A Breakdown of Your Cover

November 17, 2009 at 11:38 am mbutler22 Leave a comment

Do first impressions matter? The answer is yes, even if the opinion is later altered due to, let’s say, your book’s content. And so, for the sake of your three-second introduction to the reading public, your book will need to flaunt its gist through a creative and custom-inspired book cover.

A book is a book is a book, and when readers are browsing the cyber shelves, your cover needs to measure up to your interior content. Preview your book successfully by evaluating each element of the book cover and make it relevant to your story.

Title — Place yourself in the reader’s shoes when making your final decision for your book’s title. Does your selection make sense to the reader? Is it easy to remember? When choosing your title make sure it conveys your message and fits the design you have in mind. As a writer, try not to get too caught up in creating a clever title, sometimes straightforward is better.

Subtitle — If needed, elaborate further into your book’s subject with a subtitle. A good subtitle specifically explains your book through a descriptive line complimenting your title. Include any searchable key words that are not in your title, where appropriate, into your subtitle.

Cover Design — Apply a professional design service to your cover. Your title should be legible at a glance, avoiding small or faint text as well as busy backgrounds. Select a font or two for your text, staying away from decorative fonts to continue the professional appeal.

Choose a strong image that conveys your book and integrates with your title. A single image usually impacts more than multiple images. Remember that your image is second to your title, so beware of overpowering.

Continue your congruent design of colors and fonts through the spine and back cover. Make sure all text is easy to read.

Back or Panel Copy — Summarize your book with directness. Describe the premise of your story while highlighting the feeling intertwined.

Blurb — Endorsements by readers do help. They are references for your work and we all appreciate recommendations. Place your endorsement on your back cover, unless it is from a well-known personality in which you may then add it to the front cover.

Spine — Simple, easy to read, and viewable sideways. Usually will not include subtitle due to space and design.

Bio — Briefly and eloquently state who you are and your most recent accomplishments. Try to keep your author description around three sentences.

Invest in your cover design and layout. Your story is one of a kind and your cover should be as well. Make an impact on potential readers and create a marketing edge to your book. As a strong contributor to book sales, prepare your book to be judged by its cover.

-Melissa

Visit Wordclay to review options for enhancing your book’s appeal and cover design.

Entry filed under: Book Design. Tags: Book Cover, cover, cover art, Cover Design, Self-Publishing, Stock Art Cover.

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Imagine a setting or situation in which you would be an outsider. Say it’s your first day learning karate and the rest of your class are black belts. Or perhaps you find yourself smack dab in the middle of an NRA conference and you adamantly oppose firearms. How would you react? How would you feel? Being an outsider can often provide the perfect springboard into your character’s mentalities as well as an objective viewpoint that can be used to describe settings more naturally. (2/4/11)

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Writing, Self-Publishing, Book Marketing