A book cover is the first thing that a reader sees before they even pick up a novel. It’s what draws them in and makes them want to read more, or it’s what pushes them away for good. A lot of people don’t realize how important book covers are, but as soon as you see one that catches your eye, you know it’s been done right. The best books have an image on their front cover that will evoke emotion from the viewer-whether sadness or curiosity-and get them hooked on the story inside. So if you’re looking to create a great cover for your next novel, here are some tips to help you out!
1) Consider your genre.
What mood does this particular genre usually bring? Sadness? Mystery? Action? If you’re writing a romance, for example, it’s expected that there will be some lovey dovey type of picture on your cover. Or if you’re writing in the horror genre, go with something creepy and unsettling! Be sure to consider your target audience when trying to figure out what will entice them to read your work- the mood of a book cover is often what draws in readers.
However, think outside the box and try to add your own twist! Book covers are meant to stand out, and it’s important that you really have something unique that gets noticed. This often means straying from your typical run-of-the mill novel template and doing something completely different than everyone else! The simplest way to
2) Brainstorm ideas.
Once you have a genre picked out, start brainstorming cover ideas. You can draw on the image that comes to mind when you think of that genre, or get inspiration from other works of art! You can even draw on your own life experiences. Maybe you have an experience that’s really shaped who you are as a person. Something in your past might be the perfect image for your novel, and it will give readers something to relate to.
A very good brainstorm technique is to think about things you absolutely don`t want to have on your cover. And then think about what kind of cover the opposite of those elements would create. This is a great way to get your brain working!
3) Try out different fonts.
It’s important that the font you use for your book cover be unique and attention-grabbing, but it can also give off an air of professionalism. Go to https://www.1001fonts.com/ and type in the title of your book. Now you can see how your title will appear in a variety of fonts. Once you find the right font, make sure it looks good in all caps and lowercase letters as well before moving on.
4) Show what genre you’re writing in, but don’t give it away.
It’s smart to show the reader that your story is a certain type of book, and it can be done creatively! You don’t have to put a big label on your cover saying “this is a fantasy novel!”-in fact, that might turn away some of your potential readers. Instead, you can use a symbol or an image to show what genre you’re writing in. For example, if your novel is set in space, you might use a rocketship on the cover or have stars as part of the design. Another tip might be to put a big red “warning” sign on the front if your book is dark and suspenseful. If you want to give it away, that’s ok-but don’t make the reader work too hard!
5) Make it stand out
The most important thing about a book cover is that it stands out from all the other covers in its genre. It’s something that makes people go “wow, what’s that?” You want people to be curious and interested in your book. And when they see it on the shelf, you want them to pick it up and say “wow. I have to read this!” A good cover is one that makes a reader say “I don’t know what this book is about, but I’m already interested!
6) Good design is about simplicity.
Having a lot of stuff on your book cover might make it look busy and work against you. A simple, clean cover will reassure readers that they’re making the right choice by reading your story. Make sure that if you do have multiple images in the background or small details they mesh well together to create something bigger. Also, make sure you leave a little bit of space in the cover so that it doesn’t look crowded.
7) Use images to set the mood and tone for your story.
One of the most important things about your book cover is that it sets the mood for what lies within its pages. Make sure all the images you use on the front work together to convey your book’s mood. For example, if your novel is about a murder mystery, but the images on the cover are of smiling faces and bright colors that will turn people away from reading it!
8) Don’t forget the spine.
Most people judge a book by its cover when they’re browsing the shelves, and these days you have to make sure that it catches their eye even when they’re holding it in their hands. That’s why we need to design a spine as well! This is what people see first when they pick up your book off a shelf. Make sure it has the title of your novel on it and use the same font as your cover. It’s also a good idea to use the same (or a similar) image in the spine as you did for the front cover.
9) Use images that symbolize events within the story.
You want readers to know what they’re getting into if they decide to read your story. One of the most effective ways to do this is to use images that symbolize events in the story, or are specific representations for your characters. For example, if you’re writing a fantasy novel and there’s a dragon on the cover, it should be shown fighting with one of your main characters.
Or if it’s a romance novel, the main characters can be holding hands on the cover. It shows that you have a clear vision for your story and your work will be well thought out.
10) Consider using stock images
Don’t feel like you have to create an image from scratch in order for it to e a good cover. If you can find stock images that look like they belong on your novel, go for it! Just make sure that the image doesn’t distract from the text. Unsplash.com or pexels.com are great places to find good and free images.
5) Hire a designer for help: If you’re not too great at graphic design, hire someone to do it for you! There’s nothing better than getting professional assistance when it comes to creating a cover that won’t disappoint anyone. When looking for a designer, always be a little pickier than usual so that you’ll get exactly what you want!
11) Keep it simple.
The simpler, the better. A lot of people think that having tons of images going off in every direction makes for a better cover, but it’s really just distracting.Sometimes less truly is more-and in the end, there’s really no way to go wrong with a great novel and a fantastic cover
12) Get a friend’s opinion:
Have someone else look at your cover ideas and tell you which ones they like best. You may even decide to change direction depending on what they criticize!
13) Keep changing it up:
If you don’t like your cover after all that, try again! It’s important to get unique images for your covers. That doesn’t mean that they have to be completely out of the ordinary; sometimes it’s fun just to keep it simple and basic. But always remember to stick with whatever genre you
14) Keep it consistent:
If you already have a few novels published, consider keeping the same style for all of your covers. This way, readers will associate a particular color scheme or layout with your work and know what to expect from any new book they decide to read. If you do decide on something different, make sure that change is noticeable!