From Anne R. Allen’s Blog… with Ruth Harris:
You can write an award-worthy story, but nobody will find it out if your book cover design doesn’t appeal to the target audience. Book cover design matters, and here’s why:
- It creates the first impression and proves that the story deserves the readers’ time and money.
- No advertising campaign is possible without an eye-catching book cover.
- An attention-grabbing book cover is essential for building your author’s brand.
But how do you get a book cover design that fulfills all its functions? Everything starts with a communication with your designer. The clearer your requirements and expectations are, the better result you’ll get.
In this blog post, you’ll learn five essential steps for effective and successful communication with a book cover designer. Follow them and enjoy the process of creating a book cover that will intrigue the readers and make them want to read your story!
Step 1. Fill in a detailed brief
Every cooperation with a designer starts with a brief. Try to make it as detailed as possible to give the designer an understanding of your book and the hooks in your plot. Here’s what the brief should include:
- Author’s name and book’s title. You can also include a subtitle, tagline, series name, and book number.
- Page count and book dimensions. Though a designer can start working without these details, make sure to add them later.
- Self-publishing platform. The final cover must meet a particular platform’s standards, otherwise you won’t be able to publish your story.
- Format. Indicate whether it’s a paperback, hardcover, ebook, or audiobook.
- Optional elements. You can add a blurb, reviews, and author bio.
- Genre. Readers have certain expectations about each genre with its unique color palette, imagery, and typography.
- Brief plot. It will help book cover designer choose images and elements that highlight the hook of your story.
- Description of the characters. If you prefer a character-based design, the artist will portray the protagonists on the book cover.
- Settings. Each place and era is characterized by particular objects and symbols that create an authentic atmosphere on a book cover.
- Series info. Let the artist know if you write series. In this case, designer will create a cover that will serve as the basis for all the parts.
- References. A few examples of book covers you love will help the designer better understand your vision.
Step 2. Indicate what emotions you want the cover to evoke
We don’t choose books by chance. Instead, we want to feel a particular emotion missing in our everyday lives.
Romantic comedy books attract people who are thirsty for positive and love vibes. Thrillers and horrors appeal to those who want to be intrigued. Fantasy and science fiction stories grab attention if readers search for adventure and unknown worlds.
That is why it is so vital the book appeals to its target audience. So here is a little tip for you. When filling out the brief, specify what emotions you want the book cover to evoke. Based on this information, the designer will select a specific color scheme, images, and typography.
Step 3. Be responsive and cooperate with a cover designer
The best book covers are the result of mutual effort between an author and a designer. Brainstorm different ideas with the designer, share your feedback on the concept, comment on revisions, and pay attention to all the details.
Be generous with your feedback, and if you have any doubts, changes, requests, or additional information, feel free to share it with your designer as soon as possible. Some designers have limitations in the number of revisions, so the sooner you share all your comments, the better.
Link to the rest at Anne R. Allen’s Blog… with Ruth Harris