Don't Judge a Cover by its Book

Let’s face it, a novel with a well designed and interesting cover will sell more than its counterparts; this is because we as humans are attracted to things that are visually pleasing. Whether or not your book has actual substance, if the cover is unable to capture the attention of a potential reader you will have a difficult time becoming a prominent author. This is especially true when you are first beginning your career. The world of writing is already difficult enough to break into without handicapping yourself by publishing your novel without a well designed cover; most readers will simply pass it by without even a second glance and leave it on some bookstore shelf to gather dust. How dare they! You spent a countless amount of time and energy fashioning every aspect of your novel into an enthralling tale full of adventure, woes, romance, and triumph. Attacking your book cover with the same fervor that you dispense upon the novel is exactly what you need to draw a potential reader into your fold.

There are a few ways to go about designing a cover for your book, the first is to create one yourself. I personally, have never been very good at graphic design, or any kind of design for that matter, but there are still a few simple guidelines to follow if you wish for your cover to look like it was planned by a professional. The most straightforward way to design your own cover is to, whether on your desktop or on paper, draw it up yourself. For many of the less artistically inclined out there (Who has two thumbs and can’t draw to save his life? This guy) this might be an impractical solution to your predicament. Thankfully there is a vast myriad of royalty-free stock photographs out there; this can be a double edged sword though. If you have access to all of these images, that means everyone else does too.

When searching through websites that grant you access to these images, some of the more popular ones being IStock Photos and Dreamstine, you have to be picky about what photographs you choose. Try to find one that not only accurately depicts the feelings and emotions that you want your written word to elicit within your readers, but one that is also not commonly used for other novels. If you find an image that works perfectly for your novel, but it is one that dozens of other books use as well, try editing the image to help set it apart.

The other option before you, dear reader, is to hire someone to design a cover. While this option might not appeal to everyone, obviously it involves shilling out at least a few dollars, it is usually the more professional route to take and will, more likely than not, be the path that leads your novel to even greater heights. There are many websites out there to help connect you with professional cover designers with loads of experience, some of them being Reedsy and Fiverr, but having so many options can sometimes be a burden rather than a boon. Some good things to look for when you attempt to narrow down your search for the right designer are their experience, the genre of book they typically design for, and of course price. A good rule of thumb when it comes to price is to look for anything below $300. While this might be on the more expensive end, there’s a good chance it will help draw more readers in. If this is more than you are willing to spend on something as simple as pasting a photo on your front cover, then there are plenty of options in the $5 to $50 range. Just make sure that you get quotes from multiple sources or you might end up choosing a designer that isn’t right for your vision.

As with most other things when it comes to publishing a novel, designing a cover can seem like an insurmountable task, but if you take advantage of all the resources given to you it will be a much easier burden to bear. What are your thoughts on a book’s cover and how it factors into sales? Do you prefer flashy covers, or ones that are more subtle? Let me know your thoughts, and as always happy writing out there.