OMG i just watched the covers video and commented that I thought the cabin needed to look a bit more rustic rather than a techno tent, and then i refreshed and saw this video😭🙏 it looks so good now!
I like Archie and Lyra. I feel like Lyra is exactly the name that a billionaire mom and dad would give to their daughter. And Archie sounds more classic and you don’t really hear it a lot in society so I think it fits with his character. Also, with the cover, I do like it and it fits with the story but I think some blue highlights would make it look a little bit more like a ScI-fi
I like Iris because of the connection with the human eye. The girl/female character sounds like she is gonna be smart, she may notice things others don't.
@@MelTorrefranca - Thanks! I am from the UK and just found your channel last night. I've pre-ordered Cabin 5 as I have read a couple of novels with two authors and really enjoyed them. Sending you both creative vibes!
Happy you took the D one. Because even though the other one fit more with the design brief, I felt like most casual readers would probably be less likely to grab it from the shelf. (Besides, personally as a 2D game artist, some parts/assets looked a bit cheap/overused). The only real problem with D was that it needed a few little tweaks, which you already did, and it looks good 🤤.
I feel like Finn will be a more accurate match for the male lead as his parents are old-fashioned whereas Lyra and aria feel really fitting for the female lead also really excited to see this book piece together!!
I feel like the names Archie and Lyra are the best fit for the characters, so excited for more updates, good luck. Maybe the camp leader pairs them up to explore the camp and document their findings, they think it’s going to be some boring project but find something that was long hidden, like ancient technology linked to campers going missing.
Oooo! Love this story already, all the best to both of you as the story progresses 💚💚 I love the names Finn and Nova (I think Nova has that high-tech element that a Tech Billionaire parent would like!)
I think "Nova and Finn" sounds good in combination and in this order! Finn also sounds more down to earth than old-money Archibald. Lyra was the girl from The Golden Compass (but younger generation might not know nor think of it immediately).
woahhhh the new cover looks so sick!!! i loved watching you guys talk and discuss your ideas and how they evolved. i really like how different the boy and girl are and that would make for such a cool contrast in their povs. i also thought it was so cool how the girl is from a tech billionaire mom and an anti-tech dad, while the boy is from a “historical” district. in terms of names, i think finn works the best for the boy because it’s kind of got that old fashioned vibe. for the girl, i definitely forsee some tension between the parents so i was thinking about how her name could be smth like “nova jean” and her mother called her by her full name to really push that modern billionaire vibe while her dad calls her nj. i cant wait to see how this book turns out!!!! its going so well so far and i will definitely be following the rest of this series!!
Thanks Jessica! I'm really glad you like the new cover design, and your name ideas are really great. The tension between the parents could definitely manifest in her name, and I haven't thought of that before. Thanks for sharing!
I loved this! Please make more of these! I gave up on my passion for writing when I was younger (I'm talking like middle school lol) partly because I didn't have the skill or realized that I needed to take the time to think about world-building. Eventually, as I got older, the books, shows, and movies I liked the most, I realized were captivating because the author or screenwriter took the time to do that. The characters were fleshed out and so was the world they lived in. Seeing you ask these questions about character motivations and the world-building was so much fun! Actually! Watching this got me back into writing, which I never thought I would do and now I'm having fun with it! So! Yes please do more of these videos. Thanks!
This cover was 100% AI generated. PLEASE don't use this cover! I'm genuinely shocked that this was the one chosen! Just look at the stairs! Why would someone purposely draw/paint stars that are wobbly like that?? Oh my god hahaha. I can't believe that was the cover chosen. 😩😩😩😩
we could use some proofs from the artist cause i also think this was made with help of ai, but rn i can see the wobbly stairs as an artistic choice. it actually looks like some old wooden stairs, if it looked clean and perfect and too symmetrical, it won't capture that kind of vibe. the windows too are not clean and perfect, which also makes this whole image look more natural looking and makes the image look a bit more interesting.
Hey! I've seen the illustrator file myself, and the artist was able to make detailed changes that aren’t typical of AI-generated work. Obviously people will speculate no matter what I say haha, but I trust the artist's work.
@@MelTorrefranca Sounds like they probably used "Image Trace" in Illustrator to convert it to a malleable svg. But there's no way to prove it 100% that it was AI generated, it just definitely does not pass the vibe check for me when you look at the details within the work.
As an artist, this is 100% AI OR overdrawn over AI. This is a very simple design with not many colours or complex features, which makes it easy to overdraw. The only way to know is to get a speedpaint of the whole "artwork" being created. And the AI-detectors that are made to SUPPOSEDLY track AI-generated images, but they aren't 100% accurate, in fact I once inserted a painting by Da Vinci, and the detector said its got a 99% chance of being AI-generated, which is not true. But why did the detector think that? That is because generative AI creates "art" by basing on already existing art. While this "artist" may have tweaked or changed some colors or some features in the design, it doesn't mean its not AI. Sadly, we cannot trust any "artist" in these times. Hope this helps.
