tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post4549648607220865437..comments2024-03-20T08:27:29.290+11:00Comments on .W.I.P. It: 16 Tips to Fake a Professional Book Cover Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-89113922561218322952013-08-19T11:23:22.591+10:002013-08-19T11:23:22.591+10:00It's interesting you should say that (about it...It's interesting you should say that (about it's often better when the author has control). In the case of picture books, many traditional publishers will keep the author and illustrator apart. The reason being, there's a certain magic in the interpretation. The illustrator will often add more than even the author first realised when he or she wrote the book. Stories often have a life of their own.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-5958122518640915062013-08-19T09:07:37.971+10:002013-08-19T09:07:37.971+10:00Great advice on covers. And you're right, unle...Great advice on covers. And you're right, unless you have a healthy following built up, its the cover that sells the book.Sandra Coxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03814573408898140885noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-74374161773991992122013-08-19T02:38:45.715+10:002013-08-19T02:38:45.715+10:00Excellent advice, some of it can be used on webpag...Excellent advice, some of it can be used on webpages too. The contrast of font to background comes to mind. I have come across too many backgrounds with a dark font that are beautiful and impossible to read. **sighs** <br /><br /><a href="https://emaginette.wordpress.com/blog" rel="nofollow">Anna from Shout with Emaginette</a><br />emaginettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03324981140248692448noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-21120231546136931432013-08-18T19:27:12.632+10:002013-08-18T19:27:12.632+10:00Great tips. I dislike comic sans and I don't w...Great tips. I dislike comic sans and I don't want to see clipart on a book cover. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-9087100492332424022013-08-18T13:29:52.958+10:002013-08-18T13:29:52.958+10:00It might be unfair, but you're so right. I do ...It might be unfair, but you're so right. I do judge books by their covers, and I've passed on many, many, many books entirely based solely on the amateurish, cringe-worthy cover. When it's time for me to start thinking about my own cover, I'll be back here to re-read.Kern Windwraithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16771591425163484238noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-70493568173085196282013-08-17T23:38:29.590+10:002013-08-17T23:38:29.590+10:00I'm so glad I have a crit buddy who is a talen...I'm so glad I have a crit buddy who is a talented cover designer because most of the amateur ones look exactly that!Jemi Fraserhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02214408467456320167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-6823343129569788292013-08-16T17:46:39.724+10:002013-08-16T17:46:39.724+10:00Very useful tips, Lynda!
I say, leave the artwork ...Very useful tips, Lynda!<br />I say, leave the artwork to the professionals!<br /><a href="http://writer-in-transit.co.za/" rel="nofollow">Writer In Transit</a>Michelle Wallacehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02750092836481599870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-63341017123527833052013-08-16T15:54:38.367+10:002013-08-16T15:54:38.367+10:00Ha! Even with my 9 years of graphic design experie...Ha! Even with my 9 years of graphic design experience, I probably woukdn't design my own cover if I were to self-publish. It's good to know, though, that I'll have Dezzy's intergalactic seal of visual greatness if ever needed. Hugs.Lynda R Young as Elle Cardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09975442291393246148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-32273220035791369532013-08-16T10:03:14.669+10:002013-08-16T10:03:14.669+10:00I think making a cover takes more than just being ...I think making a cover takes more than just being a good artist, as you say. I would rather hire someone who knows about it than do a pitiful job.Al Diazhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08107619009321980764noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-24092621671350444062013-08-16T09:30:11.474+10:002013-08-16T09:30:11.474+10:00Stopping by to say Hi.Stopping by to say Hi.JJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14692103477055483000noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-27800541480425630902013-08-16T04:11:22.943+10:002013-08-16T04:11:22.943+10:00All amazing tips, Lynda. Thankfully I'm marrie...All amazing tips, Lynda. Thankfully I'm married to a graphic artist, and really got into logo/artistic design when younger. If I had to, I could design my own cover, but the hubby does a much better job making it shine. <br /><br />As far as covers go, I think it's often better when the author has control, not necessarily to design it, but to direct the vision of where it goes. stellar. Crystal Collierhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03912469552483168148noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-68879971315889927992013-08-16T02:44:15.783+10:002013-08-16T02:44:15.783+10:00Great advice:) I've been contemplating some of...Great advice:) I've been contemplating some of these very steps:)Markhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01793077012143289985noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-45233601442475936702013-08-15T11:47:54.014+10:002013-08-15T11:47:54.014+10:00Very good tips! I always let a professional desig...Very good tips! I always let a professional design my book covers.Sherry Ellishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07844837212122243321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-73208031084287549122013-08-15T10:23:35.062+10:002013-08-15T10:23:35.062+10:00You're right, with so many covers out there yo...You're right, with so many covers out there you don't want your book to stand out in a bad way. