Forum: Author Hangout

The illustrated tag cannot be selected by the authors themselves because in the past many added it even though their stories don't have illustrations because illustrated stories get too many hits just for that tag

That reminds me of a recent thread where comic books were mentioned. Difficult to get authors for that but there are apparently readers interested. Could be another site in the long run although there's already a lot of competition out there. I don't how much of that competition is in the erotic genre.

Because the author has to be an artist as well.

Not always.
It's the same thing as with opera, operetta, cantata or musical: composer and librettist can be the same person or two persons. Richard Wagner (composer and librettist) vs. Lorenzo Da Ponte and Mozart. Librettist and composer may work close together for several works or just for one work.
Rodgers and Hammerstein, Gilbert and Sullivan. The libretto may be first and the composer writes his music for it.

With comics there is Asterix:
René Goscinny was the writer and Albert Uderzo the artist. After Goscinny's death Uderzo took over the writer's part too. IMHO, those works were less funny.

BTW, for editions in foreign languages the translator may have heavily influenced the success. The German editions of Disney's comics were translated for more the five decades by Erica Fuchs.

HM.

An Illustrated story is a story with rows and layers.

An illustrated book is a book with illustrations

I agree, but we are both wrong. A single illustration is sufficient.

More accurate to says: A single illustration within the book is sufficient as cover art alone is not.

When a 'story' consists of one image and a few hundred words, do you consider the image cover art if it precedes the text, but an illustration if it is between paragraphs?

My story Knocker! was in response to a contest about an image. The story is only 817 words and if I had been able to use the copyrighted image I'd have attached it as cover art.

Do an image search for "doorballs" and you will most likely find one of the images non-copyrighted.

ETA: It would be a bad image for a cover because it gives away the punchline of the story even before the story starts. A link after the last sentence in the story might be much better.

Most of my stories have cover art but no illustrations depicting scenes in the story so those stories with just cover art are not illustrated stories. Mind you I do not include floor plans and site plans as being within the definition of an illustration as they do not depict an actual story scene.

Hmm,
thinking of your story "Mack" if the pictures of the Landrover ambulance would be part of the story instead of a internet address, would this then match your interpretation of illustrated?

HM.

Afterthought: why did you do it that way? Copyright issues?

I agree, but we are both wrong. A single illustration is sufficient.

Arguable, just a single illustration or cover is not enough for an illustrated tag. I agree with Ernest's take on the subject.

My point was the author, unless he can draw, needs an artist to draw the illustrations.

Or use photo's and maps like Jody Daniel does. An illustration doesn't necessarily have to be a drawing from an artist. You do have to be careful with copyright protected material.

I don't know what you mean by "rows and layers."

Aisles & Strata.

For example, all stories by Master Jonathan have covers, they don't get the illustrated tag.

Actually 146 of his stories (over half) DO have the illustrated tag. (I checked because after reading your reply i noticed one of his stories posted earlier today has the illustrated tag.)

That aside thank you for your explanation.