So I've been throwing around the idea of having illustrations within my novel. My thought would be that after every chapter an illustration of an important/interesting scene from that specific chapter. While I'm not 100% sure that I want to do this, I was wondering if this is an okay thing to do, or if it would be just a bad idea in general. What is y'all opinions?
Yes, it's a splendid idea! For every chapter, have a facing page with an illustration, and a short punchy caption in italics. It's quite acceptable. This is how it's done...
As someone who does illustration, I think it's a great idea. I think it's important, though, that the illustrations mirrors the mood and style of the story.
I don't think one with a weak stomach would read Warhammer 40K if it had illustrations. Sometimes a well worded imagery is all you need. Also I have not really seen the illustration per chapter thing, but it is a nice concept. Seems like bringing back a more classic approach to books, as it is not common in most modern novels.
It depends what you want to do with the book. Illustrations are definitely cool but most agents don't want to see them in submission and any publisher that includes illustrations (not many) will have their own people to do them anyway. And if you're self-pubbing there's issues with file size (I think) that can make them prohibitive. They're still fun so there's no harm in doing them. Good chance they'll never be used though, so if you don't care about that then let em rip!
It's very important to me my audience is able to visualize my characters, so I'll definitely have illustrations. How many make it into the book, not sure yet. I have to write the book first! But I like the illustrations in the Leven Thumps series-- sketches that appear every so often of the scene that's going on. I'm thinking that's what I want. I could also go the Harry Potter route, and have an illustration at the beginning of each chapter of something important. I think I'd make them bigger, though, not a thumbnail on the chapter heading but maybe a sketch on one half of the page, either top or bottom or left or right.
That's exactly right. My story takes place in 1792. The illustrations need to do more than illuminate the story, they also have to evoke the time period. I took nearly six weeks off from writing to research and create an Action App within Photoshop that turns my drawings and paintings into aquatint etchings, which was a printing technique used in 1792 for book illustrations. It's a pity more books aren't illustrated. It's amazing that in this day and age of sophisticated electronic printing, you are less likely to read an illustrated work of fiction, than you would have 100 years ago. It's a testament to just how insanely conservative and boring the publishing industry is. If you want to illustrate your story, than do it and do it well. Fuck anyone who tells you different.
Yes, it totally depends. I'm thinking it's better if it's a shorter book. Fantasy books tend to be longer, I guess (not that they need to be). Anyways, I hope to write and illustrate my own book one day. At the same time I also understand the difficulties in doing so if I want to publish.
This is an acceptable way of giving your story a little extra "love" so to speak, and in my honest opinion, illustrations are great for aiding visualization. My current WIP has illustrations at the beginning of each chapter, with each depicted an important scene in the chapter ahead. Your work may benefit from this also.
