A Breakdown of Your Book Cover - article


Do first impressions matter? The answer is yes, even if the opinion is later altered due to, let's say, your book's content. And so, for the sake of your three-second introduction to the reading public, your book will need to flaunt its gist through a creative and custom-inspired book cover.

A book is a book is a book, and when readers are browsing the cyber shelves, your book cover needs to measure up to your interior content. Preview your book successfully by evaluating each element of the cover design and layout making it relevant to your story.

Title

Place yourself in the reader's shoes when making your final decision for your book's title. Does your selection make sense to the reader? Is it easy to remember? When choosing your title make sure it conveys your message and fits the design you have in mind. As a writer, try not to get too caught up in creating a clever title, sometimes straightforward is better.

Subtitle

If needed, elaborate further into your book's subject with a subtitle. A good subtitle specifically explains your book through a descriptive line complimenting your title. Include any searchable keywords that are not in your title, where appropriate, into your subtitle.

Cover Design and Layout

Apply a professional design service to your book cover. Your title should be legible at a glance, avoiding small or faint text as well as busy backgrounds. Select a font or two for your text, staying away from decorative fonts to continue the professional appeal.

Choose a strong image that conveys your book and integrates with your title. A single image usually impacts more than multiple images. Remember that your image is second to your title, so beware of overpowering.

Continue your congruent design of colors and fonts through the spine and back cover. Make sure all text is easy to read.

Back or Panel Copy

Summarize your book with directness. Describe the premise of your story while highlighting the feeling intertwined.

Blurb

Endorsements by readers do help. They are references for your work and we all appreciate recommendations. Place your endorsement on your back cover, unless it is from a well-known personality in which you may then add it to the front cover.

Spine

Simple, easy to read, and viewable sideways. Usually will not include subtitle due to space and design.

Bio

Briefly and eloquently state who you are and your most recent accomplishments. Try to keep your author description around three sentences.

Invest in your cover design and layout. Your story is one of a kind and your book cover should be as well. Make an impact on potential readers and create a marketing edge to your book. As a strong contributor to book sales, prepare your book to be judged by its cover.

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  • Thank you! Thorough, good tips!
  • Thankyou lots to think about
  • Wonderful information was direct, simple to understand, and thorough! Thanks!
  • Thanks, Joyce, for explaining how important the various elements of a book cover are to marketing and selling a book. I'm in the process of self-publishing my first novel through Xlibris, and I believe that my team has accomplished much of what you discussed with regard to cover design, synopsis of the book and author bio. I probably put too much info in my bio, but I'm a retired teacher, and it's hard to summarize 40+ years of work in three sentences.
  • Thank you for the breakdown of what a book cover should have on it? It makes so much sense to make sure the design of my book is just as creative as its content. I am using the iUniverse team of experts to design my book cover. Of course I will provide my input, but I will rely on their design expertise to ensure I getting a professional design cover. Joyce