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11622191037152999869noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-9237670897374434492013-08-15T08:23:43.161+10:002013-08-15T08:23:43.161+10:00Awesome advice, Lynda. I'm a novice and instea...Awesome advice, Lynda. I'm a novice and instead of using plain font used fancy on a cover. Which I don't like now...<br /><br />NasNas https://www.blogger.com/profile/08341843048288374472noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-11514670037339243402013-08-15T08:03:52.625+10:002013-08-15T08:03:52.625+10:00Wonderful advice. Thanks, Lynda.Wonderful advice. Thanks, Lynda.Nana Prahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12854685637338591856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-2647300295015414772013-08-15T05:10:07.072+10:002013-08-15T05:10:07.072+10:00Excellent examples! I know we buy books by the cov...Excellent examples! I know we buy books by the cover. I did as a bookstore owner. It's sad some of the awful ones that people do.Terri Tiffanyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07771622379178654235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-175286890337392492013-08-15T05:03:52.648+10:002013-08-15T05:03:52.648+10:00These are great tips. The last thing I want to do ...These are great tips. The last thing I want to do is have a cover that looks like I did it myself. My kids (who are all artists of various mediums) and I all joke about one overused font in particular. It really is worth getting someone who has the ability and an artistic eye to design, or at least help, with a cover. Karen Langehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18177923284595298347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-9774376206064069592013-08-15T04:43:32.665+10:002013-08-15T04:43:32.665+10:00Great post, Lynda. Excellent tips. :)Great post, Lynda. Excellent tips. :)Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08516493326566981116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-56823101589478397702013-08-15T01:42:23.511+10:002013-08-15T01:42:23.511+10:00Great tips! I "thought" I knew exactly w...Great tips! I "thought" I knew exactly what I wanted for my cover, but fortunately, I had the good sense to heed the designer's advise. She knew what she was talking about; what I had in mind would have been trite, and much too dark for the actual tone of the book.Susan Flett Swiderskihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425315552148200073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-51885740468344439352013-08-15T00:49:52.087+10:002013-08-15T00:49:52.087+10:00There are two things I just won't do because I...There are two things I just won't do because I know I don't have the talent or interest in trying. One is designing a book cover and two is singing Carmen. I'll let the professionals handle both of those.<br /><br />You've given those less intimidated by the challenge of cover design than I, some great guidelines. cleemckenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15456109243453726483noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-85983587528636854882013-08-15T00:24:23.117+10:002013-08-15T00:24:23.117+10:00Thanks for the tips! My nephew is developing my co...Thanks for the tips! My nephew is developing my cover art this week. I paid for a couple images from Shutterstock to incorporate into the overall cover. Together they cost $29.00. A small price to pay for what I'm looking for,Stephen Tremphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10387553613827257304noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-46535728663942246242013-08-14T23:29:06.053+10:002013-08-14T23:29:06.053+10:00Thanks for the amazing tips Lynda. I am a cover no...Thanks for the amazing tips Lynda. I am a cover novice. Frankly speaking, I would be at a loss were I to design my book cover.Rachna Chhabriahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16900999965919504282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-20883560531248367712013-08-14T22:34:18.868+10:002013-08-14T22:34:18.868+10:00pfftt.... for other's people book's perhap...pfftt.... for other's people book's perhaps if they have low standards... but you are aware that I won't let you publish your own book with a book cover like that, yes? :PPPP You will need Dezzy's Intergalactic seal of visual greatness before you publish your cover :) DEZMONDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14127166104359407763noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7030453069845909403.post-22124953987550665332013-08-14T22:05:59.586+10:002013-08-14T22:05:59.586+10:00Thank you so much, Lynda, I'm running around i...Thank you so much, Lynda, I'm running around in circles at the moment. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07957545161716269528noreply@blogger.com