I think in visuals. When I write Starborn Alive, I don’t just put words on a page — I see the story unfold in my mind like a film. Characters move, environments emerge, and moments shift with a rhythm that feels almost cinematic. It’s that feeling that tells me I’m on the right track. My background in film and 3D animation has only strengthened this way of thinking. In many ways, my stories are written films: I structure both the individual scenes and the overarching narrative much like I would if I were directing a movie or creating a series.
Text versus Image
But why do I create and publish visualizations of the story? Some might argue: “Isn’t the power of the written word that it leaves room for the reader’s imagination? Aren’t you limiting that freedom by showing your own images?”
And I fully share that concern. The written word is powerful because it’s a collaboration between the text and the reader’s imagination. That’s why I see the visuals as an enhancement, never a substitute. If someone prefers to read without looking at any images or videos, that works perfectly. In fact, I even encourage it for those who want to create their own inner world of the story.
Why Visuals Still Matter
At the same time, images have a kind of immediacy that words can’t always capture. A single picture can convey a mood in seconds. Visuals also reach people who might never discover the book otherwise.
The visual material helps the story find its readers. A striking image, a short trailer, or an AI-generated glimpse of a world can catch someone’s attention who might otherwise scroll past. In that way, visuals serve as an invitation — a doorway into the story.
For readers who choose to experience both, I hope it creates something richer: the instant emotional pull of an image combined with the deeper layers of meaning that only the written text can deliver. Because it’s in the writing where characters truly come alive, where emotions build, and where the narrative leads to catharsis — that liberating release unique to literature.
Why AI?
Of course, I could create all the visuals myself. I could design characters and environments in 3D software, hire actors, set up photo shoots, film, and edit for weeks or months. But that would take far too much time away from the actual storytelling.
Generative AI allows me to create images of settings, characters, and moments much faster. But that doesn’t mean AI is doing the work for me. Quite the opposite. In practice, this means I’m in control of every step:
- I design the prompts — the instructions — based on my story.
- I act as editor, choosing the images that best match my vision.
- I refine and composite details from different images, shaping them until they truly reflect Starborn Alive.
In fact, the post-production often takes longer than the image generation itself. But that’s where the creative process happens: turning AI’s raw output into something that resonates with my vision.
In Summary
Generative AI is not a shortcut that replaces creativity. It’s a tool that allows me to communicate my creative vision in a way that would otherwise be impossible within a realistic timeframe. The text will always remain at the heart of the story — but visuals can open the door, catch the eye, and set the stage. Then it’s up to the words to play the film inside the reader’s imagination.
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