That all-important eye-catching wrapper is the first introduction of your masterpiece to your reader. You never can make a new first impression. How do you put your best face forward? With a fabulous cover.
Whether you are using a photograph, original artwork or stark text, your cover needs to be a few things. Since 18% of readers claim the cover was the reason they even read the book description, let’s look at a few examples not to emulate.
Clear
(c) Hazel West
After working for the perfect title, the reader needs to be able to read it. Your title needs to be:
- unimpeded by graphics
- in a legible font
- in a contrasting color to the background
- large enough to read at a glance
All of the above are equally applicable to your name.
On the cover to the right, the title and subtitle are difficult to read because they are the same color as the man’s hair.
Uncluttered
A busy cover can leave a strange taste in your reader’s mouth. Collage covers need to stick to the content of the book and leave enough open space for the reader not to be overwhelmed by all of the parts.
If you are going to depict characters from your book, you may want to use snapshot candid photographs, portraits or a scene. Certain genres, like romance and fantasy, often show a scene central to the theme or in introduction of the characters.
Balance these so they do not interfere with the title and vice versa. Giving the reader’s eye some space sparks the imagination.
Memorable
If you think about it, you can probably remember the cover to a book you read whose title escapes you entirely. The image was gripping or frightful or in some other way gave your emotions a shake. Like the melody of a song you cannot get out of your head, you remember.
Give this to your reader. By choosing a cover image which is central to your story line, you are making your story one readers will return to again to fill in the memory gaps.
However…
Some common mistakes authors make when choosing what goes on their cover are:
Branding: Choosing an image indicative of the author’s lifestyle which is not reflected in the book.
Hooks: Excessive long spoilers to get the reader to buy the book, better suited for the jackback
(c) Gary Brecher
Cluttering: Attempting to get a representative of every chapter on the cover
(c) Andy Schoepp
Color: Not enough contrast
Font: Something trendy which is not representative of the contents or something difficult to read
(c) Nancy Rommelmann
Click to enlarge
Headshot: Fiction really should not have the author’s picture on the cover, especially not with questionable photo editing.
(c) The Four Redheads
Missing Information: Subtitle and series insignia are musts.
Over Shopped: Morphing images can go horridly awry when attempting a complex cover.
(c) Janet Lane Walters
Details Wrong: If your protagonist wears a blazer, putting him in a hoodie on the cover is wrong.
Emotion Wrong: Evoking an emotion not supported by the text
And he is not holding a bag…
Sex Sells: Is your book erotica or romance or contain sex scenes? Then, no.
(c) William Goldman
My Friend, The Artiste: Get more than one opinion on the quality of the art.
(c) Penny Watson
Framing: When layering images, be careful with the impression you leave.
(c) Penny Richards
License: Just because you downloaded it from a “free” site does not mean you may use it for commercial (selling your book) purposes without paying for a license from the image owner, who likely is not the owner of the website where you downloaded the image.
KISS
The elements of a terrific book cover are:
- Easy to read title
- Classic font face
- Good contrast
- Image indicative of content
- Sufficient dead space
By keeping it simple, you can get a cover which will stay in the minds of your readers and draw them back to your book.
Just as you sent your manuscript to beta, test drive your cover with your blog audience, book club, beta readers and uninterested parties.
If you are going to do it yourself, remember your cover is going to represent the quality of the text beneath it. If it does not shine, pedestrian readers are not going to stop to see if your did a better job inside than out. Your cover is not a social media meme, yet. It will become your calling card.
When in doubt, contract an artist to do your cover. It is an investment in your book which can increase your sales more than 15%.
What is the worst cover? What is your favorite book cover? Do you have a book you remember the cover but not the plot? Have you ever bought a book solely because the cover was interesting?
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Laurie
/ April 3, 2013I do believe the worse cover I have ever seen would have to be the people that appear to be getting married on someone’s crotch. I may have nightmares about that image.
Laurie recently posted..Hot Flash Wine (50)
Red
/ April 3, 2013Bwahahaha! I know, right? *giggles evilly*
Red
/ April 5, 2013Sometimes, initial concept is not all it appears… or far more than…
Bo Lumpkin
/ April 3, 2013C is also confusing. It can be especially bad in a “How To” or non-fiction book when the cover offers something the book does not deliver.
