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February Question - If you are an Indie author, do you make your own covers or purchase them? If you publish trad, how much input do you have about what goes on your cover?
The February co-hosts are Jacqui Murray, Ronel Janse van Vuuren, Pat Garcia, and Gwen Gardner! Thank you!
As an indie author, I've enjoyed creating my own book covers. It's not a simple process! There's searching for the right image with the right background along with fitting characters. Sometimes I cut and paste them and make them fit! But before I pick anything out, I weigh out in my mind what would make the best window to my book. Would it be the climax? The theme? Just the character?
Then there's the font! Font has personality and quietly reveals the feel of the story. Along with font, the title. Does the title portray your story accurately? Will you have a subtitle or a tagline? What sort of font will you choose for the author name? Will your name be on the same line or will you stack it?
Everything must harmonize! A lot of the times indie authors try not to cover the image, framing it with their name and title so that there's a lot of space in between. To me, that screams indie author! I say, don't be afraid to have font smack, dab in the middle. Do compare your cover to the genre you're writing in. How does the font compare? The images? What about the colors?
As for the traditional side of things, I've not really had a say in it if the publisher is on the bigger side. There are times where I've been impressed and other times where I wish I could hide under a rock! So, it depends on the publisher whether or not you get to share input or not.
As an illustrator for a publisher I'd worked for, I collaborated with the authors to create their cover and ran it by the publisher for approval. It wasn't always easy, because some of the authors couldn't make up their minds sometimes.
For those who've published either way, what experience do you have that you'd like to share?
8 comments:
Great advice. I like your covers in the side-bar.
Ronel visiting for IWSG day Strategies to Be a Successful Author
Since you have created covers for other authors, I can see why you'd be able to design your own covers. I'm not talented enough to do that.
Cool you worked with authors for a publisher. I imagine them not making up their minds would be very frustrating.
I've usually done my own cover illustrations but the fonts and measurements I leave to someone else. I've driven myself mad trying to do the measurements for the cover. I'll choose the fonts that I want and pay someone else who's an expert at it put them on the cover and, as you indicated, choosing the right fonts can be hard because you have to determine what best reflects the story(s).
Theres a lot of decision making that goes into creating your own book covers and it takes a lot of time even with the assistance of software.
I like your point about using the image as a backdrop and not putting it in a frame. I really haven't paid much attention to the differences in covers for different forms of publishing until now.
Hi, Elizabeth! Everything must harmonize ~ Wise words! I'd have to hire a cover designer. Just thinking about doing it myself is overwhelming. Have a great month!
So many things to think about with a cover. I'll stick to writing.
Ronel, thank you!
Natalie, sometime my covers don't pass the critique test and I have to try again! lol
Alex, indeed! Especially when creating the cover with traditional art--there's no "undo" button. Eek!
Steven, oh yes indeed!
Steph, isn't it interesting how readers don't realize what whispers to them as they peruse the shelves? We need to convey enough that will grab their attention and carry all the elements that speak the gist of our book!
Fundy, I know what you mean! I feel that way about everything that's stacking up behind me. Yikes!
Diana--yes! LOL... Writing is best!
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