tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post5962064754454528370..comments2024-03-17T06:03:00.362-04:00Comments on Fiction University: Cover Design on a Budget Janice Hardyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-39316313522073284132016-01-07T22:32:38.313-05:002016-01-07T22:32:38.313-05:00Janice and Marcy, I missed seeing this post too, g...Janice and Marcy, I missed seeing this post too, glad I read it. I'm creating two covers for my books and enjoying the challenge. :-)Tracy Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11829493307148654507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-6953033155019583562016-01-07T11:25:08.125-05:002016-01-07T11:25:08.125-05:00Great ideas! Thanks, Marcy.Great ideas! Thanks, Marcy.Kassandra Lambhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12868883056262771642noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-61961126626991247582016-01-07T11:11:35.507-05:002016-01-07T11:11:35.507-05:00I've used the design templates from Ed Lewis a...I've used the design templates from Ed Lewis and have come to really enjoy working my own covers. I don't use his images, so that's not a problem for me. They give me a base to use to start with and I end up with a more professional looking cover. The problem, for me, with paying a high price for a cover -- if it doesn't sell books, then what? By learning to do my own, I'm more flexible and can respond quickly when something just isn't working. A cover can be truly beautiful - and not sell books. The other thing learning to do it myself has done - I am able to create a more branded look to my books. (I still have 4 covers that were done by pros and I'm not ready to change them out, but they don't fit with my overall brand.) I also have learned how to do my own boxed set covers, saving myself tons of money there, too. For me, indie publishing is about having control. For now, I also need control of my covers. Paulinehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06673963438671468441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-20686160158036318062015-12-21T23:48:57.944-05:002015-12-21T23:48:57.944-05:00While doing my wip, I'm always on the lookout ...While doing my wip, I'm always on the lookout for premade book covers I can buy and use. I subscribe to GoOnWrite, although I haven't bought a book cover there yet, but you can also check out BiblioStuff on Etsy for some affordable premade book covers.Ann G. Lunahttp://writinglunacies.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-88720276544853296832015-12-21T04:15:32.832-05:002015-12-21T04:15:32.832-05:00These are some useful advice, thank you for that! ...These are some useful advice, thank you for that! Though I agree with Marilynn: if you can, definitely put the price on the cover! I'd rather have an artist take care of my cover than pick a premade design that could fit any other book. It would be like getting tattooed a flash: maybe pretty, but you might get sick of it after a while.<br /><br />There is only one thing in your article that might be of an ethic problem for me: "work with a student/new designer".<br />While I'm all for giving their chance to everybody, going for the cheaper choice is not really helping anybody.<br />As we all know, living off a creative work can be a real struggle, and professional designers with a lot of talent and experience might be forced to lower their fares if all the clients go for the cheaper ones. <br /><br />I saw that happening with photographers actually, not designers, but it's basically the same: the young new photographers offering their service for a ridiculous price, or sometimes for free (I should know, I've been one of them), when the professionals receive less and less commands. And when they do, they are asked to cover a wedding for like 200$ when they normally take 2000$, because people don't know how much their work is really worth (equipment used, transportation, time spent working on the pictures, plus the extra money that will help the artist live decently, pay their bills, etc). See where I'm going?<br /><br />On the other hand, beginners lowering the value of their work just to "get out there" can lead to a certain abuse from clients (again, that have no idea how much their work is really worth: "You had X pay 100$, why should I pay 200$?!") And also people using their work for free, pretending that it will help getting their name spread, without any guarantee that the artist will have any compensation at all. It's like writing a short story and giving it to someone who promises you that they will publish it in their collection, and you will receive no money, but great publicity. Yeah right! <br />(sorry, a little bit out of topic here ahah)<br /><br />Of course, it's up to anybody to make their own choice, and once again, giving a chance to a new artist is never a bad thing! We all hope someone will give it to us someday, or are happy that someone did, if you are already a published author.<br />But I thought it would be worth adding this little note =)Blondie B. Goodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04604675752890942675noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-36621893330241234572015-12-18T07:30:07.207-05:002015-12-18T07:30:07.207-05:00That makes perfect sense to me. The front cover ma...That makes perfect sense to me. The front cover makes a reader pick it up, they read the blurb, and decide on the story. It's how I do it :)Janice Hardyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02356672149097741248noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3901370917824739259.post-22495546466540327862015-12-17T12:02:08.004-05:002015-12-17T12:02:08.004-05:00The RWA did a survey some years back about what se...The RWA did a survey some years back about what sells books for most mid-list authors. Number 1 was the cover.<br /><br />If the best cover means spending money, then spend the money. It will be worth it in the long run.<br /><br />FYI, the second thing that sells books is the back cover copy. Marilynn Byerlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16720129999636676998noreply@blogger.com