I’ve been looking at artists for my sci fi novel potential book cover, should I somehow decide to publish it.

These things often need advance planning, if you get a really good artist.

I don’t even know if my text is good, but assuming it is, I’m looking out 6+ months for a good artist.

Luckily my business throws out enough free cash flow that I don’t care financially. I just don’t want to hurt any artists’ feelings if I don’t use their stuff.

So I’m like, debating between two great artist portfolios. Part of me wanted to hire both, and then see which turns out better. But I didn’t want to hurt eithers’ feelings. I was like “maybe whichever one is not as good could be a limited edition.”

I wanted to run it by my husband, but I already knew what he would say. And yet, I asked him, and he was like “Yeah, hire both obviously. Fucking hunger games thereafter. Pick the best.”

Alas.

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Second this. Absolute master of his craft 🫡

Why not get me to do it instead? I mean I totally suck at drawing but it’ll be such a curveball I think people would be like so intrigued by it and buy your book in the billlions.

My rates are pretty reasonable, even if I say so myself.

😂

I always assumed picking cover art for a novel was the fun and easy part of a writer's journey.. are you sure you're not overthinking things here. 😀

I was having a lot of fun until I started thinking about their feelings.

Otherwise I actually love the art aspect, going into all the details.

Do you already like each artist’s portfolio equally-ish?

I think one is slightly better than the other, but is harder to time.

I hired a younger artist for an initial cover design and it wasn’t great. She was paid for her time, and I learned from it, but it wouldn’t be my cover. It was fast, didn’t delay me, and it was a concept piece. That’s fine.

Now I’m aiming for two that are both like 4x the cost, way better, and take 6 months.

I don’t care about the cost. I like art and paying artists. If I hire one, there’s a small chance I don’t like it and can’t publish it via the cover. Same for the other. But unlike the first one, a failure among either of these big ones would be a setback (assuming the rest of the novel is coming along in 6 months).

So I considered hiring both, to see which one is best. My husband and operations manager was like “yeah do that, obviously.”

IMO painters who have a backlog of 6 months before they process your request are likely professionals who care more about buying luxury than what you do with their work.

Hiring both is a good gamble. Odds are more in your favor.

Or you just make it a competition 😅

You’re not doing anyone any favors by sparing their feelings. And if you’re already paying them for their work, you shouldn’t feel bad.

You'd have to pick one even if you hire both

Just as your husband said, hire both and let it be a competition because the best deserves the reward.

When you've published your book please tag me, I love sci-fi novels.

Kelanour - Have you read Devin Eriksen's SF book 'Theft of fire''? I haven't read SF for a long, long time but I'm really enjoying that book!

No I haven't

Just Isaac Asimov's books

I'll surely check it out

go light novel style and use illustrations inside your book, too

Basically you’re commissioning two pieces and you just need to ask for permission to possibly use it as a book cover. Some artists are cool with it some are not.

If you are undecided about a face, a scene can be more interesting.

Why not hire both and have them share the content creation, sounds like you wanted to hire both.

That way the process will be creative for them too, as they will collaborate on the project.

It's not about feelings. It's about getting the right cover. Artists know that.

Why limited edition even? Just release both and let the market decide which sells more 😆

You don’t have to name your particular picks, but I’m curious who else is doing great contemporary sci-fi art? I love art but the sci-fi niche I haven’t thought about!

Artist's need patrons. Hire both and just be upfront about what you are doing. They will likely just appreciate the paying work.

artists are pretty used to working on things that get scrapped and never see the light of day. being hurt by it is quite unprofessional.

hire ladoger lol

Artists learn how to deal with rejection early in their careers. It’s part of how you become an artist. If you worry too much about hurting someone’s feelings by not choosing their work, your own work might suffer from it.