By Thomas McGee

Working with a custom publisher is great for the control it gives the author. But without the proper education and direction, a cover design can end up less-than-professional. Here are five misconceptions to avoid when going through the design process:

1.  I need to convey as much as possible on the cover.

A simple, clean, readable cover will almost always snag a browser’s attention before a cluttered, over-literal design. Less is more. If you want to go into greater detail about your book and its message, save it for the back cover.

2.  My fonts and colors should be the styles I like best.

While the personal and unique touch is always vital to a design, it should never outweigh the genre or style warranted by the book itself. For example, you would not want your favorite script font used on a novel for teen boys, simply because it’s your favorite font. Always appeal to whoever you want to pick up your title. This makes it all the more important to partner with your cover designer.

3. Any designer can design my cover.

Just as you wouldn’t go to your family doctor to check out a cavity, you wouldn’t pick any Web or print designer to design your cover. Each designer has his or her specialty. Your designer should be well seasoned in the art of cover design. Experience is key.

4. I need to tell the designer exactly where each element, color, and font should be positioned.

The advantage of having a professional cover designer is that he or she works with the tools of fonts, colors, and design elements daily, and knows how to use them. To get the most out of your designer, don’t nail them down to specific placements and elements, but let them know, in general terms, what you are trying to convey.

5. I need to be published with a royalty publisher to get a professional design.

The self-publishing industry’s reputation for unprofessional cover design is well-deserved. But custom publishers, such as WinePress and Pleasant Word, have begun to redeem the self-published market. Offering the great quality design of a royalty publisher, along with the freedom and control of a self-publisher, WinePress has become an invaluable source for any author.

Thomas McGee is a graphic designer at WinePress. His job includes: cover design, Web design, advertising design, and assisting with WinePress’ partner company, Notation Marketing Group. In his spare time, Thomas enjoys volunteering at his local Christian bookstore, The Salt Shaker.