This video was for sure a brainteaser for me, love how there's clear communication and back and forth with specific ideas. Lyra and Silas - Lyra - It oozes the energy of someone who has been brought up in a wealthier household, almost sounding like an exotic animal. This plays into why people at her school distance themselves from her because they tease her on how she comes from new money - Space travel or a new method of intergalactic travel as the name Lyra has come from references to the constellation - whereas everyone else at her school has come from 'old' money or traditional sectors of wealth. Further cementing her character it would be interesting to explore the idea that she's got synesthesia and perceives technology slightly differently due to the sounds in the city which she has received from her father's genetics, this develops the reasoning behind her allurement to technology. Her father knows of this genetic trait but is slowly understanding that his heavy involvement in the Mother's tech company has caused him to lose his sense of self and doesn't want his daughter to suffer a similar fate, therefore sending her to the cultish anti-tech cabin under an anonymous identity - changing her hair and features so that she isn't recognised to be the Space Travel heiress. Silas - Fittingly means 'forest' or 'woods' which you 2 have probably chosen due to the imagery on the cover and the connection to where people often see cabins. The other names on the list are more traditional but Silas offers a slightly more flavoured nuance, expressing how he's perhaps an outsider, someone who is an enigma to the concrete foundations. Leading to his parents owning a bookshop/library for repurposed textbooks. Which they sell to the less fortunate families to help them get into the capitalist world. Silas is homeschooled but due to his father falling ill, his mother decides to sell some very expensive first-edition books to shady collectors (who are part of the anti-tech cult) to enrol him into a more pro-active learning space without having to stress about the shop. Allowing the mother to focus on the shop and the father more. This shop is opposite a second-hand TV shop which constantly shows the news about Lyras family over the years, so they are aware of the controversies of Lyras family and he builds resentment due to classism. But this isn't a detail he reveals for when they eventually meet at the Cult because his mother has taught him to be more compassionate of people's upbringings, yet his angst is still released when Silas and Lyra argue about certain facts due to political biases and difference in education material - for example, Lyra knows that bikes had/have 2 wheels and are mostly made from metals and have 2 same sized wheels - but Silas has only ever read books about them having different sized wheels like a Penny Farthing because that's the only book they have had in their store. Despite their arguing, they have the common understanding that Technology can be harmful without moderation, this leads them to the cult which is easily similar to a huntsman bunker that has some dark secrets in the past, but has been turned into a school for the adolescence teaching the ideologies that Technology can ONLY be bad, so they only use technology used prior to 2050 which is before the 'big incident' therefore aren't seen to be the cause of evil. This can be linked to Lyras ancestry, perhaps her great-great....great grandparents were the cause for why xx% of the world's population suffers from a genetic disorder due to them finding a new way to turn the earth's atmosphere or water into fuel for space travel. As for the 3rd character, I think someone who has a connection to the founders of the cult would work well. But give them conflicting views on technology, the curiosity to know what's available and the fear that it will consequentially change his family's cult which is also their financial stability. Connection to the book purchased? Which could be a collection of what actually happened during the 'big incident'? I hope some of these ideas spark up different alleys for you 2. For sure explore the dynamic where they have this constant apprehension about each other because they're both so stubborn. But allow times where Silas also humbles Lyra by teaching her/telling stories of information lost from the internet, and for Lyra to educate Silas on new technology that could perhaps heal Silas' father. The revision on the new cover is for sure an improvement, the colours are great but with the 'star wars -esque' font it's giving me novelty rather than sci-fi mystery. Perhaps a sharper and more filled font would fit the look better. I'm so excited to see what story developments you 2 have and for the final product :)
You could probably make that cover a lot better by bringing it into Illustrator and cleaning up the weird AI-looking bits. For example, you'd expect the stairs to be pretty cleanly structured, but they aren't. And the lights above the door should all be the same height. The stairway-looking thing above the door is smudging out of the frame. The surface of the cabin seems like a mix of stone and cheap sheet metal. One of the tree branches is a tentacle. Some of the leafy shapes don't look like leafy shapes. Maybe clarify whether the distant background is a futuristic skyline or jagged mountain peaks. The composition and idea are nice. Looks like you levelled it in another video, which was smart. Just has a messy AI feel that makes it feel bad when you take a minute to look closer. I feel like art should be the other way around, where closer inspection reveals cool details, or at least attention to detail (or stylistic ignoring of detail). I'm not even a particularly good illustrator, and even for me, it wouldn't be too difficult to fix.
Maybe one of the siblings is adopted and struggling to connect and maybe it’s like the super exclusive camp where every summer only five students are allowed to be there. Maybe it’s like actually got a hidden agenda. It’s sort of actually encourage the connection of nature to help lead the next revolution of tech. to be more eco-friendly and stuff and maybe one of the people going actually wants to like do things way different or something I’m not sure this all sounds so cool❤
Also, maybe it’s all run by robots or at least the human adult supervision might be who and maybe they’re OK with tech teaching the young adults but they want to be having them think abstract of like designs and such before they actually get to touch it and like, maybe there had been a disconnect from that People with this odd urge to always get out of cities or something and maybe one of the people don’t actually match that description and it was more about their connection to the camp. Maybe they’re trying to help lead a revolution or something and then maybe someone like kills the only human staffer there and like breaks the robot or something and tries to like, make it seem like they’re going to have to survive on their own in the wilderness to be able to start I love all these ideas. I love stories ideas. I’m so excited to read it.
I like Archie for the boy cuz it sounds reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally old-timey! and either lyra, iris, or nova because those names sound the most modern for her modern approach to life!
loving the story so far! have a couple suggestions about it. Laurel mentioned something about Finn having a scholarship to the camp, something fun might be tying this camp to a school. like Finn and Nova are both going to attend this very prestigeous high school, with Nova paying for it and Finn having a scholarship. the camp would act as a prerequisite for attending the school. Maybe have a secret plot of the school where the camp radicalizes or otherwise interferes with the would-be students? or could be the vehicle for another antagonist group for recruiting students for a political cause(antitech). that group could also be capable of interfering with the technology(electronic locks and such), and maybe make it a point that said group is hypocritical for being antitech but using technology to accomplish their goals. cant wait to see how you both make this story!❤
For the names I would pick: Daphne and Finn. I think Daphne would be a great name, it’s not as popular but I think that’s a good thing as we have had many characters with names like Delilah and Iris. The name Daphne also gives off rich and elegant vibes which is what this character is lol. For the boy I’m thinking Finn is the best option. Names like Archie and Clay are good but idk as soon as I heard Finn I was like that’s gotta be the name lol. I think that name gives off the exact definition of the character. So my picks are: Daphne, And Finn.
I love watching this behind the scenes stuff, it’s so cool seeing how a book comes together! Also love the new cover! 👍 As for the names, Archie and Daphne jumped out at me immediately so I’m voting for those though I think any of them could work. ☺️ Good luck with the writing!
I saw your cover video and then had to come here. I dont know who you are, so read a couple of comments and I was wondering. Why is noone talking about how beautiful you are! pretty face and your voice is really pretty too and you seem super intelligent. Beauty with brains!
i would go with Iris and Sylas they rime well. It was interesting to watch the fiverr vid and this one honestly when i saw the book covers especially the other one with the big 5 i would've tought the story would be something like; that cabin contains secrets of all the technology and how to destroy all of it, and since Sylas hates tech he would try to get to learn as much abt it so he can get rid of it for good afterwards ( Know thy enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles, you will never be defeated - Sun Tzu) and Iris realizes that tech is not just good like she tought and can be devastating in the wrong hands so she would try to learn how to stop him with simple means ( no tech ) and with this dynamic u could see how someone can change and go all the way to the opposite side of what they believe in to do what is right. Oooor u could go with something like Mission impossible dead reckoning where they find a hidden Ai entity that controls the whole tech stuff and the world is living in a lie where the entity controls everything and they can work together to destroy it. ( Idk maybe all what i said is trash, i mean i dont read books too much m more of a manga guy )
Loving the name Nova for the girl! As for the boy, both silas and finn seem fitting 🤍 seeing the process of the novel is super cool, can't wait to see more!!
