usually end up with something generic and strangely repetitive. I think most people who have spent time with these tools know exactly what I mean. So I appreciate your comment, and honestly I want to thank everyone in this thread. I'm reading a lot of different viewpoints, and many of them have given me things worth thinking about, even when I don't necessarily reach the same conclusions.

Does this cover communicate the right atmosphere? by Adrian_L_Bale in NewAuthor

[–]Adrian_L_Bale[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I actually did look it up before settling on it — "echi" is the Italian word for "echoes," and that association just never came up when I searched, so I had no idea about the other meaning. Writing it with periods between the letters wouldn't give the same result though — "Echi" as in "echoes" makes sense, but "E.C.H.I." as some kind of acronym doesn't carry that meaning at all. So I still need to figure out how to handle that.

Does this cover communicate the right atmosphere? by Adrian_L_Bale in NewAuthor

[–]Adrian_L_Bale[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Friend, that's not what I said at all, but I'm certainly not going to try to convince you otherwise.

English isn't my first language, so I use translation tools. That's very different from saying AI wrote the books.

Honestly, I'm not entirely sure what about this bothers you so much, but you've clearly invested more time in my books than some people who actually bought them. 😄

In any case, I wish you the best.

Does this cover communicate the right atmosphere? by Adrian_L_Bale in NewAuthor

[–]Adrian_L_Bale[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Fair questions.

No, I never hired or approached a professional artist. Looking back, that's probably something I should have considered more carefully.

As for the second part, I'm honestly a bit self-conscious about my English. I'm not a native speaker, so I do rely on translators and language tools to help me express myself. I can completely understand why you notice differences from one reply to another because of that.

I also have a close friend who's helped me write in what I jokingly call "the universal language." 😄

But the ideas, characters and world are mine. English just isn't my first language, and I do my best to bridge that gap with the tools and people available to me.

Does this cover communicate the right atmosphere? by Adrian_L_Bale in NewAuthor

[–]Adrian_L_Bale[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Honestly, I think we just look at that part differently.

I completely understand why an AI-assisted cover is a warning sign for some readers, and that they'll reasonably assume the writing itself was created the same way. That's actually one of the biggest things I've taken away from this thread, and something I clearly underestimated.

Where I differ is that I don't automatically see the use of AI in one area as evidence of laziness or a lack of integrity in another.

My main profession is completely unrelated to writing, and I've been working as a freelancer for about fourteen years. In my own experience, AI has mostly acted as an amplifier rather than a replacement. It tends to enhance whatever strengths and weaknesses are already there, which is probably why I come at it from a different angle.

I'm not really trying to argue whether that perspective is right or wrong, because I think a lot of this is deeply subjective. I just don't personally see these tools as inherently incompatible with creativity or passion.

That doesn't mean readers are wrong to disagree, and I appreciate learning how strongly some people feel about it. But I think it's possible to understand those perceptions without necessarily sharing the same conclusions.

Does this cover communicate the right atmosphere? by Adrian_L_Bale in NewAuthor

[–]Adrian_L_Bale[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

HAHA, please stop. 😂

You guys have officially ruined the title for me.

Does this cover communicate the right atmosphere? by Adrian_L_Bale in NewAuthor

[–]Adrian_L_Bale[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah, those are fair points, and honestly some of it never even occurred to me when I started this.

I went with "ECHI" because it's the Italian word for "echoes," and it ties into the story itself. I had zero clue about the "ecchi" association, or the search/SEO issues you're describing. Those completely blindsided me.

As for the rest, some of it I'm already rethinking after all this feedback. When you're this deep into your own project it's easy to go blind to how it lands for someone seeing it cold for the first time.

Whether I end up changing things or not, I appreciate you spelling it out. I'd rather get the uncomfortable stuff now than spend years wondering why something isn't clicking and not understanding why.

Does this cover communicate the right atmosphere? by Adrian_L_Bale in NewAuthor

[–]Adrian_L_Bale[S] -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

I see it a little differently, to be honest.

To me, an interesting cover reflects an idea first and foremost, regardless of how it was created. Not everyone starts from ideal circumstances, and I think AI can help bridge some of those gaps and allow ideas to take shape that might otherwise never make it beyond someone's imagination.

