"Red doesn't go with anything else..." Red, the primary color. In color theory it goes with everything especially teal, a fantastic horror complementary tone.
These are the kind of covers I hate though... A face on a cover immediatly turns me off because it spoils how the character looks for me. Also all these people look "perfect" and i just cringe at that... I like covers that are more unique like where illustrations are used or more sophisticated kind of design that is not centered around a figure or person. I just think they look cheesy as hell. But then maybe im just a very picky person lol i hope im not the only one with this opinion though!!
Amelia Heart agree. Always a perfect-looking someone. I like it when the cover is a symbolic element in the story. I like it because when I find the element within the story I feel like a solved another section of the puzzle and it makes sense why the cover attracted me in the first place. But then, that sounds like something clever and this person is telling we should not be clever. Ok... :D
Exactly!! I have 2 different versions of the Hunger Games books, for example, one with a red-haired (??) girl on the cover and one with the mockingjay-symbol. I think the mockingjay one looks 10 times better. The girl on the cover did NOT look like katniss at all (not like she was described) and didn't add anything to the story. While the mockingjay cover looks very beautiful, classy and iconic.
i just made a book cover it shows the behind of a woman with red hair that goes into the front of her on her shoulder but you can only hardly see the side of her face and it has the title name on it in the book i want her to be crucial to the story and she will be described in the book on how she looks in the cover you can only really see her hair on the cover "fiery wild wavy red hair." Do you think thats bad for a cover?
I think with book covers you have to find something that kind of symbolizes the story and what the audience can easily recognize in an instant. If you think about pictograms people recognize what what they mean without even thinking about it.
As someone that judges a book by its cover, here are good and bad things on a cover. When I look at a book, here are the things I like in a book cover. -full Color for most of the book (not too detailed -flowers, nature or household items, icons are good (no faces! Eyes are okay tho) -a good font! Pleaseee no ugly fonts. -a Color that matches the vibe of the book, if it’s a sweet calm book than a pastel Color would go well.
I’m just starting out on this journey. I wrote my book, which apparently isn’t the first thing I should have done, and now I’m getting into the marketing, etc. This was very helpful. Thank you.
I know you're a professional and I appreciate the information here (despite being a little disheartening) but I don't really like this personally. Erotica novels used to have a very specific look; couples in overtly seductive positions, bodies entwined in various states of undress. Fifty Shades came along and went more abstract by putting a picture of a grey tie on the cover. That was it. Just symbolism. That cover changed the way future erotica novels have been marketed in terms of their covers. You'll see a picture of a pair of cuff links or a photo of handcuffs or a picture of a seductive shoe or some wrinkled bedsheets. No faces on the cover. John Green does YA and has no ppl on his covers, just typography. All I ever see in self-published romance novels on Amazon are photos of naked male torsos and they bore the shit out of me I never buy them. But I'm sure if I was writing that kind of book I'd be advised to have my book look like the thousands of other naked male torso covers because it must clearly sell, however, it is so uninspiring. Imagine being a writer where one of the most exciting things about writing a book is the cover design, and yours turns out to be a cover of a naked male torso. Just like the hundred others you saw on Amazon last night.😐 Whoop! What a cover reveal!!😒 EDIT: 4:59 that pic on the right is the perfect example. Man, I see these covers everywhere😴And I do appreciate the nuance between a trad publishing cover and a self-publishing cover and how much (or less) work needs to be done depending of which avenue the book has gone down, so yes, I absolutely appreciate that level of information and how that does change perspective a little on cover design.
I totally understand, and of course you can have your opinions about what you like - but there's a reason they work: 1. covers have to be as obvious as possible, even if readers don't like the cover, it's better than they at least know what kind of book it is. If they didn't sell, authors would stop using them (and I know dozens of authors who decided to avoid the obvious male torso, not sell any books, and give up... before they saw better results). 2. trad pubbed books are not into books. They can go heavy with beautiful symbolism because they sell in bookstores and have marketing behind them. indie pubbed books get half a second out of millions of other books, if they cover doesn't communicate genre, they're done (Also know lots of YA authors who tried symbolic covers, gave up and went with figures later, after their sales died). Again.... not an opinion. There's what people say they like and what actually sells. (I currently *hate* the cover I had to use for my academy series, because it doesn't match the book and is too trite and obvious... but I also know it will sell better).
A professionally made video sounds great too. Interesting cover selection. A cover is of course what attracts us to a particular book. Though I like to read a little of what it's about before purchasing.