Nova and Clay sound pretty unique (but also not too fancy, which I don't really like about some of the novels by young authors) and match the descriptions amazingly well.
JUST came from watching the cover video and I love this version, it's fit the vibe perfectly and maintains a flow with the video trailer you put on a couple of years back! As for names, I've always loved the name Archie. Vera could be good option for the girl- or Marlo, I think that would give a very sharp but with an underlying soft vibe to it
wait, you kept the AI cover?? that's so sad... also, how do you start the book by selecting the cover first? aren't you doing ghe process the other way around?
the revised cover turned out fantastic (i'm so glad it's the one you decided on!) and it's so interesting to see this "working backwards" sort of approach! i loved watching y'alls process. as for names, for the guy i'm stuck between archie and charlie, as silas, clay, and finn all sound too modern to me. i also always think about what other characters might be associated with any character name. for instance, i feel charlie has more of an anonymous appeal, no heavy associations (since it's a more popular name) while still sounding old-fashioned, whereas archie might be pictured as a redhead immediately by readers, hah (though that isn't a bad thing, and honestly might fit for his character to be associated with the comics!) as for the girls name, i'm partial to lyra for the same reason, i already have character associations with the other names, and lyra feels like a middle ground between ultra modern and slightly older!
Thank you so much! I'm really glad you like our final cover choice. And your thoughts on the names are super interesting! It's crazy how much a character's name can impact the reader's first impression of them...
I love the name Archie immediately, it's already so timelessly classic and would be even more so in the future. Nova came to mind before I saw the list; it just screams billionaire tech parent or a parent who's obsessed with the expansion of space, time, and the future❤
I am also an artist. And i like.. Iris and clay....they will be great for this kind of characters. These names are giving that vibe which you guys discussed.. Btw i also liked behind the scene videos... Iris and clay..❤
This was so so interesting! I can’t wait to see how this is going to turn out. I will ALWAYS pick up a culty book so I hope you guys work that in somehow. For the girl name, Nova jumps out at me because my dad used to drive an old hot rod and I think it could be an interesting Easter egg since that was a super low-tech car.
I think we're both leaning toward shaping the mystery in the cultish direction, but we'll see! And haha I know nothing about cars so I had to look that up, kind of interesting how an old car was called "Nova" since it sounds like such a futuristic name to me
Um...yea Mel, this is VERY interesting, I feel like I'm in writers' camp and in on something fabulous, keep them coming. Already your Archie is having Yashi vibes :D and maybe you can consider Arya as a name for the girl. Never the less, love this series and the edited cover is beautiful.
@@MelTorrefranca Thank you! I myself was long ago going to participate in some of your guys' writing contests, though never came around in doing so. Will keep an eye on this channel from now on!
The Zoom meetings are interesting!! was sad it ended because I want more haha I guess I'll just wait for the book :) also I vote for Finn and Nova. Finn sounds classic to me and would fit an outcast. I just think Archie sounds a bit upper class rather than from a low-income neighborhood. And I think a tech billionaire parent would like the name Nova for their daughter :)
@@MelTorrefrancawhy not make siblings orphan. And grown up by a mother robot. So the boy could rebellious or thinking bad of nature but sister always forcing him to explore nature.can lead to seeking mystery
This is so interesting! I was also thinking a detail from the boys past, “a lot memory” could become triggered as the story progresses, leading to his escape with the girl. And the girl could be really advanced at using technology since she is smart and has billionaire parents. They should be dependent on each other to escape, but that alliance takes time to form.
What an interesting project! I love seeing part of your brainstorming in real time, and I think that your two personalities have very high potential to create a very good protagonist dynamic! Thank you very much for sharing the process with us! (so excited for you 👏🏼✨). About the names, for the girl I like Lyra, because in the constelation with this name, in ancient times, a lyra was represented being supported by an eagle, and the eagle symbolically represents refined vision or wisdom, which fits with the personality that you give to her. That her parents have named her that way and not with another more modern name may have an easy explanation like her grandmother, the eccentric of the family who has a small garden and takes care of it indifferent to criticism from her family, want to give her that name as a wish before he died, or something like that. For the boy I like Clay. Clay means city made of clay. What could be more rustic and anti materialistic technological than clay? The clay could also represent the spirit of mother earth and his internal struggle could be related to learning to shape himself as he want instead of letting himself be molded by others. Hugs!! (Sorry for my bad english! I'm learning yeet)
I'm glad you enjoyed the format of this video! I like your idea of maybe giving the girl a more old-fashioned name and having a simple justification for it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! :))
i feel that nova and clay names would be better for right reasons and i think characters should be that written like one tracked mindset cause every character has some sides which differ from their initial believe call it having double standards or not but i think it would be cool to have those traits
hello can you ask the artist for like some proof or something if they actually made this art or if they used ai. many of us thought this was made by ai.
it's 100% AI even the "edit" can be fixed easily, rework the image, cut the silhouette to keep the elements on the front, change the cabin, and add minimum details by hand at the end
it's 100% AI even the "edit" can be fixed easily, rework the image, cut the silhouette to keep the elements on the front, change the cabin, and add minimum details by hand at the end
As an artist, this is 100% AI OR overdrawn over AI. This is a very simple design with not many colours or complex features, which makes it easy to overdraw. The only way to know is to get a speedpaint of the whole "artwork" being created. And the AI-detectors that are made to SUPPOSEDLY track AI-generated images, but they aren't 100% accurate, in fact I once inserted a painting by Da Vinci, and the detector said its got a 99% chance of being AI-generated, which is not true. But why did the detector think that? That is because generative AI creates "art" by basing on already existing art. While this "artist" may have tweaked or changed some colors or some features in the design, it doesn't mean its not AI. Sadly, non-artists (or at least non digital) don't believe in what digital artists with years of experience say.
