Should Indie and Self-Published Authors be blacklisted when it comes to AI book covers?

The answer is obviously no…

The emergence of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in creating book covers has sparked significant debate online with some making threats to authors who use them and essentially telling them that they’re blacklisted for ever doing so.

EPIC Indie stands as a staunch advocate for indie and self-published authors, and here and now I am asserting a clear stance: the use of AI-generated book covers will never be a basis for discrimination. This commitment is rooted in understanding first hand the challenges these authors face, the cost implications of traditional publishing routes, and the need to dismantle the unfounded biases and gatekeeping that persist within some quarters of the publishing community.

Breaking Down Cost Barriers

For many indie and self-published authors, the journey to seeing their work in print is fraught with financial hurdles. Traditional cover design can be prohibitively expensive, often running into hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds. AI technology offers a cost-effective solution, enabling authors to produce high-quality, visually appealing covers at a fraction of the cost. EPIC Indie recognises that what matters most is the quality and appeal of the cover, not the method of its creation. Now to counter this, the opponents of AI will make nonsense claims that AI art is soulless, that no reader would like it and therefore choose to not read a book with it. I counter this by pointing out the obvious.

Ai art has won numerous awards, voted for by human beings. Hell, the most recent SPFBO book cover award was initially won by an AI cover voted for by readers! Only the hysterical backlash and disgusting dog pile by opponents to AI forced it to be removed and the author to change the cover. The insane backlash was so much that it forced the whole cover contest aspect to be abandoned for future competitions entirely.

Frankly anything that can help all authors regardless of their wealth and income have an equal opportunity to attract readers, regardless of their financial resources can only be a good thing.

Tackling Gatekeeping in the Publishing Community

I’ve mentioned the indie community a few times and while there are great people in it there are plenty of not so great ones. It can sometimes resemble a fortress, with 'gatekeepers'—those who set the standards for what is deemed acceptable in publishing—often dismissing the innovations and ideas brought by indie authors. This gatekeeping can manifest in biases against self-publishing and, by extension, the tools that can help facilitate it. In the most recent X spat, threats of blacklisting were made, which is entirely unacceptable.

EPIC Indie challenges this outdated mindset by advocating for real inclusivity and innovation. The use of AI in creating book covers, should not be a marker for exclusion but a sign of an author's resourcefulness and willingness to embrace new technologies.

Debunking Myths: AI Covers Do Not Imply AI-Written Books

A common misconception is that a book with an AI-generated cover must itself be the product of AI, implying a lack of authenticity or personal touch from the author. This is a myth EPIC Indie is keen to debunk. The decision to use AI for a book cover is often driven by practical considerations such as cost and design accessibility. It does not reflect on the content of the book, which is crafted with care, dedication, and the unique voice of its author.

There are 100% AI created books on Amazon, in fact so many that the market has been flooded even worse than it already was. For anyone that has used AI or seen its use for written content as I do in my day job, you know that while it can be useful for editing and spotting errors it is awful at the actual creative writing side of the process.

EPIC Indie upholds the principle that the merit of a book lies in its content and the connection it establishes with readers, not the origin of its cover. If a book is written with an AI our reviewers will quickly spot it and will rank it accordingly.

AI Art is not theft

AI art, created by artificial intelligence, involves a process where the AI learns from a vast array of images and then uses this learned information to generate new, unique pieces of art. Here's a straightforward explanation of why AI art is not considered theft:

Creation of New Works: AI art is about creating something new rather than copying existing works directly. The AI uses patterns and styles it has learned to generate art that hasn't been seen before. This process is akin to an artist being inspired by different styles and elements they’ve seen and incorporating them into an original piece.

Transformation: AI processes and transforms the information it learns from existing art into something different and original. It doesn't simply replicate the images it has been trained on; instead, it uses learned elements to create new compositions, which can be considered a form of transformation, a key concept in many legal frameworks that distinguishes creative reinterpretation from direct copying.

Artistic Tool: Think of AI as a tool, similar to a paintbrush or camera. Just as a paintbrush doesn’t create art on its own, AI requires human input and guidance to produce artworks. The artist using AI sets parameters and influences outcomes, integrating their creative vision with the capabilities of the AI.

The below video (used with permission) sums up the discourse over ai art perfectly.

Understanding the Choices of Indie and Self-Published Authors

Authors often face decisions that can influence both the creative and financial success of their books. One such decision is the choice of book cover design, where emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), play an increasingly pivotal role. EPIC Indie, while not actively encouraging AI-generated covers, fully understands and respects why authors opt for this solution.

For an excellent overview of the challenges authors face check out this article.

Navigating Financial Realities

The stark reality for many indie and self-published authors is that the average book sells fewer than 100 copies throughout its lifetime and earns less than $5 per month in royalties.

This statistic illuminates a challenging economic landscape where the costs associated with publishing can quickly surpass potential earnings. Traditional cover design services, while offering bespoke artistic creations, often come with a hefty price tag that can range from a few hundred to thousands of pounds. Given these dynamics, it simply does not make business sense for many authors to invest heavily in custom cover designs when there is little financial return.

Authors who do make enough money from their book sales would without a doubt want to be able to use a talented human to do their covers. That’s a given, but when you have the gatekeepers demanding that authors pay out for sub par work (and there is plenty of it out there) they should shut their mouths.

If you do want affordable and good human made covers check out our Resource Section. Some even offer exclusive discount offers for EPIC Indie readers.

The Practicality of AI-Generated Covers

Understanding these economic constraints, EPIC Indie recognises why many authors turn to AI as a pragmatic solution for their cover design needs. AI technology offers a more affordable alternative, allowing authors to obtain professional-looking covers without the substantial upfront costs associated with traditional design services. This approach not only helps manage financial risk but also allows authors to allocate their limited resources to other important aspects of their publishing journey, such as editing, marketing, and distribution.

Supporting Author Choices without Bias

EPIC Indie's approach is rooted in supporting authors' choices without imposing biases. The choice to use an AI-generated cover does not reflect the quality of the content within the pages of the book. Our commitment is to ensure that all authors feel welcomed and valued, irrespective of the methods they choose to bring their creative visions to life. We believe that the essence of a book is not captured solely by its cover but by the story it tells and the impact it has on readers.

Encouraging a Broader Perspective

The ongoing debate over AI in publishing often overlooks the broader benefits of embracing such technologies. By understanding and respecting the reasons behind authors' choices, EPIC Indie aims to foster a more inclusive and adaptable publishing environment. We advocate for a perspective that recognises both the artistic and economic dimensions of book publishing and encourages a focus on what truly matters: the authors' ability to share their stories with the world.

EPIC Indie's stance is not about promoting one method of cover design over another but about acknowledging and supporting the needs and choices of indie and self-published authors. This understanding ensures that our community remains open, innovative, and responsive to the changes and challenges of the publishing industry, always placing the authors and their stories at the heart of what we do.