Thinking about hiring a designer for your book cover? Great decision (even if it's not us)! But before you jump into the design process, there are a few things you'll want to have ready to ensure everything goes smoothly. It’ll save you time, help the designer understand your vision, and ultimately result in a cover that truly captures your story and is something you're proud to display on the shelves (and all over social media).
1. KNOW YOUR AUDIENCE + GENRE
Think of this as the designer’s roadmap. Different genres have distinct styles—fantasy leans toward epic fonts and intricate details, while thrillers go darker and more intense with big san serif fonts. Knowing your genre helps us give your cover the right look. And don’t forget your audience! Are they young adults, romance readers, thriller lovers, or historical fiction buffs? This helps the designer tap into visual elements that resonate with your readers.
Pro Tip: While it's good to stay with the norm and set your readers expectations, sometimes getting a reader's attention calls for drastic measures. This can be done by breaking some of the norms and stereotypes of genres. Think of a bright colored font for a horror novel instead of the typical red, this will stand out in the sea or black and red books in the section.
2. YOUR BLURB
We don’t need to read your entire book (even though Jessica probably already has it on her TBR), but a solid synopsis or blurb is essential. This short summary gives us a feel for the story, characters, and tone. Do you have a gritty detective story or a steamy romance? This gives us crucial insight without wasting time researching and concepting on something that isn't relevant to your story.
3. INSPIRATION + STYLE PREFERENCES
When you browse covers on Amazon or your local bookstore, what catches your eye? Do you like the minimalist look? Bold typography? Dark, moody vibes? Gather a handful of reference images—even if they’re just covers you admire. We use these for inspiration and help you understand how your vision might translate to your own cover.
Pro Tip: Don’t be shy about mentioning what you don’t like, too! It’s all valuable intel (this is one of our favorite questions to ask in our kick-off call).
4. YOUR FORMAT + DIMENSIONS
Are you going for an e-book, paperback, hardcover, or all three? Each format has unique requirements, and dimensions can vary, so it’s great to have this info handy. While we can help guide you, having a clear idea of your preferred format(s) from the start will make the process more efficient. If you know you want your book printed but don't have a strong opinion on size, don't sweat it, we can give you pros and cons, and our recommendations.
Bonus Tip: If you’re publishing both an e-book and print, remember the cover designs are slightly different. Print books need spines and back covers, while e-books only require the front (and can sometimes appear black & white only depending on a reader's device).
5. BUDGET + TIMELINE
Knowing your budget and timeline helps us plan out the work and gives us both a realistic framework. This ensures there’s no awkward dance around deadlines or fees later on. Remember, high-quality design is an investment, but there’s often some flexibility, especially if you discuss it upfront.
Money Tip: Some designers or agencies (like ours 😉), offer payment plans and options, so don’t let budget concerns keep you from achieving your dream cover!
