In a significant departure from my previous novels (and a WIP - which I have shared snippets of on here) which have all been adult-orientated I am taking a dive into a children's novel, which surprisingly is more difficult because I have to take into account the level of vocabulary that a child is likely to know. It needs to hit that Golden Zone where it offers challenge and difficulty but not so much so that it puts the reader off. The same concept exists in gaming and has a specific name which is on the tip of my tongue. The idea is that if a game is too simple it becomes boring, but if it is too hard that same gamer will give up. It really is a sweet spot.

So it is a new challenge for a new day and gives me a future focus - something I need right now. I also have something in my head about meteorites, based on some stories I am telling my five year old at the moment. Each one has its own specific (usually negative) power and at my son's wishes the Paw Patrol have to save the day. Of course I like the concept which is emerging but will have to abandon Chase, Sky, Marshall and all the other pups to avoid copyright issues!

Sorry Pups! I can make up stories about you but I can't write them down.

What has prompted this post today is an experience on an AI platform that I have just had. I went to my usual go to platform where a generation costs 2 coins and the site gives 5 coins a day for free. Suddenly the price went up to 6 coins per generation which basically means it is no longer free. So I went elsewhere and looked to create a cover image for the current children's book that I am working on about a mysterious little creature. First experiments have been better than the previous platform I was using, but it is still very much a work in progress. I don't want the creature to look like anything else on earth, but to be mysterious while not scary.

First attempt - maybe a little scarier than I what I was looking for

So I adjusted the prompt very slightly and came up with something just a bit better. It might take 20 attempts to get it right. I have paid attention to what both Cyptonator and PVM have said about AI images lacking soul and needing realistic shading to bring them to life and so hopefully I have learnt (or am learning) the lessons well.

Second attempt - still a bit too scary, but getting there!

Just thought I would leave it there for you my friends and as always stay safe and well.