You could do a variation on the names Samson & Delilah. Substitute the biblical version of cutting hair for strength To cutting the cord for technology. Either way, I like the series
I love the name Clay. If his mother and father are anti-technology, then Clay would be a perfect nod to an older technology. It shows his earthy Roots.
Could you do a video about finding editors and how to get copyrights etc. I’m writing a book by myself and I created my own cover. I just want some help with formatting and editing my drafts. The middle character could be a girl that’s a friend of theirs or someone they meet at camp and kind of takes the adventure with them. Or maybe she pushes them to look more into whatever mystery surrounding the technology. Her mom could be some top scientist or someone who sponsors they camp so she goes every summer or something
You guys read my mind about the girl lol. Nova and Archie for sure. I like watching this process because I can use it as a guide outline my book even though it’s a different genre
Loved seeing this process, makes me want to write with a partner, someone to hold me accountable.😂 I like Nova for the girls name and Silas or Clay for the boy.
Im 13 first time writing im trying to make a medieval fantasu novel of course im at a road block as i dont really know how to do write all that well yet and i cant make a book cover since i have no money to pay people so i was wondering if you have any types to a new writer
Yes, may be cause here is 2 siblings and a billionaire villain like was in gravity fall blue shirt white hair short guy. But they should focus on day to day life too to change that feeling and more character which can change the relation of characters among eachother so we can get different look of character to make it feel different.😂i thought it was like gftoo
Hi Mel, I’m Samuel, been a subscriber for a bit and I find your channel and content very interesting, informative and motivational and it has helped me enjoy reading again, also eliminated my social media addiction. I’m a video editor and I would love to edit your videos for free at least the first few upcoming uploads and if you like it, maybe we could work together and I can add value to your channel edit by edit. Let me know if you’ll like that. Although I’ll understand if that’s not what you’re looking for now. Yet Again, I appreciate your channel and contents.
OMG i just watched the covers video and commented that I thought the cabin needed to look a bit more rustic rather than a techno tent, and then i refreshed and saw this video😭🙏 it looks so good now!
Haha just saw your comment! I'm glad you like the final version :))
@coldtaboo
Unfortunately, we don't know who the original artist whose art was used as the foundation by that AI to generate it 😢
YESS I WAS SO RELIEVED!
I like Archie and Lyra. I feel like Lyra is exactly the name that a billionaire mom and dad would give to their daughter. And Archie sounds more classic and you don’t really hear it a lot in society so I think it fits with his character. Also, with the cover, I do like it and it fits with the story but I think some blue highlights would make it look a little bit more like a ScI-fi
I remember there being a fake trailer for this a few years ago. I never thought that it would be an actual book, this is incredibly cool.
You're a real one for remembering that!!
@@MelTorrefranca :)
Loved this behind the scenes video! It's so cool to see you both work through the plotting process. As for names, I really liked Iris and Clay!
Thanks for watching, glad you liked it!
the first shot with the blue, drapey background is giving school picture day in the best way (gorgeous lighting, btw)
Haha thanks I appreciate it! Bought it at a cool fabric shop in Thailand :))
I like Iris because of the connection with the human eye. The girl/female character sounds like she is gonna be smart, she may notice things others don't.
I like how u think!
@@MelTorrefranca - Thanks! I am from the UK and just found your channel last night. I've pre-ordered Cabin 5 as I have read a couple of novels with two authors and really enjoyed them. Sending you both creative vibes!
@@kaychannon Aw thanks for preordering!! That means a lot to us, hope you enjoy our future videos about this project! :))
The girl Lyra and the boy Silas. Can't wait to see how the book turns out
First vote for Silas haha!
Happy you took the D one. Because even though the other one fit more with the design brief, I felt like most casual readers would probably be less likely to grab it from the shelf. (Besides, personally as a 2D game artist, some parts/assets looked a bit cheap/overused). The only real problem with D was that it needed a few little tweaks, which you already did, and it looks good 🤤.
It's great to hear a perspective from an artist! Glad you like the tweaked version of Cover D :))
as a 2D game artists you prefer the AI cover??
I feel like Finn will be a more accurate match for the male lead as his parents are old-fashioned whereas Lyra and aria feel really fitting for the female lead also really excited to see this book piece together!!
Thanks! Excited to document the process
I feel like the names Archie and Lyra are the best fit for the characters, so excited for more updates, good luck. Maybe the camp leader pairs them up to explore the camp and document their findings, they think it’s going to be some boring project but find something that was long hidden, like ancient technology linked to campers going missing.
Thanks for sharing!! Excited to share more updates :))
I like Nova (like new and modern) and Archie (maybe short for Archibald, old fashinoned)
I second this :)
yes! I thought Nova and Clay, Nova and Archie sounds good too. But knowing that the girl is more about tech then Nova suits her really well
Sounds like Nova is pretty popular for the girl
totally
I third this
Oooo! Love this story already, all the best to both of you as the story progresses 💚💚 I love the names Finn and Nova (I think Nova has that high-tech element that a Tech Billionaire parent would like!)
Ahh thank you!
I think "Nova and Finn" sounds good in combination and in this order!
Finn also sounds more down to earth than old-money Archibald. Lyra was the girl from The Golden Compass (but younger generation might not know nor think of it immediately).
@@TH-pb4ux i thought of Lyra from his dark materials immediately lol
Finally you guys get final on cover. It is looking good with new colors. Let me get in to waitlist. This could be my first non academic book purchase.
That's really an honor, thanks!
ARIA AND FINN SOUNDS AMAZING
I love seeing the behind-the-scenes of writing a book, it's just really interesting to me!
So glad you enjoyed this!
the final version looks so good! great job
woahhhh the new cover looks so sick!!! i loved watching you guys talk and discuss your ideas and how they evolved. i really like how different the boy and girl are and that would make for such a cool contrast in their povs. i also thought it was so cool how the girl is from a tech billionaire mom and an anti-tech dad, while the boy is from a “historical” district. in terms of names, i think finn works the best for the boy because it’s kind of got that old fashioned vibe. for the girl, i definitely forsee some tension between the parents so i was thinking about how her name could be smth like “nova jean” and her mother called her by her full name to really push that modern billionaire vibe while her dad calls her nj. i cant wait to see how this book turns out!!!! its going so well so far and i will definitely be following the rest of this series!!
