Trying to Sell Your Skills but Come Off as Obnoxious

 

If you’ve ever been on Threads, you’ll see a lot of scammers trying to sell their alleged skills to you. Some of those people may be genuine artist just trying to give you an opportunity to sell you their skill on creating a cover for your book, however I’ve come across way too many on social media that genuinely seem interested in your book, then trash your cover by saying that either it’s ai generated or you could’ve done better by not selecting on of the generated images from KDP or IngramSparks. They will say that your book won’t sell with a cover like that, they come off as snarky and mean-spirited.

 Personally, I don’t like it when these supposed artists jump into posts created by the author and then they begin to scrutinize their work. As an author, I have created a couple of covers myself for some of my books, but most of my books (novels) have KDP covers. Below are images of the books that I created covers for. In the Company of Elves book cover, is an actual photo from a trip I took to Yosemite national Park.

For these books I used Render/Blender and some digital art tweaking. As I mentioned before, In the Company of Elves cover art, is an actual photo. No tweaking it or enhancing it. When you get on Threads, particularly in Book Threads or Author’s Threads, no self-published author is safe from scammer harassment. Some of those scammers pretend to be authors themselves but once you get into a conversation with them, then they’ll start peddling their artistic skills and the price you’ll have to pay them for their art. I totally understand that they have a degree and want to get people to buy into their services, I get it, but they don’t have to criticize, demean or accuse indie authors of things that they can’t prove themselves.

Also, the fact that ai has caused such upheaval in the industry of the arts, people call everything ai nowadays even though they don’t have proof. So, if an indie author created their own cover/book, some people (Trolls) want that author to prove they didn’t use ai. What? Don’t do that. An author is putting his or her work for you to enjoy and read. They are not asking to be put on trial. And yes, that’s what it feels like for some authors. It is sickening and ridiculous at this point. Most indie authors have started blocking accounts under the assumption that those accounts are trying to scam them. By the way, in traditional publishing, the cover art gets done by the company with approval of the author. No, I’ve never published with a trad company but I’m fine with what I chose to do, I just don’t like the constant bombardment of, “I can do your cover better,” or “I can edit your work, and people wouldn’t think it’s ai.” 

These people will cause dramas where there shouldn’t be, just to harass the authors into buying their services. They do not know if you used ai or not, they’re just pushing the fear of ai and hurting indie authors that truly wrote their own books by using false accusations. 

It’s a madhouse online. In addition, with the economy the way it is, everyone, except those who are privileged of well off financially, can't afford to pay for cover art, videos or an editor. They can barely afford food! I'm lucky that I have someone who can edit my work now and I trust his skills. 

Website

Ai Online Drama

 

How many of you indie/self-published authors are getting tired of people who have or will never read your books, accuse you of using ai? How many times have you read in a post about ai and its evil influences? Personally, I’ve read many and it gets tiring. In fact, I tend to scroll past them. I recently came across a discussion in a Facebook author group where someone questioned the fuss over authors using AI, suggesting that critics will always find something to complain about, regardless of the choice.

However, whenever AI is mentioned, the conversation often turns heated, with people attacking others for either supporting or opposing its use. This topic is tricky; if you view AI as nothing more than a tool or if you’re indifferent toward it, and you don’t care, you might still face backlash based on your stance alone. 

To quote what someone once said: The whole ai paranoia is out of control.

Honestly, it is. I agree but nevertheless, I believe in, live and let live. Whether an author uses ai is none of my business because it doesn’t affect me, or it shouldn’t. I have no association with that person so, yeah.

However, as I stated before, if you’re indifferent about ai in general, then others see it as an opportunity to throw shade on you and accuse you of using ai even if you didn’t. I try to scroll past any mention of ai online posts because of the drama but sometimes it can’t be helped.

 NOTE: Many authors, including myself, have been writing and self-publishing long before AI became a topic of discussion; I've been writing since the early 2000s. Recently, I shared that info in a conversation, and someone responded with, "Well, AI has been around for a while," which honestly left me speechless. It was a ridiculous response, one that I did not respond to. A bot or troll, I don’t know but that is why I try not to engage.

If the people who post these comments are not trolls or bots, then it seems that some individuals are just looking for reasons to disparage indie authors. That's my candid take on the situation. By the way, sometimes those ai apps that claim to show you if ai was used--aren’t as accurate as you think they are. If you want to comment, please do so, I’m interested in your opinion. 

