This is just my opinion, and I obviously can’t speak for the public at large, but as a reader, I gravitate entirely towards artistic covers. If I read one of the books shown in the video, I can guarantee it’s because I heard of it from word of mouth - it definitely won’t be because of the cover, because those covers are completely unappealing.
In a bookstore you can gravitate, looking for interesting and pretty covers. Online shopping, you will scan hundreds of covers and click on the ones that communicate the genre you're looking for. Failing to communicate the genre = less clicks and sales. Trying to be artistic with your cover is a great way to sell less books.
When I first started watching your videos I thought your approach was ruthless, crushing my book cover dreams. But now I totally get it. It's like, do you want your favorite pretty picture, or do you want to sell your book? I've decided that I'd rather sell my book.
I just wanted to say that the "irregardless" comment cracked me up. My old squad leader and I had a conversation about it when we were deployed! Brought back some memories. Thanks for the video.
Never worry about being super original. 'cause people are sheep, and you don't serve extravagant meals to them. You serve them grass. And the thing is, they LOVE it. Maybe sprinkle it with lemon once in a while just so they get surprised.
Cliché covers work for readers who want clichés in their books. Imagine doing a cliché cover for a fine or literary novel, or any book written in a distinctive (artistic) or original style. Your theory applies, if at all, to mass-market genre books, to people who are not primarily concerned with originality or "Art" with a capital A. But a quick scan of bestselling general fiction/mainstream novels (for evidence, I offer "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," but I could pick just about any mainstream bestseller. This is why commercial houses work with extremely talented designers.
Yes! This is exactly right. This is not the right art for literary classics. Also trad publishing is different than indie or self publishing (looking good in a bookstore is different from looking good on Amazon). I help authors sell books and teach them to write books that sell... which are popular, mass market. If you're writing Art with a capital A, then these tips might not work for you - though... avoiding these tips to try and mimic trad published, famous books, that probably won't work either.
6:33 Nah, man, the original cover is better because the pose is dynamic and she’s actually underwater which is more interesting to look at. It’s a legit good cover that isn’t generic but still looks like it belongs to the genre it’s for.
I appreciate this. What I'm struggling with here, is that most of these covers are... ugly and kitschy. I'm a graphic designer and to me these are the books you see in a supermarket or a fair selling used books. I love The Name of the Wind, but when I saw that cover, I couldn't believe. I wouldn't buy it if a friend didn't tell me it's a great book. So I guess the conclusion here is that most people out there have terrible taste. Which actually doesn't surprise me at all. :(
This is maybe true... or you're misunderstanding the purpose of book cover design. A good cover communicates the genre, full stop. It can't be ugly, but it doesn't have to be creative or beautiful - the problem with most graphic designers is what's considered cool or good design is usually minimalistic and creative... book cover design is just mass appeal, low-brow advertising. It's kind of the same argument as, "nobody likes my book because people have no taste!" instead of "maybe I'll write a book people actually enjoy" - is your purpose as a creative to make things you love that make you happy (most people think so) or to make things of value other people enjoy (I think so).
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This is just my opinion, and I obviously can’t speak for the public at large, but as a reader, I gravitate entirely towards artistic covers. If I read one of the books shown in the video, I can guarantee it’s because I heard of it from word of mouth - it definitely won’t be because of the cover, because those covers are completely unappealing.
In a bookstore you can gravitate, looking for interesting and pretty covers. Online shopping, you will scan hundreds of covers and click on the ones that communicate the genre you're looking for. Failing to communicate the genre = less clicks and sales. Trying to be artistic with your cover is a great way to sell less books.
When I first started watching your videos I thought your approach was ruthless, crushing my book cover dreams. But now I totally get it. It's like, do you want your favorite pretty picture, or do you want to sell your book? I've decided that I'd rather sell my book.
Wonderful!
I just wanted to say that the "irregardless" comment cracked me up. My old squad leader and I had a conversation about it when we were deployed! Brought back some memories. Thanks for the video.
thanks!
Thanks Derek! I downloaded the free book and joined the facebook group. I really appreciate your help and the time you share with us!
thanks!
Thank you! Now I won't hold back and do something similar to the genre I'm writing in and not worry if it's super original.
Never worry about being super original. 'cause people are sheep, and you don't serve extravagant meals to them. You serve them grass. And the thing is, they LOVE it. Maybe sprinkle it with lemon once in a while just so they get surprised.
Thank you! Derek, cool video; clichés seems to be the norm then to sell your book. I liked your first design best for The Scarlet Thread.
I'm still redesigning that cover, so many times! I've got a good new one coming that's more similar to my original.
Cliché covers work for readers who want clichés in their books. Imagine doing a cliché cover for a fine or literary novel, or any book written in a distinctive (artistic) or original style. Your theory applies, if at all, to mass-market genre books, to people who are not primarily concerned with originality or "Art" with a capital A. But a quick scan of bestselling general fiction/mainstream novels (for evidence, I offer "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo," but I could pick just about any mainstream bestseller. This is why commercial houses work with extremely talented designers.
Yes! This is exactly right. This is not the right art for literary classics. Also trad publishing is different than indie or self publishing (looking good in a bookstore is different from looking good on Amazon). I help authors sell books and teach them to write books that sell... which are popular, mass market. If you're writing Art with a capital A, then these tips might not work for you - though... avoiding these tips to try and mimic trad published, famous books, that probably won't work either.
6:33
Nah, man, the original cover is better because the pose is dynamic and she’s actually underwater which is more interesting to look at. It’s a legit good cover that isn’t generic but still looks like it belongs to the genre it’s for.
yeah thanks, everyone else thinks so too
I appreciate this.
What I'm struggling with here, is that most of these covers are... ugly and kitschy. I'm a graphic designer and to me these are the books you see in a supermarket or a fair selling used books.
I love The Name of the Wind, but when I saw that cover, I couldn't believe. I wouldn't buy it if a friend didn't tell me it's a great book.
So I guess the conclusion here is that most people out there have terrible taste.
Which actually doesn't surprise me at all. :(
This is maybe true... or you're misunderstanding the purpose of book cover design. A good cover communicates the genre, full stop. It can't be ugly, but it doesn't have to be creative or beautiful - the problem with most graphic designers is what's considered cool or good design is usually minimalistic and creative... book cover design is just mass appeal, low-brow advertising. It's kind of the same argument as, "nobody likes my book because people have no taste!" instead of "maybe I'll write a book people actually enjoy" - is your purpose as a creative to make things you love that make you happy (most people think so) or to make things of value other people enjoy (I think so).
You are a super legend.
glad to hear it!