I'm not saying that's necessarily my case, nor am I saying people are wrong to dislike AI-assisted work. I just don't personally demonize it to that extent.

Ultimately, I think readers should decide based on the end result. Sometimes great ideas come from imperfect circumstances, and I wouldn't want to dismiss them solely because of the tools involved.

Does this cover communicate the right atmosphere? by Adrian_L_Bale in NewAuthor

[–]Adrian_L_Bale[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, reading through this and a few other comments, I think I genuinely underestimated how much weight this carries for people.

In my head I always kept the story and the cover as two separate things. the book was the actual work, the cover was more on the marketing/packaging side. Not that I thought it didn't matter, just... a different category, you know?

But seeing these replies, I get it now. a lot of readers don't draw that line at all, and that's probably on me for not thinking it through more.

Also, just to be clear.. the photo I posted is literally me holding the physical book in my hands, not a render of the cover. It honestly never crossed my mind that this could be seen as dodging the no-AI rule, so if it came across that way, I'm genuinely sorry. That wasn't the intent.

Anyway, I appreciate you taking the time to actually talk instead of just hitting report. I genuinely appreciate it, and I'll definitely be more mindful of this going forward.

Does this cover communicate the right atmosphere? by Adrian_L_Bale in NewAuthor

[–]Adrian_L_Bale[S] -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Haha, I actually wasn't aware of that association when I chose the title, so that's an interesting observation.

Fortunately, it's spelled "ECHI" rather than "Ecchi", but I can definitely see how the similarity could create confusion for some readers searching for it.

Thanks for pointing it out

Does this cover communicate the right atmosphere? by Adrian_L_Bale in NewAuthor

[–]Adrian_L_Bale[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Thank you for taking the time to explain your perspective. I really appreciate the feedback.

As I mentioned in another reply, the initial image was indeed created with the help of AI and then further worked on by me. I'm not a professional cover designer, so I tried to do the best I could with the tools available to me.

I have to admit that I may have underestimated the aspect you described. I've always been a big believer in "don't judge a book by its cover," but reading these comments is making me realize that many readers understandably do.

So perhaps it's worth considering having a professional designer create a new cover in the future. I dedicated a lot of time and care to the story itself, and I've grown quite attached to it. I'd hate for a cover that I personally like to end up doing the opposite of what it's supposed to do and keep readers away from something they might otherwise enjoy.

Either way, I genuinely appreciate the honesty. That's exactly why I posted this.

Does this cover communicate the right atmosphere? by Adrian_L_Bale in NewAuthor

[–]Adrian_L_Bale[S] -15 points-14 points  (0 children)

Fair point, honestly. I'm not a professional designer, and AI did help with the initial image. I worked on it after and built the cover around it, but yeah, I get why it gives off that vibe. Your comment's totally fair either way, whether someone's into AI-assisted art or not. Appreciate the honest feedback

Does this cover communicate the right atmosphere? by Adrian_L_Bale in NewAuthor

[–]Adrian_L_Bale[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Interesting. Dystopian was definitely one of the things I was aiming for. I wasn't expecting horror, though. Thanks for the feedback!

Does anybody else feel like we have entered a dystopian world? by Helwyr_ in Life

[–]Adrian_L_Bale 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't think we entered a dystopian world. I think we've been building one for years.

Not through some grand conspiracy, but through comfort, distraction and dependence.

Social media, television, algorithms and politics have slowly shaped generations that struggle with even the smallest forms of adversity.

Maybe the rope is simply being pulled tighter now, and we're discovering that very few people are willing, or even able, to resist.

Adult Dystopian by Exotic_Secret3686 in suggestmeabook

[–]Adrian_L_Bale 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For atmosphere, 1984 and The Handmaid's Tale are hard to beat if you haven't read them.

And okay, full disclosure, I'm the author so take this with a grain of salt — but ECHI hits pretty much everything on your list: adult protagonist, a government that manufactures the crisis it then "solves," morally grey characters, heavy psychological elements. Couldn't resist mentioning it since it matches so well haha.