Thanks Jessica! I'm really glad you like the new cover design, and your name ideas are really great. The tension between the parents could definitely manifest in her name, and I haven't thought of that before. Thanks for sharing!
i really like lyra and charlie
its very easy to remember, and i think it fits their personality
I loved this! Please make more of these! I gave up on my passion for writing when I was younger (I'm talking like middle school lol) partly because I didn't have the skill or realized that I needed to take the time to think about world-building. Eventually, as I got older, the books, shows, and movies I liked the most, I realized were captivating because the author or screenwriter took the time to do that. The characters were fleshed out and so was the world they lived in. Seeing you ask these questions about character motivations and the world-building was so much fun! Actually! Watching this got me back into writing, which I never thought I would do and now I'm having fun with it! So! Yes please do more of these videos. Thanks!
So glad this was motivating for you! We definitely plan to post more videos like this one!
i like clay and iris, i feel like those names go rlly well tgt
i also like lyra and finn, it's so matching too it just gives vibes XD
Ooh I do like both of those pairings!
My top two out of the name ideas are Nova and Archie, but runner ups are Iris and Charlie :D
I was watching your video and suddenly a new video popped up.
Crazy timing...!
This cover was 100% AI generated. PLEASE don't use this cover! I'm genuinely shocked that this was the one chosen! Just look at the stairs! Why would someone purposely draw/paint stars that are wobbly like that??
Oh my god hahaha. I can't believe that was the cover chosen. 😩😩😩😩
we could use some proofs from the artist cause i also think this was made with help of ai, but rn i can see the wobbly stairs as an artistic choice. it actually looks like some old wooden stairs, if it looked clean and perfect and too symmetrical, it won't capture that kind of vibe. the windows too are not clean and perfect, which also makes this whole image look more natural looking and makes the image look a bit more interesting.
Hey! I've seen the illustrator file myself, and the artist was able to make detailed changes that aren’t typical of AI-generated work. Obviously people will speculate no matter what I say haha, but I trust the artist's work.
@@MelTorrefranca Sounds like they probably used "Image Trace" in Illustrator to convert it to a malleable svg. But there's no way to prove it 100% that it was AI generated, it just definitely does not pass the vibe check for me when you look at the details within the work.
@@MelTorrefranca I feel sorry for you, but you were scammed by an AI prompter, not an artist 🤧
As an artist, this is 100% AI OR overdrawn over AI. This is a very simple design with not many colours or complex features, which makes it easy to overdraw. The only way to know is to get a speedpaint of the whole "artwork" being created.
And the AI-detectors that are made to SUPPOSEDLY track AI-generated images, but they aren't 100% accurate, in fact I once inserted a painting by Da Vinci, and the detector said its got a 99% chance of being AI-generated, which is not true. But why did the detector think that? That is because generative AI creates "art" by basing on already existing art.
While this "artist" may have tweaked or changed some colors or some features in the design, it doesn't mean its not AI.
Sadly, we cannot trust any "artist" in these times.
Hope this helps.
I loved the behind the scenes stuff, would love to see more💛
Glad you liked this! Will be posting more!
This video was for sure a brainteaser for me, love how there's clear communication and back and forth with specific ideas.
Lyra and Silas -
Lyra - It oozes the energy of someone who has been brought up in a wealthier household, almost sounding like an exotic animal. This plays into why people at her school distance themselves from her because they tease her on how she comes from new money - Space travel or a new method of intergalactic travel as the name Lyra has come from references to the constellation - whereas everyone else at her school has come from 'old' money or traditional sectors of wealth. Further cementing her character it would be interesting to explore the idea that she's got synesthesia and perceives technology slightly differently due to the sounds in the city which she has received from her father's genetics, this develops the reasoning behind her allurement to technology. Her father knows of this genetic trait but is slowly understanding that his heavy involvement in the Mother's tech company has caused him to lose his sense of self and doesn't want his daughter to suffer a similar fate, therefore sending her to the cultish anti-tech cabin under an anonymous identity - changing her hair and features so that she isn't recognised to be the Space Travel heiress.
Silas - Fittingly means 'forest' or 'woods' which you 2 have probably chosen due to the imagery on the cover and the connection to where people often see cabins. The other names on the list are more traditional but Silas offers a slightly more flavoured nuance, expressing how he's perhaps an outsider, someone who is an enigma to the concrete foundations. Leading to his parents owning a bookshop/library for repurposed textbooks. Which they sell to the less fortunate families to help them get into the capitalist world. Silas is homeschooled but due to his father falling ill, his mother decides to sell some very expensive first-edition books to shady collectors (who are part of the anti-tech cult) to enrol him into a more pro-active learning space without having to stress about the shop. Allowing the mother to focus on the shop and the father more. This shop is opposite a second-hand TV shop which constantly shows the news about Lyras family over the years, so they are aware of the controversies of Lyras family and he builds resentment due to classism. But this isn't a detail he reveals for when they eventually meet at the Cult because his mother has taught him to be more compassionate of people's upbringings, yet his angst is still released when Silas and Lyra argue about certain facts due to political biases and difference in education material - for example, Lyra knows that bikes had/have 2 wheels and are mostly made from metals and have 2 same sized wheels - but Silas has only ever read books about them having different sized wheels like a Penny Farthing because that's the only book they have had in their store.
Despite their arguing, they have the common understanding that Technology can be harmful without moderation, this leads them to the cult which is easily similar to a huntsman bunker that has some dark secrets in the past, but has been turned into a school for the adolescence teaching the ideologies that Technology can ONLY be bad, so they only use technology used prior to 2050 which is before the 'big incident' therefore aren't seen to be the cause of evil. This can be linked to Lyras ancestry, perhaps her great-great....great grandparents were the cause for why xx% of the world's population suffers from a genetic disorder due to them finding a new way to turn the earth's atmosphere or water into fuel for space travel.
As for the 3rd character, I think someone who has a connection to the founders of the cult would work well. But give them conflicting views on technology, the curiosity to know what's available and the fear that it will consequentially change his family's cult which is also their financial stability. Connection to the book purchased? Which could be a collection of what actually happened during the 'big incident'?