Would love a update on this video. A artist that loves drawing realistic and loving learning how to create filter feelings and lettering to create covers for books and movies
Not really. The cover is twofold for graphic novels/manga. They have to sell the VISUALS before the story. A good story for those media wont sell unless the cover visuals let me know the art is bangin
@@tersan5043 I agree. They do have to sell the visuals to you first. But it still states my point. Look at any cover dragon ball z. Most of the original covers are letting you know where the book is in the story. Thus they're representing their story in their cover. Naruto, onepiece, batman, deadpool. They all do it.
Dflex of OHIO nope I’m totally with you. I guess I’m trying to say, for novels, what he’s saying works best. For comics etc, it’s critical to show how their best visuals literally tell the storyline. Comic covers are TRAILERS for the movie they’re about to watch, SHOWING clips of what’s ahead. Book covers should evoke the FEELING from reading that juicy part of the book. Not what’s happening, but how it makes you feel. Comics do it too but it’s hyper direct in. Comparison. Sorry for the ramble. Good discussion. Thanks.
@@tersan5043 Oh and I agree. I'm pretty sure he knows what he's talking about and he does give some good knowledge. And yeah I wish their was a video on comic book covers. And right! Lol they are like a trailer to a movie. I like that metaphor. And just to clear the air up. I wasn't trying to argue or anything. I just thinking about the comic book creators is all.
I have found your videos very inspirational and easy to follow, thank you for the great content. Creating book covers is something I would love to do full time. I just finished designing the cover for my mom's journal/auto biography and fell in love with the creative process. Do you have any tips for me on how to get started doing this? Or maybe how to get freelance jobs through like fiverr or upwork? I know its competitive but I love it.
I've been hired to do a cover featuring a gangster with a G-man in the background, and also have to work in a train depot and Alcatraz in the background. Sort of a film-noir sort of thing. This is the most difficult project I've ever done...
Derek I have been watching many of your videos and I just finished to read your book. I can not put a review in amazon com because I'm from Italy living in France, so I could only do it in those websites, I actually found your e-book in Italian amazon but it is not available. I suggest you to let it available because there is not such quality book cover design material to read and several Italians speak or read English. I want to put a 5 star review cause you deserve it, but if the book is not available...should I put it anyway? In Italian or English language? I let it up to you
Derek, Name here is Bill from Bills Book Club and just want to make you aware if knowing already that Cover Design Basics main topic with How to make a book cover that sells sub topic created 50,000 reviews others will pay.
'Just fit in, don't stand out'... I couldn't disagree more. Your cover must fit your story and you must strive to perfect it. But if your story is mediocre, or stereotypically average, then go ahead. Fitting your book in the crowd will make you blend for sure. And it will help your cover designer. He will only have to retouch a few details of your 'acacia tree with an orange sunset' in your Africa-themed cover. Like hundreds of others already in the market.
you're welcome to your opinions.... thousands of books are published every month, and it's pretty easy to see which ones keep selling long term, so publishers and indie authors have already figured out what kinds of book covers perform the best and sell the most books. So, you can DO that because it's the easiest way to keep your book selling by communicating the genre to readers... or choose not to do that (not to use all of the elements that readers love to buy and try to do something different instead... but why?)
Roger that. I signed up and got your templates. Based just on your videos and reading some on your website, I went on a binge and re-designed every single one of my covers. They're probably still not pro-grade, but they are much better. Just getting past the paradigm of trying to be accurate to the story really opened the floodgates. Changed pictures, poured on the color and contrast and de-beveled almost all text. Result was some comparatively striking covers. Thanks so much for sharing your expertise!
Very interesting video although I would disagree that you shouldn't put scenes from the book on the cover. When I look at the covers of the Harry Potter books, all I see is scenes from the books, and Bloomsbury would have used the best cover designers for those books. Perhaps you should add a note that this tends to work better for children's fiction.
Children's books that are hand-illustrated do use more scenes, yes. But also, never use examples from million-copy selling series to guide your publishing decisions, they can afford to take risks and break rules.
When I go to publish my book I am using a cover that I want not what the designer wants it to look like. If it sells then it sells if it doesn't sell then it doesn't. I think that when you make a cover design you should do what the person asks or you won't get paid.
You think it's ok to break up a word on the cover? I see comatose is split into Coma and Tose on your page. Is it ok to do that if the title is too long?
@@DerekMurphycreativindie Yes, I thought so. I am thinking of doing it with OFF and SPRING, a horror title. Looks ok, but not sure if it's a done thing or not. Thank you, anyway. Your channel has been a great help. Best help on RU-vid.
Well Derek. Liking your videos, honesty and clarity. Translates well for beginners like me. I have set up a platform like you said, in a previous video ie: website, twitter, facebook and youtube. I haven't set up my Amazon page yet but will do so once other platforms are ready to go. I am trying to figure out cheapest way to produce and design a book cover, looking at photoshop. Lets say I have book cover designed, website, facebook, amazon page, email, youtube all set up as best I can for debut book. Do I market my book through facebook and amazon advertising before I publish the book on amazon or do I publish first. How do I create a mailing list which I have heard so much about on all these various videos on youtube Ive watched over the last month. How much would you spend on facebook and amazon advertising. I am a complete beginner so I thank you for your patience.
