What Is the Book Cover

 

• Images: the artwork or photos

• Words: the fonts of titles and content

• Content: title, taglines, back-cover description, and bio

• Blurbs: endorsements

 

Good Book Covers

 

A good book covers will:

• be more than a lovely cover; it will communicate.

• capture the essence of the story.

• be a reader’s first interaction with an author’s story and style.

• shape the store browser’s opinion of the story.

• market and advertise the book.

• be displayed on bookmarks, posters, book blogs, and other media.

• make its observer wonder.

• be created for the same audience as the story was written for.

• vie for browsers’ and book buyers’ attention.

• beg those perusing to take a second glance.

• compete for the attention of busy book reviewers.

• 

  image by Unsplash

  have a nice balance between the images and words and fonts.

• remain within the norms of its genre, but be noticeable.

• symbolize what will gradually be more obvious to the reader as he reads the story.

• portray the tone and genre, as well as mood and theme.

 

Why a Book Cover Works

 

• A well-designed cover tells the browser that the content has value to the customer.

• For first-time authors, a great cover will make up for anonymity.

• Interesting, intriguing covers shout interesting and intriguing story (and vice versa).

 

What Is Used in Creating a Book Cover

 

• Depending on what’s available, some notes, a synopsis, the manuscript, and/or information about the author to understand his style.

• Information about the period, season, and setting.

• An idea of the story’s tone and mood.

• Example book covers or photos.

• Listed items important to the story, such as people or animals; be specific as to the type.

• Physical descriptions of the hero and the heroine.

 

How Authors Are Involved

 

Sometimes authors are:

• not afforded input.

• asked for limited input.

• sent mock-ups and asked to choose one.

• ignored as to their input and choices.

• wise to let the professionals do their job.

• resigned to love or hate their covers.

 

When You’re Asked for Input, Take Advantage

 

• Spend time in a bookstore and
  • notice what covers have interested browsers,
  • study covers in your genre that target your audience, and
  • evaluate what makes books stand out.

• 

  image by Kevin-K-Model

  Suggest colors to be used. Red, yellow, and orange are considered high-arousal colors and make items appear closer. Blue, green, and purple are low-arousal colors and make things seem farther away.

• If you have a series, ask that certain words, fonts, or images be replicated to identify the book as part of a series.

• When choosing example photos, remember simplicity outranks complexity. Unnecessary items are distracting.

Help in the creation or input for your book cover’s design. Click to tweet.

What in a book cover grabs you when you’re browsing?