I hope some of these ideas spark up different alleys for you 2. For sure explore the dynamic where they have this constant apprehension about each other because they're both so stubborn. But allow times where Silas also humbles Lyra by teaching her/telling stories of information lost from the internet, and for Lyra to educate Silas on new technology that could perhaps heal Silas' father.
The revision on the new cover is for sure an improvement, the colours are great but with the 'star wars -esque' font it's giving me novelty rather than sci-fi mystery. Perhaps a sharper and more filled font would fit the look better.
I'm so excited to see what story developments you 2 have and for the final product :)
Wow, lots of cool ideas! Thanks for sharing :))
Clay is perfect! And for the girl I’d pick Lyra or Aria
You could probably make that cover a lot better by bringing it into Illustrator and cleaning up the weird AI-looking bits. For example, you'd expect the stairs to be pretty cleanly structured, but they aren't. And the lights above the door should all be the same height. The stairway-looking thing above the door is smudging out of the frame. The surface of the cabin seems like a mix of stone and cheap sheet metal. One of the tree branches is a tentacle. Some of the leafy shapes don't look like leafy shapes. Maybe clarify whether the distant background is a futuristic skyline or jagged mountain peaks.
The composition and idea are nice. Looks like you levelled it in another video, which was smart. Just has a messy AI feel that makes it feel bad when you take a minute to look closer. I feel like art should be the other way around, where closer inspection reveals cool details, or at least attention to detail (or stylistic ignoring of detail).
I'm not even a particularly good illustrator, and even for me, it wouldn't be too difficult to fix.
I want to see the process of how she drew it, or at least what software she uses, because to be honest it's kinda looks like gen AI
it is 100% AI
@@xChikyx probably gonna be written by chatGPT as well 😆👎lol
@@dorestheo5314 exactly my thoughts when i see sn AI cover lol
@@dorestheo5314 exactly my thoughts when i see sn AI cover lol
As an artist, this is 100% AI, or overdrawn over AI generated image. Sad that Mel is supporting that.
This was cool to see! It’s inspiring to see how authors brainstorm ideas/books, especially with each other
Aw I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Maybe one of the siblings is adopted and struggling to connect and maybe it’s like the super exclusive camp where every summer only five students are allowed to be there. Maybe it’s like actually got a hidden agenda. It’s sort of actually encourage the connection of nature to help lead the next revolution of tech. to be more eco-friendly and stuff and maybe one of the people going actually wants to like do things way different or something I’m not sure this all sounds so cool❤
Also, maybe it’s all run by robots or at least the human adult supervision might be who and maybe they’re OK with tech teaching the young adults but they want to be having them think abstract of like designs and such before they actually get to touch it and like, maybe there had been a disconnect from that People with this odd urge to always get out of cities or something and maybe one of the people don’t actually match that description and it was more about their connection to the camp. Maybe they’re trying to help lead a revolution or something and then maybe someone like kills the only human staffer there and like breaks the robot or something and tries to like, make it seem like they’re going to have to survive on their own in the wilderness to be able to start I love all these ideas. I love stories ideas. I’m so excited to read it.
Ooh thanks for sharing your ideas! All very interesting...
I LOVE ARCHIE AND DEPHNE AND I LOVE LOVE LOOOOOOOOVE THIS!! I love how we can follow y’all’s thoughts and stuff and yes. Just yes.
Haha thank you I'm glad you liked this style of video! Excited to make more
I like Archie for the boy cuz it sounds reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally old-timey! and either lyra, iris, or nova because those names sound the most modern for her modern approach to life!
loving the story so far! have a couple suggestions about it. Laurel mentioned something about Finn having a scholarship to the camp, something fun might be tying this camp to a school. like Finn and Nova are both going to attend this very prestigeous high school, with Nova paying for it and Finn having a scholarship. the camp would act as a prerequisite for attending the school. Maybe have a secret plot of the school where the camp radicalizes or otherwise interferes with the would-be students? or could be the vehicle for another antagonist group for recruiting students for a political cause(antitech). that group could also be capable of interfering with the technology(electronic locks and such), and maybe make it a point that said group is hypocritical for being antitech but using technology to accomplish their goals. cant wait to see how you both make this story!❤
That's a really interesting idea, thanks for sharing! Will think on it...
For the names I would pick: Daphne and Finn. I think Daphne would be a great name, it’s not as popular but I think that’s a good thing as we have had many characters with names like Delilah and Iris. The name Daphne also gives off rich and elegant vibes which is what this character is lol. For the boy I’m thinking Finn is the best option. Names like Archie and Clay are good but idk as soon as I heard Finn I was like that’s gotta be the name lol. I think that name gives off the exact definition of the character. So my picks are: Daphne, And Finn.
Ahh man I love the Daphne and Finn pairing so much but maybe it gives off Scooby Doo vibes? I'm conflicted!
Nowadays, I am totally addicted to your video
I love watching this behind the scenes stuff, it’s so cool seeing how a book comes together! Also love the new cover! 👍
As for the names, Archie and Daphne jumped out at me immediately so I’m voting for those though I think any of them could work. ☺️
Good luck with the writing!
So glad you enjoyed this video, and thanks for voting :))
Wishing you both the best 🤍 and don't worry about following any conventional process. Art is getting inspiration from everything
Thank you!!
@@MelTorrefranca U welcome. Love from Lebanon
I saw your cover video and then had to come here. I dont know who you are, so read a couple of comments and I was wondering. Why is noone talking about how beautiful you are! pretty face and your voice is really pretty too and you seem super intelligent. Beauty with brains!
i would go with Iris and Sylas they rime well. It was interesting to watch the fiverr vid and this one honestly when i saw the book covers especially the other one with the big 5 i would've tought the story would be something like; that cabin contains secrets of all the technology and how to destroy all of it, and since Sylas hates tech he would try to get to learn as much abt it so he can get rid of it for good afterwards ( Know thy enemy and know yourself; in a hundred battles, you will never be defeated - Sun Tzu) and Iris realizes that tech is not just good like she tought and can be devastating in the wrong hands so she would try to learn how to stop him with simple means ( no tech ) and with this dynamic u could see how someone can change and go all the way to the opposite side of what they believe in to do what is right. Oooor u could go with something like Mission impossible dead reckoning where they find a hidden Ai entity that controls the whole tech stuff and the world is living in a lie where the entity controls everything and they can work together to destroy it. ( Idk maybe all what i said is trash, i mean i dont read books too much m more of a manga guy )
Glad you enjoyed seeing this video too! Very cool ideas :))
This cover on thumbnail issnt good.... That one on which big 5 was written on whole cover would be very great.