Hi Derek Murphy, I love your videos and was wonding if you could answer a question. in one of your videos you say you make 4000 dollars per month on your books you sell. do you make that money from only one website or do you sell accross multiple sites. Thanks
Google it, portfolios is what sells what you do. Create mock projects of book covers. Then practice with real clients online and add what you finished into your portfolio. Then when you apply for a job you can show your most impressive book cover work.oh and also have an online portfolio and a business card to direct people to your website. Hope this helps :)
must? Nah... I asked 150 customers/people what they thought about the top 100 book covers and the answers were all slightly different but 80 % indicated book covers were bad and uninspiring and often told nothing about the story inside. Looking at the stock photos that are on these covers you use here in your video, are photos so overused that it is ridiculous. Use something different and genuine but simularish but incorporate the characters and actions. Also, there are something to be learned by researching book covers form other cultures, other than the western world. also look at book covers from the 5o's, 60's and 70's. pure art. Most modern covers are Lazy and uninspired imo.
You asked people: they said they didn't like the top 100 book covers. BUT the top 100 book covers are... selling more than anything else. What people say they like, and what actually sells books, aren't the same, which is the whole point.
@@DerekMurphycreativindie I agree with your logic, but maybe they would sell even more if they had proper covers. People buy by name most of the time. If you are an unknown author you might need something different. but there is something to be said about following popular trends both as a buyer or an author.....Baaaaaahhh :) Heard mentality. I have no answers, just observations. :)
You lost me saying to not stand out and it's fine to use stock images everyone else uses. I mean... really? I guess that's fine if you want to sell to people accidentally buying it by mistake.
Stand out = a dildo in the cereal aisle. Does it get attention? Yes. Is it likely to reach the right readers? Nope. Stock images = affordable solutions, which can sell much better, as opposed to custom art that rarely performs as well and has a much higher investment risk value. Also, I'm not trying to convert you to my way of thinking; I'm sharing publishing insight for authors who want to avoid the extremely common mistakes most authors make. Most authors of course, aren't ready to listen, until they've spent a few grand and can't get anyone to buy their books. Then they pay me for consulting and I point them towards my free youtube videos..
He's just saying that your book should look like it fits within its category. Look at the covers of all the bestsellers in your category and see how they seem to fit together. If you're not well known, people need to have an immediate sense for the type of story you've written. If your cover is too different from the bestsellers in your category, it might confuse someone who is just scanning through search results on Amazon or whatever.
It's so funny how the "obvious" advice everybody desperately believes, is the exact opposite of what *any* publishing professional would tell you about book design. This isn't revolutionary stuff... though I get it - I absolutely resisted all of this when I first started publishing and I made all the mistakes that new authors make, because it seems so intuitive and natural. Luckily, I've learned to adapt my behavior to allow more readers to find my books.
@@DerekMurphycreativindie Tell me then, which book are you going to pull from the shelf? One of the many that look the same as all the others, or, the one that stands out? Of course the "publishing professionals" want everything to look the same, because they want everything to *be* the same. But that's not how real people think.
@@experi-mentalproductions5358 Designing books for bookshelves in bookstores - trad publishing - is completely different from designing books for Amazon; so it depends a lot on if you're self-publishing or traditional publishing. I help people with the former; and if you're going trad you won't be allowed to design your own cover. Indies trying to copy trad practices is the first mistake.
haha im seeing comments of people saying "you lost me in not stand out" jesus christ guy YOU CANNOT STAND OUT SO MUCH THAT PEOPLE WILL NOT CONNECT THE BOOK TO YOUR GENRE. You cannot stand out like a big publisher can if they want. Your urban fantasy book lets say, need to look like an urban fantasy book. Thats what he meant
Yup - they're similar because they work and sell books. Standing out (not looking like covers in your genre) means you're failing to communicate the genre.
As a designer and I worked selling art books and collectors books, the ones on the video look so tacky.. I'm so sorry, I'm not usually this direct.. But you lost me at, "don't stand out" bye
Maybe - a lot of people judge book covers only based on literary bestsellers or classic books; those designers can be artistic because the book will sell anyway and the cover doesn't actually matter. For most authors, the cover is everything and being creative is risky. But you can make strong, appropriate genre covers that are also beautiful if you know what you're doing. If you're trying to absolutely NOT make covers like all the popular bestsellers because they look ugly and cheap, you're going to have a hard time.
