The Self-publisher Book Cover Design Survival Guide

Many say a book cover will be the first thing you reader is drawn to

, but the back cover seals their fate. However, we're not buying books at the corner bookstore anymore. We're looking them up on big websites or seeing reviews to them. Our first encounter is concept and content, only when we click over do we find the cover. Still, it's a good idea to put on your finest when greeting a new customer. A design to make a really good first impression is always an excellent investment to make.

Ideally, you want to appeal to everyone, but the reality is the self-published author may need to cut back on certain design aspects on a first title. Cover design is one aspect of publishing you should not cutback on, however, if you have no money to spend, you may have no other option than DIY. But money is just a crude substitute for information and skill. Spending some time investigating the hows, whats and whys can compensate for the thinnest design budget.

There are many places where one can get royalty free art or photography which may be used on a cover. One of my favorites is: http://www.sxc.hu Be careful to read and abide by the usage conditions which are typically quite liberal. Most allow for use on the covers of books, but make certain that is the case by reading the conditions. It's always good business practice to credit the photographer, too.

There are myriad places where you can find low-cost book cover design or cover art help. You do get what you pay for, but not all self-publishers can afford to pay for everything they need.

If you have a good artistic eye (or if you have a friend with a good artistic eye), and use a template available from one of the print-on-demand companies, a royalty free photo, and some persistence, you may arrive at acceptable results for your book cover. Remember to always abide by all the technical requirements for every market you're after. Book stores require certain trim sizes while Amazon does not. Research, research.

There are also many pieces of good software (though some pricey) that may work into an excellent investment for the multi-book author. Book Cover Pro is a good example.

by: Melody Clark

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