Wright’s Writing Corner –On Judging a book by its cover

The good news, prospective writers, is that it is now much, much easier to get published as an author than ever before in human history. The bad news is that it is much, much harder to find the reader to buy your books. A good cover is crucial.

The beautiful and talented Mrs. Wright has an article on getting a cover that will attract rather than repel the reader:

Commission a cover painting – this is an idea option for many books…but you have to be careful. Bad paintings look worse than anything else, except perhaps bad photoshopping. In particular, human figures that are distorted or not in proper proportion can be really off-putting. So, if you are going to go to the trouble of having a real cover painting, make certain that the artist you pick can produce a pleasing human image.

This last point cannot be stressed too strongly. Human images out of perspective and photoshopping that doesn’t trick the eye are worse–much much worse–than a simple solid cover with lettering on it. Do not pick a cover image that will turn away more readers than it draws!

So…Now, you have a decent cover image. Everything is great, right?

Not quite.

Read the whole thing:

http://www.ljagilamplighter.com/2014/04/16/wrights-writing-corner-beware-the-sneer-of-reader-x-or-dont-skimp-on-the-cover-art/