This series is directed towards first-time self-publishing authors who may not have start-up funds set aside. I will ALWAYS recommend investing in your books. The education, advertising, and professional editing/covers are worth every cent, but I also realize that it isn’t always possible. So here’s how to start following your dream without having to spend a penny because the beauty of being self-published is the amount of control you have over your books before they become widely popular. Good luck! We’ve edited and formatted your book. It’s starting to come together, isn’t it? Sitting there on your .doc file, looking pretty. But it’s missing something. It’s missing a rather big something. A cover. The cover is what is going to draw in your Reader. The first impression you present as an author. So you have to ask yourself, “What is going to best send the message I’m trying to give?” PRO TIP: What does your Reader look like to you? Are they male or female? Homo- or heterosexual? How old are they? What does a typical day for them look like? What are they struggling with?" Choosing a ColorThe colors you choose directly affect what your Reader thinks, so here’s some basic color psychology to help you out: Red: A physical color, best used in heavy romances and war books. It makes the Reader’s heart beat faster, so if your book is intense, sell it with this color. Blue: Intellectual. Great for non-fiction and stories that make one think. It’s how “Eragon” hooked me, to be honest. I love deep books. Unfortunately, it didn’t fulfill that promise. But that’s a story for another time. Yellow: Stirs the emotions. This is an intense color, so use it wisely. Too much or the wrong tone/shade/tint/hue can chase your Reader away. Do your research. Save it for a sequel, perhaps, or a self-help book. Green: Balance, the easiest color for the eyes to process. This invokes restfulness, peace, and opens the heart. Great for “sweet” romances (where there’s hidden or no sex) or an easy-to-read short story meant to while away the time. Purple: Spiritual invigoration, inspirational motivation. A safer color for self-help books or stories that involve an inner discovery or awareness. This color connects your Reader to a higher level of thought and productivity. Also a great choice for regency romances or a how-to. Orange: More physicality, but on the fun side. Great choice for romantic comedies or lighthearted adventures. Do be aware that it can be seen as too aggressive, so don’t overuse it. Pink: Using this color on your cover WILL drive away a masculine audience. If your Reader is looking for an adventure, a heavy romance, or a thought-provoking parable, do NOT use this color. If your book is a sweet romance or other story specifically tailored for a feminine audience (not just girls in general, but a Reader who is very much in touch with their sensitive side), go for it. This color is perfect. Grey: Don’t use it. It won’t even stop your Reader’s eyes from scanning the shelf. It’s too neutral a color. Same for tan, unless you have a picture of sand or something. Black: This is a strong color. Fantastic for horror stories, thrillers, or mysteries. Or if you couple it with a luxurious color, like gold or purple, it denotes riches and sophistication. It all depends on how much you use. PlacementNow that you know what colors to use, we move on to the title. Keep it short, 1-4 words, unless you’ve lengthened it for comedic use (i.e. “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”, “The Worst Book in the World”, “So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish”, “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day”, etc.). Just know that people are going to shorten it into an acronym. Please make sure it doesn’t spell anything you don’t want it to and be sure you can still read it in a 1-inch thumbnail. The subtitle goes underneath the title, either directly, or just above your (the author’s) name. Your name goes at the bottom unless you’re a high-profile sensation. In which case, congratulations and why the heck are you reading this? If your book has a spine, make the title in an easy-to-read, large font that reads vertically, if possible. The same goes for the title on the front. Make them look as much the same as you can. I’ve never been more confused by a book with a cursive ribbon title on the spine and a title dripping in blood on the front. It’s weird. Don’t do it. PRO TIP: Study other covers of your genre. Take note of bestsellers and what they’ve done. What covers interest you? What covers make you want to run away and puke in a trash can?" NOTE: If you are writing a heavy romance DO NOT use a faceless man’s chiseled torso. This isn’t to spark a debate on porn or whatever. This cover style has been overused and your poor book WILL be lost in a sea of 15 million other faceless man torso covers out there.Your cover isn’t done yet, by the way, you still need that perfect back-cover blurb. We will cover this next week. In the meantime, post your favorite book covers below, yours or someone else’s, and tell me why you like it.
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