Ever felt like something was watching you in the library? You’re not imagining things; it’s just the imps.
In one of my current projects, the protagonist repeatedly crosses paths with clever, mischievous library imps. They’re cat‑sized creatures with iridescent blue‑black skin, long ears (usually pierced), black horns, batlike wings, a forked tail, and a habit of judging humans with great enthusiasm. They’re curious, chaotic, and much like the honey badger, they don’t give a, care.
To help myself write this character more vividly, I experimented with AI image generators to create rough visual references. I used Midjourney, though it stubbornly refused to give an imp with its properly mismatched eyes (one red, one yellow). Even so, having these visual prompts has been surprisingly helpful. Seeing a character like this, how they move, their texture, their expression, it often unlocks new details and behaviors that weren’t always clear to me when it was only words on paper.
Tip:
If you’re a visual thinker, try generating quick AI sketches of your characters or creatures. They don’t have to be perfect or canon, just enough to spark ideas. A single image can help you refine posture, personality, wardrobe, or even narrative tension. Think of it as a creative springboard rather than a final design.