Prose by Pamela

You cover is the first impression any reader will have of your book, so it’s important you make that impression the best it can be.  These are the most common mistakes that new writers make and it can really affect you sales and put off potential readers.

1. Using too many images

Writers often use too many images to make their book look interesting, when all it does is make the cover look busy. A great, single image provides context and lets your readers know what to expect.  Keep it simple.  Less is usually more.

2. Information overload

You don’t need to tell your whole story on your cover.  Non-fiction writers are especially guilty of this, but fiction writers aren’t exempt. This goes for images and blurb.  Think of your cover like a film trailer.  You want to get readers interested, not give away your plot. 

3. Using your cover to make a point

Everyone’s work is personal, so it can be tempting to use your cover to prove the validity of your work before a reader has even picked it up. For non-fiction this might be your central argument, for fiction, this might be your moral stance. Don’t give away your point too easily - there’s nothing wrong with making a reader work for it.

4. Not designing for your audience

Your book cover isn’t about you.  It’s not about what you like, or what you want.  It’s about what will make people pick up and read your book. Covers include visual cues that let readers know what to expect. If you’ve written a romance novel but don’t like traditional romance covers, let that go. Your audience will expect it. If you create a gothic cover but your novel is a traditional romance, you’ll just end up with disappointed readers.

5. Too many colours or fonts

It’s design principles 101 - don’t mix too many colours or fonts. Typography, colour, layout; all these things will speak to a reader and let them know what they can expect. You want something easy to read that conveys the right mood for what your book is trying to say. 

6. Using copyrighted images

If you don’t get the right licences for the images you use in your covers you can leave yourself open to lawsuits or takedown notices.  Avoid the drama, and just get it right before you go to print.

7. Designing for the wrong genre

Every word you’ve ever written is worthy.  Everything you’ve ever written can serve a purpose.  I know the delete button is tempting, but don’t do it!  You might regret it some day.  Instead of deleting, do the following:

1. Revise

Can you make your words work with a few simple changes? Give yourself some distance. Move to a different scene and come back to the one you’re not happy with.  Has your opinion changed?  A first draft is never the final, so don’t expect the first thing you write to be perfect.

2. Re-use

If you can’t make your words work for the scene you’re working on, save them for later!  Another scene, or a whole other book, might be just the right fit for what you’ve written.

3. Learn