Authors using AI art on your covers, you're cutting off your own leg. I'm not even talking about the accusations of "thief" that you're going to get. Let's set that aside. I'm talking about the price you're paying in reputation and marketability to save maybe $1000. (1/10)
First, there's a straightforward one you should be aware of: There are a LOT of people who will pass over books with AI covers on principle. 99% of artists out there (and there are a lot), and their friends and family. Most authors, and many of their readers who (2/10)
are made aware of how they feel. Anyone who thinks that AI is lazy and shoddy work, and anyone who sees the imperfections in an AI cover and loses interest because of it. So there's a not-insignificant portion of the market you are cutting yourself out of right there. (3/10)
Second is your reputation. Going along with the above, 99% of the authors I know do not want to be associated with AI, whether that be art on the covers or text in the book. You won't catch us using it, and you won't catch us making buddy-buddy with people who use it. (4/10)
This also applies to your reputation amongst artists. Want to hire Felix Ortiz one day? Or Asur Misoa? Or YAM? Or Swanland or Lockwood or *any* reputable artist? If they find out that you've got AI on other covers, good luck. Chances are you've excommunicated yourself. (5/10)
But here's the third and most important thing I don't think you're thinking about: Your marketability. Having the support of the writing community is almost essential when it comes to getting a book off the ground. The RTs, NL shares, shoutouts, YouTube mentions, etc. (6/10)
99% of that goes away the moment it becomes public knowledge that you use AI, that you steal from fellow creators in order to try to gain some *tiny* advantage for yourself. Few authors are going to RT you. No YouTuber is going to mention your book or cover. (7/10)
I can't think of a BookToker who is going to work with you, nor any serious influencer who will want that on their Instagram page. You are sacrificing so much, and for what? To save $1000? $1500? Plus a few total hours of your time? That doesn't math out. (8/10)
And yes, I am acutely aware that $1000+ is a *huge* amount of money for a lot of people. Not discounting that. But AI art isn't making publishing "accessible" to you. You're paying WAY more in the end. You're paying in reputation, opportunity, and the chance of success. (9/10)
@OConnorBooks Also going to put out there that you can find amazing artists who are just getting their start and whose rates are lower than established cover artists. So you're simultaneously lifting up another artist and getting beautiful art for your book. Work? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely.
@OConnorBooks I’m not ‘known’. I’d negotiate a price happily.