Book covers are a tricky business. All of the wonderfulness of your story needs to be reflected in an attention-grabbing cover that will make readers want to choose your book. Now that your story has been written, lets explore some cover thoughts and ideas.
Genre
It’s important to convey the genre of your book to give potential readers an idea of what your book is about. Established design styles will serve as a guide, but here are a few examples: A planet (not Earth) with a darker design might indicate it’s a science-fiction story, an image of a couple (or a solitary figure) with flowing, curvilinear script might place it in the historical romance category. A landscape or a positive, uplifting image might be just the thing for a self-help or motivational book. Books for children most often have bright colors and simple, easy-to-read titles. Visit a bookstore or research online for ideas and standards.
Hints for the Reader
Once you have the genre established, you’ll want to give your potential reader an idea of what your book is about without giving the entire story away. Don’t clutter the cover with every detail that’s in the book. Instead, spend some time thinking about what one or two main and/or intriguing images might be best for the cover. Relate them to the story, but don’t give anything away. The cover of your book should invite the reader to discover what’s inside.
Something fun to consider: Add one, small object (perhaps for the back cover) that makes readers wonder why it’s there. Is it a birthday cake, or a serpent? A trident? A wheelbarrow? If you decide to add an object that raises a question, ensure it’s answered and/or explained to the reader in the story.
Fonts and Formatting
If you decide to have a hard copy and an eBook, you’ll need to be aware of certain technological standards to help your book’s visibility. Choose an easy-to-read font with a color that stands out from the background. The size should be easily visible on the paperback version as well as a thumbnail image. Not everyone reads hard copy books; many read on electronic devices and on their phones.
The title should be the focal point. It tells the reader what the book is about and separates it from other books on the shelf (even if they’re in the same genre’). Make it easy-to-read while giving an indication of what the book is about.
Series Design Element
Is your book part of a series? You’ll want to think of an image or some other design element that will tie them together. Is it a particular location that changes throughout the series—seasons or centuries? Is there one object (like a hat, teapot, or writing desk) that changes or evolves through the series? The object you choose should have special significance in the story because if readers see it on the cover, they will be looking for it on the page and will want the question of its inclusion explained. A key, thematic element will go a long way in connecting your series and grabbing readers’ attention. You may want to indicate that it is one in a series (Book #1 in the Read Them All series) or reinforce the genre’ (A Time-Travel Romance).
Back Cover
The back cover should contain the book blurb, a really important part of your cover. It reveals a bit about the plot, characters, and the central conflict of the story. You have limited space, so use it wisely.
Your “hint” image may appear here. See the “Hints” paragraph if you’re considering one.
Also, a catch phrase (if you have one) above the blurb might catch potential readers’ attention.
There’s also some business-related stuff that has to go here, like your book’s ISBN number and the barcode that houses it. The publisher’s name may appear here, along with any awards/testimonials you may want to include. Caution: Don’t clutter it up! You may want those on the last page of the book.
It might help the book’s background image if it’s something that flows from the front to the back. Not duplicating the front, but continuing the shading/coloring from the front to the back will make it more attractive and show the reader that it was given the proper amount of thought and consideration.
Know your target audience, and do your research! If you’re paying for cover design, it will save on the number of drafts/versions, which may save you money in the long run. If you’re designing your own cover, you’ll want to know what the genre’ guidelines are so your book has the best chance of fitting in and being plucked from the shelf. Be patient. The first draft will not be the last. Be thoughtful and deliberate in making it the best it can be!
Leave a Reply