Bo Lumpkin recently posted..Just Skip The Bad Part
Red
/ April 5, 2013In recent years, I have gotten how to books which never did get to how to do what the title says, much less the insistent, allegedly successful hands on the cover.
Gail Thornton
/ April 3, 2013Another vote for the crotch wedding here! The most memorable book cover for me which dates back forty years is No Exit by Kafka. It is a solid dark yellow cover with a black corner banner with the title. Paperback. I don’t recall the other book covers I’ve seen, even though I’ve loved so many books. This has been a great post, thanks Red! xxx
Gail Thornton recently posted..Intoxicated
RLB
/ April 4, 2013I’m trying to remember ANY book cover that stayed with me over the years, and the only one I can come up with right now is a Grosset & Dunlap (yes, I always noticed the publishers; weird that way) reprint of Uncle Remus. Possibly because Mawie frequently read it to me, dialect and all. Loved the stories, and the b & w illustrations inside, especially B’rer Fox harnessed up with blinders and sitting dejected (don’t remember why) with his head hanging low.
Red
/ April 5, 2013There are a number of publishers who are well known merely for their atrocious covers. One of them is depicted in the images above.
Red
/ April 5, 2013It is why children’s books have the most memorable covers. Not just for the color, but for the agreement between cover and story.
Red
/ April 5, 2013My most memorable cover, I still cannot find the book. Apparently, the image, which was fabulous, was not indicative of the title. I would love to read it again; alas, it is one which was borrowed and not returned. *sigh*
BuddhaKat
/ April 3, 2013Oh so right, my friend… I was lucky to have a good enough eye to find just the right one for mine. But it was so inspiring to watch as other covers came alive! Another excellent and to the point post!
hugs
🙂
BuddhaKat recently posted..C is for… CORSAGE
Red
/ April 5, 2013I think watching them evolve is fun.
Alexandra Heep
/ April 3, 2013Oh boy, where to begin.
There is this fantasy series I read and it was quite clear that the person who did the cover art did not know the characters.
The covers would usually include a scene from the book that had a variety of characters, even battle scenes. Yet, the hair length, facial hair, size etc. often were off. Really bugged me.
I also do not like those cheesy romance book covers. Not everyone’s idea of a hunk is a spray-tanned muscle-bound idiot with short hair and 3-day facial growth.
Alexandra Heep recently posted..C is for Charcoal Delights
Red
/ April 5, 2013I think the worst offenders are often romance and sci-fi which completely miss the point. I often have to wonder if the manuscript were finished enough to give to the artists or if someone on the editing staff, who had not read the book, chose in an effort to save time.
Miss R
/ April 3, 2013I am still still laughing uncontrollably.
You fucking nailed it. With MAJOR aplomb.
Miss R recently posted..My HP axed me to post this
Red
/ April 5, 2013So very glad to see you, chica <3 xxx
El Guapo
/ April 3, 2013I’ve read a ton of books based on the cover alone.
Always sad when the artist is more talented than the author.
El Guapo recently posted..The Ghost Ingredient
Red
/ April 5, 2013I think you have been reading off the shelf I have designated specifically for it.
Valentine Logar
/ April 3, 2013Some of those are pretty bad, but I cannot believe you don’t have one single bodice ripper, not one.
There are so many bad ones out there. I ignore covers of authors I read all the time so I can’t think of any really bad ones off the top. Personally, I tend to like plain covers with little to distract.
Red
/ April 5, 2013There are bodice rippers in the bunch. I simply could not drag myself to post a picture of Fabio.
jeremy
/ April 3, 2013I agree 100% on the cover of the book. The cover gets you ready to read the story. My favorite has to be the LumberJack in love.
jeremy recently posted..WHERE ARE YOU?
Red
/ April 5, 2013It was a tough choice for me. There were scads which were on par with that one. Glad to see you, Jeremy.
Gingerfightback
/ April 4, 2013Lumberjack in Love is genius! Subtle, understated and no doubt will involve a lot of wood in the tale. Marvellous!
Red
/ April 5, 2013Methinks, I would have made the stack a mite larger were that the case 😉 Great to see you today, Jim.