Hello Writer Bees,
You know, they say don't judge a book by its cover. And while that is true, writers, including myself, still want to have eye-catching book covers. Readers like pretty things. This is how I made my ebook cover for free. Please keep in mind, I'm no graphic designer or artist by any means. This was the first step in my self-publishing journey.
Creating the Concept
Coming up with the idea for an ebook cover was an interesting challenge. Since my murder mystery takes place in 1925, I wanted the cover image to be reminiscent of the time period. When I began brainstorming, what initially came to mind was Art Deco, an art style that features simplicity and symmetry in geometrical elements, popular in the 20's and 30's. Which then led me down the Pinterest rabbithole of art deco patterns and Great Gatsby aesthetics.
Creating the Cover
Let me address the elephant in the room. Why didn't I hire a real cover artist? I could've hired one. I did look. Nothing wrong with hiring help. There are some amazing talents on freelancer websites, like Fivver and Reedsy. Going into this self-publishing process, I figured I'd try to make a cover on my own and if it was bad, I'd hire a cover artist.
Here's the real story of what happened. I knew of this site called Canva, a tool where you can create logos, posters, brochures etc. It's a fairly easy program to use. They have a whole library of images, stickers, fonts. And did I mention it's free? So, one Saturday night, I said, why not? Let's see what I can come up with. I already had an image in my head of what I wanted. So I copied some geometric patterns, added the gilded filigree and vintage font, changed to a black and gold color scheme, and poof! Cover complete! Literally took about an hour. And while I'm no real artist, I'm actually pleased with the end result. Honestly, I'm happy I had such a hands-on experience creating the cover.
Tips for Brainstorming Cover Ideas
Need help finding inspiration for your book cover? Try researching other books published in your chosen genre. Think about it, a rom-com book typically looks much different than an action thriller. Whether it's a paperback or ebook, you want readers to have a hint as to the book's genre. Also, if you used reference/research images or a vision board during your writing process, look to those for inspiration. Not saying to copy a picture exactly, but the pictures that inspire your work may inspire your cover as well.
For the published authors, how did you come up with your book cover? What was your process like? Lemme know in the comments.
Write with heart.
Love,
Lady Jabberwocky
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