Exactly! And as an artist, the cover on the thumbnail is 100% AI generated, or overdrawn over AI.
Super excited!! I really love the names Aria and Clay I think they fit well :) can't wait to see the next videos
Glad you're enjoying it!
Loving the name Nova for the girl! As for the boy, both silas and finn seem fitting 🤍 seeing the process of the novel is super cool, can't wait to see more!!
That's great to hear. Can't wait to share more with you 🙌🏽
Nova and Clay sound pretty unique (but also not too fancy, which I don't really like about some of the novels by young authors) and match the descriptions amazingly well.
JUST came from watching the cover video and I love this version, it's fit the vibe perfectly and maintains a flow with the video trailer you put on a couple of years back!
As for names, I've always loved the name Archie. Vera could be good option for the girl- or Marlo, I think that would give a very sharp but with an underlying soft vibe to it
OOOH glad to hear it! So cool that you still remember the video trailer from back then haha
Such exciting news 🎉
Love your guys work
Iris and Charlie, I like these 2 names.
wait, you kept the AI cover?? that's so sad...
also, how do you start the book by selecting the cover first? aren't you doing ghe process the other way around?
the revised cover turned out fantastic (i'm so glad it's the one you decided on!) and it's so interesting to see this "working backwards" sort of approach! i loved watching y'alls process. as for names, for the guy i'm stuck between archie and charlie, as silas, clay, and finn all sound too modern to me. i also always think about what other characters might be associated with any character name. for instance, i feel charlie has more of an anonymous appeal, no heavy associations (since it's a more popular name) while still sounding old-fashioned, whereas archie might be pictured as a redhead immediately by readers, hah (though that isn't a bad thing, and honestly might fit for his character to be associated with the comics!) as for the girls name, i'm partial to lyra for the same reason, i already have character associations with the other names, and lyra feels like a middle ground between ultra modern and slightly older!
Thank you so much! I'm really glad you like our final cover choice. And your thoughts on the names are super interesting! It's crazy how much a character's name can impact the reader's first impression of them...
I love the name Archie immediately, it's already so timelessly classic and would be even more so in the future. Nova came to mind before I saw the list; it just screams billionaire tech parent or a parent who's obsessed with the expansion of space, time, and the future❤
Gotcha, I do agree with some other commenters that Clay and Finn are a bit more modern sounding. Archie is definitely one I'm still considering!
I am also an artist. And i like.. Iris and clay....they will be great for this kind of characters. These names are giving that vibe which you guys discussed.. Btw i also liked behind the scene videos... Iris and clay..❤
This was so so interesting! I can’t wait to see how this is going to turn out. I will ALWAYS pick up a culty book so I hope you guys work that in somehow. For the girl name, Nova jumps out at me because my dad used to drive an old hot rod and I think it could be an interesting Easter egg since that was a super low-tech car.
I think we're both leaning toward shaping the mystery in the cultish direction, but we'll see! And haha I know nothing about cars so I had to look that up, kind of interesting how an old car was called "Nova" since it sounds like such a futuristic name to me
Um...yea Mel, this is VERY interesting, I feel like I'm in writers' camp and in on something fabulous, keep them coming. Already your Archie is having Yashi vibes :D and maybe you can consider Arya as a name for the girl. Never the less, love this series and the edited cover is beautiful.
If im being honest, Kinda forgot about this channel and this publishing company. Glad to see it back in my recommended.
Haha I'm so glad to have you back!!
@@MelTorrefranca Thank you! I myself was long ago going to participate in some of your guys' writing contests, though never came around in doing so. Will keep an eye on this channel from now on!
I appreciate it!
The Zoom meetings are interesting!! was sad it ended because I want more haha I guess I'll just wait for the book :) also I vote for Finn and Nova. Finn sounds classic to me and would fit an outcast. I just think Archie sounds a bit upper class rather than from a low-income neighborhood. And I think a tech billionaire parent would like the name Nova for their daughter :)
Thanks, glad you liked this video! We plan to post more like this :))
Pre-ordered!
Aw thank you so much!
Ooh, I love either Finn and either Daphne or Lyra!
Also I liked the cult idea if y’all could come up with what their motivation would be. Love a good cult book lol
OOOH glad to hear it!
This is so cool
I like Charlie (I just do) and nova (which definitely sounds like something a billionaire would name their child)
Yeah idk what it is about Charlie, just feels really classic
hope it becomes an audio book one day as well! def has my interest! I'm a huuuge audio book guy, hehe.
Lost Island is just now starting to branch into audio, so we'll see!
@@MelTorrefrancawhy not make siblings orphan.
And grown up by a mother robot.
So the boy could rebellious or thinking bad of nature but sister always forcing him to explore nature.can lead to seeking mystery
This is so interesting! I was also thinking a detail from the boys past, “a lot memory” could become triggered as the story progresses, leading to his escape with the girl. And the girl could be really advanced at using technology since she is smart and has billionaire parents. They should be dependent on each other to escape, but that alliance takes time to form.
Love your idea of them being dependent on each other to escape! I'm a sucker for reluctant alliances
I like the idea of you showing the behind the scenes of writing the book, maybe you should it more if you can.
I will definitely do more! Maybe not too often, but there will definitely be updates like this along the way :))
What an interesting project! I love seeing part of your brainstorming in real time, and I think that your two personalities have very high potential to create a very good protagonist dynamic! Thank you very much for sharing the process with us! (so excited for you 👏🏼✨).
About the names, for the girl I like Lyra, because in the constelation with this name, in ancient times, a lyra was represented being supported by an eagle, and the eagle symbolically represents refined vision or wisdom, which fits with the personality that you give to her. That her parents have named her that way and not with another more modern name may have an easy explanation like her grandmother, the eccentric of the family who has a small garden and takes care of it indifferent to criticism from her family, want to give her that name as a wish before he died, or something like that.
For the boy I like Clay. Clay means city made of clay. What could be more rustic and anti materialistic technological than clay? The clay could also represent the spirit of mother earth and his internal struggle could be related to learning to shape himself as he want instead of letting himself be molded by others.
Hugs!!
