What to do with illustrations

[E.EB]

Hello,
As a fantasy writer who started in illustration and character design, my manuscripts have accompanying illustrations; Which I have retracted. I get the impression that art is frowned upon when it isn't for children or comics.

This gave me some questions:
Are illustrations enjoyable when used strategically?
If so, what is the best way to incorporate them?
What do I do with all the art accompanying my work, but I can no longer include?

[J.R.]

Are you looking to go indie or are you planning on querying and traditional publishing?

If you are querying your manuscript and get a request for a partial or a full, I would recommend leaving out the illustrations. If you do get an agent and/or get a publisher, you could talk to them about the illustrations then.

If you are indie publishing, I would still recommend leaving the illustrations out for now because if you decide to hire an editor, they generally want your manuscript in a specific format (such as 12-point TNR double-spaced with 1" margins). Once you have the text finalized, since you are in charge, it's up to you whether you want to add back in the illustrations.

From a reader standpoint ... To be honest, I wouldn't mind seeing illustrations in fiction. It wouldn't put me off the book. I'm reading a book about the Muir Trail right now that has illustrations; I've also got an old copy of "The Old Man and the Sea" that has some pretty neat line drawings in it.

Assuming you go indie, I will warn you, however, that you will probably run into a couple of issues:

1. If these are color illustrations, color is VERY expensive to print. I would stick to black and white if possible.

2. Illustrations make doing your print layout more challenging. It's not impossible by any means, but it is an added challenge.

Specific to eBooks:

3. Again on the color point, not every eReading device can render color. Make sure the illustrations look good in black and white.

4. There are a lot of different eReading devices out there, and layout is a big challenge.

5. Amazon surcharges authors based on the size of their book if you choose the 70% royalty option. Every time someone purchases my book as an eBook, Amazon subtracts ten cents from my royalties as a delivery charge. Pictures will add size to your book.

I have a black and white illustration on the cover page, as the frontispiece, and as part of the chapter header in my historical fiction novel. These illustrations only appear in the print book; I removed them from the eBook version. No one has ever complained about the illustrations. (My illustrations are stock images that I purchased.)

Good luck with your book!

[J.R.]

As to your third point, if you decide not to include the images in your book (or even if you do), some examples of what you could do with them:

- Put them on your author website as bonus content for your fans to enjoy.
- Use them in a book trailer or in your advertising.
- Use them to make swag to advertise your book - think things like bookmarks or keychains.
- Decorate a newsletter or as a freebie to get people to sign up for your newsletter.
- Share them on social media as a gift for fans or to help generate excitement about your book.

[Nick]

Hi Elizabeth,
I am at the stage of polishing my first story with a view to publishing in about a month.

I'm going to put it out in e-book format initially. The story is centred on a ten-year-old boy, his friends, family teachers etc.

As I enjoy drawing and thought it would make for a more interesting book, I have done some pencil sketches of the main characters.

My plan is to compress the files after scanning them. Then to embed them in my Word doc. Just doing a few trials currently.

Please message me if you'd like any details.

Nick

[David]

A a reader in general I love the idea of illustrations in fantasy even for adults. I have just finished a long fantasy from a very big author (with a rhyming name) which had illustrations. It even had on the cover "bonus full-page illustration unique to this edition"

I find them useful in the appropriate chapter, and especially useful if the fantasy has unusual beings or places.

Also, you cant have a fantasy without a map at the start - essential IMHO

David