Creating a book is a monumental feat—anyone who’s poured their soul into writing will tell you it can feel like climbing a mountain in flip-flops. But just when you think you’ve reached the summit, there’s another grueling climb waiting: marketing your masterpiece. Here’s a thought—have you ever judged a book by its cover? Don’t worry, we all have! A stunning cover can transform a reader’s first impression, nudging their curiosity and enticing them to delve deeper into those carefully crafted words. In this article, I’m diving into my own experience of designing a book cover for my first novel. Whether you’re looking to DIY it, or wanting to nail down what to expect when collaborating with a professional, I’ve got insights that might just save you some heartache—and maybe even a few design blunders! So, buckle up as we journey through the essentials of creating that eye-catching cover that draws readers in. If you’re ready to take your book’s visual marketing to the next level, you can LEARN MORE.
How to get it right
Anyone who has written a book will tell you it’s a ton of work. I’m not here to feed you falsehoods. I’m also not here to whine. Pursuing your heart’s desire requires time and effort. Do it if you love it. Don’t, if you don’t. Rant over. Excuse me, I get etsy with people moaning about how stressful following their dreams can become (insert ironically smiling emoji here).
Anyway, I’m not even here to talk about writing books but something equally as challenging. Once you type ‘The End’ on your magnum opus, another endeavour starts: the visual marketing of that book. And that starts with a great cover.
Cover designers are there to help. I work with a fabulous one. But if you are looking to do it yourself — or simply want to understand what works, or doesn’t, to better collaborate with a designer — read on. I’m one of those weirdos who loves the marketing as much as the writing. I’ll be sharing my takeaways from designing the cover for my first novel, combined with years of marketing experience.
Any marketeer will explain there are fundamentals to selling any product, from chocolate to books. Their application to books (as follows) is as valid for non-fiction, even if my examples are all fiction-based.