(Sorry for my bad english! I'm learning yeet)
I'm glad you enjoyed the format of this video! I like your idea of maybe giving the girl a more old-fashioned name and having a simple justification for it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts! :))
@MelTorrefranca Thanks to you for reading and consider it!
Blessings and good luck!! 💐✨ You're awesome ✨
It's really cool to watch your brainstorming! I like this video :)
I'm glad!
This was SOOO interesting please please post more!!!
We definitely will!
i feel that nova and clay names would be better for right reasons and i think characters should be that written like one tracked mindset cause every character has some sides which differ from their initial believe call it having double standards or not but i think it would be cool to have those traits
hello can you ask the artist for like some proof or something if they actually made this art or if they used ai. many of us thought this was made by ai.
it's 100% AI
even the "edit" can be fixed easily, rework the image, cut the silhouette to keep the elements on the front, change the cabin, and add minimum details by hand at the end
it's 100% AI
even the "edit" can be fixed easily, rework the image, cut the silhouette to keep the elements on the front, change the cabin, and add minimum details by hand at the end
As an artist, this is 100% AI OR overdrawn over AI. This is a very simple design with not many colours or complex features, which makes it easy to overdraw. The only way to know is to get a speedpaint of the whole "artwork" being created.
And the AI-detectors that are made to SUPPOSEDLY track AI-generated images, but they aren't 100% accurate, in fact I once inserted a painting by Da Vinci, and the detector said its got a 99% chance of being AI-generated, which is not true. But why did the detector think that? That is because generative AI creates "art" by basing on already existing art.
While this "artist" may have tweaked or changed some colors or some features in the design, it doesn't mean its not AI.
Sadly, non-artists (or at least non digital) don't believe in what digital artists with years of experience say.
Kind of bittersweat, i prefer desing A, but i think because of the mellow vibe they pick D.
You chose the WORST ARUGGAGHGHH
You could do a variation on the names Samson & Delilah.
Substitute the biblical version of cutting hair for strength
To cutting the cord for technology.
Either way, I like the series
Indonesian designers are some of the best in value, money, and quality.
except that that cover was made by AI
me and my best friend are gonna start writing a book together. and i’m writing my own trilogy alone
Sounds like tons of fun!
@@MelTorrefranca the trilogy has been fun yet annoying. i’m on the first book of that and me and my friend have yet to begin planning
After watching your all videos i think now i also write a book (but I don't have topic)😼✨
I love the name Clay. If his mother and father are anti-technology, then Clay would be a perfect nod to an older technology. It shows his earthy Roots.
Aria Nova or Lyra for the girl. I'm less decided on her 😂
Right now Clay, Archie, and Finn seem to be the top 3 haha
DO NOVA AND FINN 😊
Could you do a video about finding editors and how to get copyrights etc. I’m writing a book by myself and I created my own cover. I just want some help with formatting and editing my drafts.
The middle character could be a girl that’s a friend of theirs or someone they meet at camp and kind of takes the adventure with them. Or maybe she pushes them to look more into whatever mystery surrounding the technology. Her mom could be some top scientist or someone who sponsors they camp so she goes every summer or something
You guys read my mind about the girl lol. Nova and Archie for sure. I like watching this process because I can use it as a guide outline my book even though it’s a different genre
@@naturallybecoming831 So glad this video is helpful for your process too! Excited to post more like this one :))
Sounds interesting.
If you publish this book i would like to read it
We're def going to publish it! :))
@@MelTorrefranca I'm glad to hear that!
I really like Daphne and Finn!
Ah someone else mentioned that pairing too and I love it! Though it has the same feel of Daphne and Fred from Scooby Doo? Or am I being paranoid? Haha
No, you’re not lol! The two names just stick together really well! I’m writing my own book and I’m actually almost finished with the first draft. 😂
Loved seeing this process, makes me want to write with a partner, someone to hold me accountable.😂 I like Nova for the girls name and Silas or Clay for the boy.
It's been fun for sure!! Thanks for watching :))
I like Daphne or Aria for the girl, and Finn or Archie for the boy
Charlie and Daphne for me
Harrypotter☇💜😊
I like the name Nova for the girl and Archie for the boy
Nova and Clay
Iris and Clay or Daphne and Clay but definitely Clay 😂
Lots of votes for Clay and Finn!
Silus and Iris
Is it going to be an e book or a physical book?
Both! But you can only order an ebook for now :))
second (also Clay is nice name)
why did you comment this?
because I felt like it.
waao
why did i waaao
bcz i like your comment
Iris and Silas
Rhymes!
Loveitt!!
You need a video editor ?
I can do a sample video:)
Im 13 first time writing im trying to make a medieval fantasu novel of course im at a road block as i dont really know how to do write all that well yet and i cant make a book cover since i have no money to pay people so i was wondering if you have any types to a new writer
its very gravity falls like
Yes, may be cause here is 2 siblings and a billionaire villain like was in gravity fall blue shirt white hair short guy.
But they should focus on day to day life too to change that feeling and more character which can change the relation of characters among eachother so we can get different look of character to make it feel different.😂i thought it was like gftoo
What's the name of the font you used for the title?
Ethnocentric Bold
How Can i find this book after you've publish it ?
the link is in the description of the vid
I try to pre order but it wont let me add to cart
If you're on a phone, make sure to click it twice! I'll look into this too, in case there's a website glitch :))
💜💜💜💜💜
amazing backgrounds musics , name plase ....
It's the Cabin 5 theme song!
@@MelTorrefranca amazing , can you upload the theme song on your channel ?
Does laurel have any socials we could go support? ❤
Yep, she recently started an Instagram: instagram.com/laurel_the_writer
First
Hi Mel, I’m Samuel, been a subscriber for a bit and I find your channel and content very interesting, informative and motivational and it has helped me enjoy reading again, also eliminated my social media addiction. I’m a video editor and I would love to edit your videos for free at least the first few upcoming uploads and if you like it, maybe we could work together and I can add value to your channel edit by edit. Let me know if you’ll like that. Although I’ll understand if that’s not what you’re looking for now.
Yet Again, I appreciate your channel and contents.
Hey Samuel! Thanks for sticking around! Would you mind sending me an email about this? :))
@@MelTorrefranca Of course I would love to, what’s your email?
@@acrxss author@meltorrefranca.com