Cover images for stories ... should I DIY?

Any book, particularly an eBook, stands or falls on the strength of its cover image. That's a given. There's even a well-known phrase that goes with that sentiment.

Any potential reader would not look once, never mind twice, at the contents of your book if the cover was not a work of art. Also, covers must have a connection with that story in some way. There is no point in having a sci-fi tale full of political intrigue, or interplanetary warfare, or even simple space travel and have the cover showing a child playing. Unless, of course, the child was central to the tale.

I will admit to being quite bad at the visual arts. Like many, I like to think I've got a small amount of talent, but I would be fooling myself if I tried to pass off my attempts at a professional level.

Many of my stories are published on Wattpad and I like to use Canva to create something to draw in the reader. Here are a few examples of my work:

I have recently entered a flash-fiction writing contest, and the results of this are pending. I am not expecting anything from this, but I am obviously hopeful.

The contest I recently entered did not include a requirement for a cover image, but I have been unable to help myself and therefore I have been putting something together over on Canva again.

If I win, I don't know what the next steps will be. But if I don't, I will likely publish the story over on Wattpad again and I will likely use Canva to create a cover.

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Using AI to Create an Audiobook on YouTube

For a challenge to myself I wondered if it would be possible to create an "audiobook" version of my stories, but for free. Or at least for the lowest possible cost. Is it possible to create such a thing with little to no experience? I've heard a lot lately about using AI text-to-speech to produce human-sounding audio. This got me intrigued. Video background Firstly, I needed a background that was consistent with the story being told. I've chosen my Halloween based flash-fiction piece, Tasty . I went to Canva.com for this, and used my free account. I don't have a pro account, but I was able to use Canva to create a 20 second loop of a night-time scene. Adding the image of the sweet I created for the cover was simple because I'd used Canva to create that too. This loop was exported as an MP4 to my computer. Creating the Video Next was the video itself, but where was I getting the audio from? I could narrate it myself, this is a valid option anyone could us...

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For a writer, finding inspiration for a story is often difficult. At least that is what I have found. My post last time was all about a short story I entered into a writing contest. Well, given it is October, I thought it worth mentioning another story I wrote last year. This too was for a writing contest. Tasty is another flash fiction piece, it is only 666 words. This too was based on a prompt for a writing contest. There was a phrase that had to be included in the story, this was "with a thud". You can read "Tasty" over on my Wattpad. Tasty

A new story from me...

I entered a writing contest recently. This was the 2nd Annual Failing Writers' Podcast Short Story competition . There was a phrase also involved, each entry had to include a particular phrase you could only get by listening to the relevant episodes of the podcast.

A Writing Duck

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