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Imagine an intern arriving for a corporate interview dressed in shorts and flip-flops. Would that intern be taken seriously?
But if that intern showed up in a sharp suit, the interview might go very differently.
Your book’s cover should look like that well-dressed intern: clean, professional, confident. When readers are impressed by your cover, they’re more willing to explore what you communicate on the inside.
If you’re not a graphic designer, it’s essential that you work with a designer experienced in cover design. Here at WinePress, we have some of the most sought-after cover designers in the publishing business. Our designers work closely with our authors to create top-quality covers that reflect each book’s tone, feel, and contents.
Before you begin working with your cover designer, you should collect ideas.
Visit a bookstore and browse covers in your genre. Pay close attention to books that will be the same trim size and number of pages as yours.
Look at the front cover. What pops out at you?
Now look at the back cover.
Finally, look at the spine (this is the part of the book most buyers see first)
Communicate Your Ideas
When you begin working with your cover designer, give him/her your ideas for the cover design. If you’ve collected samples or photocopies of covers and typography you like, pass those along to your designer.
Provide the designer several concise points that convey the key elements or message of your book (your designer won’t have time to read your manuscript).
Understand that the graphic designer will tweak your ideas as he/she transforms them into a sharp, eye-catching design. Don’t make “written in stone” demands about fonts, colors, and images. The more adamant you are, the more you limit your designer. Your graphic designer is the expert; partnering together, you’ll create a unique cover that commands a second look.
(By the way: are you looking for even more free tools, tips, and resources? Follow us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on the latest)
As a designer and developer at WinePress Publishing, Thomas specializes in book jackets, websites, illustrations, and advertisements. You can follow him on twitter here: @ThomasEMcGee
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Very helpful, thanks
I like the idea of us working together.
I appreciate the information.
This is a beautiful and informative publication, but I think it leaves most of the designing to be done by the author. I suggest that the designer should and must find time to read the author’s manuscripts, for only that will afford him the soul of the designing project. No one can build big boats who ain’t seen a fish!
Daniel » Very good points, especially your concern about leaving the design to the author. The purpose of this article was hopefully to educate of what makes up a strong cover design, or design elements and techniques to consider. In the end, an author should definitely trust their designer to deliver a quality finished piece.
As for a book’s message, it would be great if a designer could read an author’s entire manuscript, but unfortunately, there’s just not the time to do it for every book that one designs for. A good alternative is targeted and effective questions about a book’s main points. This can more than suffice for a designer to create a unique and powerful cover design. Thanks for your feedback!
To the contrary I also think that the professional designer should guide or lead the author (who should be seen as a novice and inexperienced in the art of designing) every step of the way. The author may collate data and suggest ideas that are only personal or subjective; but the book cover design is not a work for the author himself, it is a product for the target readership and as such should be guided by the professionalism and inputs of the designer, the reason why the designer must study and understand the underlying elements in the author’s manuscript. The designers role is enormous; the reason why his pay is fat!
Daniel » I couldn’t agree more that a designer should guide every step of the way. You may want to check out this article for some good reasons we always suggest trusting the designer to be the one to deliver a quality cover design.
Thomas, thanks for finding time to reply our comments which tells of your humility and openmindedness. By my comments, which I think you understood, I was only affirming the implicit confidence and trust I have in you (my designer); and do pray for God’s grace and guidance to the intent that you produce a masterpiece with all the skillful abilities that God has bestowed upon you. I checked out the other article which I consider very interesting and beautiful and also a sequel to this one.
This is an area I have no expertise so I am prepared to take advise and follow instructions.
YOU DID A GOOD JOB ON “WHAT’S NEXT LORD”
THANK YOU