Writing About Writing, Law, Life, and Occasionally Politics
I post news and excerpts about my novels, plus miscellaneous thoughts, speculations and occasional rants about writing, publishing, current events, legal issues, philosophy, photography, and events in my life.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Cover possibilities -- comments, please!
Here are two slightly different takes on a cover for my WIP, Reflections. I suspect the ideal cover would be somewhere in between, as far as the text goes. (Photo is by Nick Carver.) Comments??
I don't remember this being a religious or spiritual book. Is it? Because that's the first thing I think of when I see those covers. The picture is great, but when combined with the font and title, it gives it that cheesy inspirational look.
Between the two, I'd definitely pick the top one over the bottom. The text on the bottom looks like Word Art, which gives it an amateurish feel.
I have a couple ideas that I can shoot your way if you'd like to email the picture to me.
I like the top one. It doesn't give me that 'inspirational' feeling, though I can see why it might. It certainly spells drama. But I agree with Michelle about the Word Art look of the bottom one. The top is definitely much more sophisticated.
I also prefer the top one. The bold lettering is crisp, clean, and one dimensional. The picture gives you the depth with nothing taken away. Great photo and layout.
I'll echo Michelle and Cathy's comments about the font on the bottom one.
I think I can see what you were aiming for with the Word Art-y text. It seems to reflect (no pun intended) the bright, transitional nature of the picture, whereas the text on the top stands (in my mind) in too much contrast to the background. The dark, sharp-edged text seems to jar the eye away from the softer nature of the background image. I think that a single-color font could work fine if it was lighter and/or if its shape was smoother/softer.
I am, of course, basing this (probably over-thought) analysis entirely on the title and picture, which suggest harmony and similarity rather than the dissonance and contrast which I react to in the top image.
I'm wondering, now, whether the combination of the title - Reflections - and this photo would mislead readers into expecting either Christian fiction or Christian nonfiction. I'd hate to give up either one, but I may need to....
I prefer the top one - the typeface is sharper and easier to read. It doesn't give me any idea what the book might be about, though and I think I'd probably avoid it in case it was going to try and educate or convert me. x
I suspect the qualities that gave it a "cheesy inspirational look" to Michelle are the same ones that I simply found to be aesthetically... bothersome.
Nothing about the title or cover suggested religion to me. In fact, they are both so neutral as to be (in my opinion) almost meaningless to a casual browser.
I still think the photo is beautiful, so my suggestion would be that the book could use a slightly more detailed title to better elucidate the nature of the story contained within.
If this is not a spiritual book, I would rethink the picture. It's very misleading. If you need any help feel free to email me. I'm not working any designs right now :)
Hi Karen, Don't shoot me, but I think both samples are boring and most importantly, they don't tell me what your book is about. I've done a ton of research on book covers -- basically they are more important then what's inside when it comes to sales. Surveys show potential buyers spend 8 seconds looking at a front cover and 15 seconds studying the back cover before making a buying decision. Your cover should reflect your story and should draw in your target audience. Take a look at the best book covers voted on at Goodreads and rethink what should be on your cover. http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/101.Best_Book_Cover_Art
17 comments:
I don't remember this being a religious or spiritual book. Is it? Because that's the first thing I think of when I see those covers. The picture is great, but when combined with the font and title, it gives it that cheesy inspirational look.
Between the two, I'd definitely pick the top one over the bottom. The text on the bottom looks like Word Art, which gives it an amateurish feel.
I have a couple ideas that I can shoot your way if you'd like to email the picture to me.
I like the top one. It doesn't give me that 'inspirational' feeling, though I can see why it might. It certainly spells drama. But I agree with Michelle about the Word Art look of the bottom one. The top is definitely much more sophisticated.
I also prefer the top one. The bold lettering is crisp, clean, and one dimensional. The picture gives you the depth with nothing taken away. Great photo and layout.
I'll echo Michelle and Cathy's comments about the font on the bottom one.
I think I can see what you were aiming for with the Word Art-y text. It seems to reflect (no pun intended) the bright, transitional nature of the picture, whereas the text on the top stands (in my mind) in too much contrast to the background. The dark, sharp-edged text seems to jar the eye away from the softer nature of the background image. I think that a single-color font could work fine if it was lighter and/or if its shape was smoother/softer.
I am, of course, basing this (probably over-thought) analysis entirely on the title and picture, which suggest harmony and similarity rather than the dissonance and contrast which I react to in the top image.
I prefer the bottom cover, but it might be better if you made the letters (font) larger. They look just a little cramped.
The top cover caught my attention. The colors are bold, the text crisp and it made me want to at least read the blurb.
The bottom one ... something about the text was off for me. It made me want to skim over everything, likely not the reaction you want.
I live the top one best.
I'm wondering, now, whether the combination of the title - Reflections - and this photo would mislead readers into expecting either Christian fiction or Christian nonfiction. I'd hate to give up either one, but I may need to....
The top one has my vote.
I prefer the top one - the typeface is sharper and easier to read. It doesn't give me any idea what the book might be about, though and I think I'd probably avoid it in case it was going to try and educate or convert me. x
I suspect the qualities that gave it a "cheesy inspirational look" to Michelle are the same ones that I simply found to be aesthetically... bothersome.
Nothing about the title or cover suggested religion to me. In fact, they are both so neutral as to be (in my opinion) almost meaningless to a casual browser.
I still think the photo is beautiful, so my suggestion would be that the book could use a slightly more detailed title to better elucidate the nature of the story contained within.
If this is not a spiritual book, I would rethink the picture. It's very misleading.
If you need any help feel free to email me. I'm not working any designs right now :)
I vote for the top cover, it's cleaner, easier to read at a distance or smaller I'd imagine.
I like the top one. It's more subtle. And dreamy.
Hi Karen,
Don't shoot me, but I think both samples are boring and most importantly, they don't tell me what your book is about. I've done a ton of research on book covers -- basically they are more important then what's inside when it comes to sales. Surveys show potential buyers spend 8 seconds looking at a front cover and 15 seconds studying the back cover before making a buying decision. Your cover should reflect your story and should draw in your target audience. Take a look at the best book covers voted on at Goodreads and rethink what should be on your cover. http://www.goodreads.com/list/show/101.Best_Book_Cover_Art
A. McBay -- how do I email you? (Clicking on your name didn't get me anywhere.)
I ended up agreeing with both A. McBay and Judith M. that beautiful as the photo is, this cover is all wrong for a character-driven family drama.
A / Top
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