How has your editing gone? Are you on your two week break? If you are, this is prime time to get your cover together!
Where to start with your cover?
There are lots of options. If your mental well is dry, take some time to look at books in your genre. Spend some time on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, even go to the book store. Really look at the covers.
What catches your eye about the front? What about the text? Is there a series logo? How is the title in relation to the author's name? What is the image? What is the first thought that pops into your head about the book's contents? What about the back, and the spine?
These are all questions you should ask yourself when deciding what to do for your own cover. These are all things that a reader does, but it happens extremely quickly. Readers generally decide whether they will pick your book up off the shelf in less than 3 seconds. Crazy, right?!
So choosing similar covers to base yours off of is a good idea. If you're technologically savvy, you can build your own cover. Programs like Photoshop, and even Paint, can be easy-to-use tools to help you put something together.
However, if you're like me and have a hard time even visualizing what your cover should look like, you may want to outsource your design work. Your cover literally will be the difference between a sale or a pass. Don't skimp on your cover when you budget for your book.
And, of course, always do your research about who you are planning to work with. Ask for samples, ask for a portfolio, ask for a contract that gives you the rights to the design. There are people out there who will scam you in a heartbeat, so always be sure to protect yourself!
Next week we will talk about interior design. Stay tuned!