It's been over a year now since I started VNProject ([link]), a discussion and development forum for visual novel projects - the journey has been a bittersweet experience, flavored with the usual joys and perils of starting a new venture. Initial adrenaline and enthusiasm could only last so long - we soon discover that it's persistence, hard work, and commitment to result that keep the select VN projects progressing long after the rest, flight-of-fancy-powered ones faded into obscurity.

One of the most troublesome problems that has been hindering us since the beginning is the lack of competent illustrators willing to commit to visual novel projects. This is understandable from a commercial point of view - why spend your time drawing for free or uncertain future rewards when you can make significant $$$ right now working on commissions? Currently I could foresee a few ways out of this problem:

1. Pay them illustrators - most reasonable one, but also the hardest alternative for fledgling amateur visual novel projects which often have to finance their own costs, let alone getting any sponsored financing.

2. Having the illustrators invest and commit into the effort by incorporating their ideas and wishes into the VN (sometimes even to the point of making the VN the illustrator's dream story comes true) - it's good, but hampered by the fact that most illustrators aren't good writers (and unfortunately, it also applies the other way around - most writers are horrible illustrators).

3. Chain the illustrator's girlfriend to a bomb, control the remote detonator, and then kindly ask him to draw for your project (just kidding!).

What's your take?

P.S: Shameless plugin: VNProject is always looking for competent and motivated illustrators for its projects - or you illustrators could always set up your own project there!