WEBSITE

 Ko-Fi

Unpopular Opinion

 

Authors keep trying to justify that they wrote/write their own books and did not use ai, even though they weren’t ask to prove it. Just stop. If you’ve been writing for quite some time and have published several books throughout the years, you don’t have to justify yourself.

Just put your books out there, let the readers enjoy your books. Another thing: Yes, AI paranoia runs rampant but just because a publisher or indie author uses a video that may seem like ai generated to advertise an author’s book, doesn’t mean the book itself is ai generated! 

Trolls and haters will always cause online drama to deter readers away from author’s books because that’s what they do. Believing their lies will only mean you’re missing out on a potentially good novel. By the way, authors shouldn’t have to pay an influencer to promote their book. If the influencer likes your book then they should mention it in their podcast or stream, for free. Indie authors shouldn't pay someone to review their books either. Reviews/rates will come when the readers posts them. I made a short video of this blog entry, not all of what I have written here made it into the video, though. if you have your own opinion about this entry, please I encourage people to post their comments.

WEBSITE

Author's Amazon Page

Author's GooglePlay Page

CG Heandez

It's Not About AI!

 

As an indie author, I'm growing increasingly frustrated with the constant accusations that writers are relying on AI simply because their work is polished and articulate. It's disheartening to see talent dismissed in this way, as if good writing can only come from technology rather than genuine creativity and effort. 

I believe that those making accusations against self-published authors are often just trolls or bots looking to cause strife. So, it's not about AI, it's about being insulting and cruel to the Indie Author community. The majority of them work hard on their books. Indie authors are minding their own business, doing their own thing. Are you? 

MY TikTok

CG HEANDEZ

CECILE GARCIA

Writers Who Use AI to Produce Multiple Books in A Month

 

 I’ve seen comments posted by anonymous people about writers using AI to churn out multiple books in a month, suggesting that they rely on AI because they didn’t spend a year crafting their stories. 

Is it a misconception to think that? I can't definitively say yes or no, but I've been working on a Time Traveler's Companion since late 2023, and it’s taken me this long to nearly finish the novel. So, am I using AI? If I were, I would have wrapped it up in no time and moved on to my other writing projects. Just saying.

People have mixed feelings about AI these days, and everyone has their own take on it. Personally, I’m indifferent. Whether to use it or not is a choice for each writer, and honestly, some stories I've come across on Wattpad that might have involved AI are indistinguishable from others to me.

 The ones I’ve read are pretty good, however that’s just my opinion and I’m not looking for AI in other writers’ literary works. I’m not the AI police. A little joke there. Feel free to share your thoughts, but please keep it respectful, as I do review comments before posting.

My Website

My other Pen Name

CG Heandez

Here We Go Again

What About AI?

I know I promised that I would post more excerpts of books that have been published and books I am working on but I must address this matter: 

Do you use AI to write your books? 

Let me say that I DO NOT. I am old school, and I really don’t know how to use AI to write. I feel that AI doesn’t capture what the author envisions for his/her books so therefore using AI to write is like using Alexa as your audio voice for your audiobooks. 

With that said, I do use images created by AI for short videos and for my blogs ONLY. I am so old school that I still use photoshop online editing tools for pictures I make that I use in my books. I’ve been doing it for over 15 years, now. Using online editing tools for my images is my personal prerogative and I see nothing wrong with it. 

What I think about AI?

I feel that people are up in arms over AI art much like when 3D rendering and photoshopping were ostracized by certain groups. But just like in the past with 3D rendering and photoshop, the dust will settle, it will pass and be accepted.

 I am grateful that back in the 2000’s I discovered certain online tools to create my images, I still use those tools to this day. If people don’t like that I use photoshop and online editing tools, well they don’t have to and they don’t have to follow me. Just saying.  Anyways, peace and no hate. Support other authors, stop being mean-spirited Haters. If you don't like what an artist created or what an author wrote, don't follow them, its' that simple.

NOTE: I am happy to say that Lost in the Backrooms continues to be downloaded and read. Thank you.

If interested in my books please visit link below. I mostly write preteen to young adult books under the pseudonym Cecile Garcia however, I do have another pseudonym which I will use to publish adult rated books (18 & over).

My Amazon

Website