How to Get Book Covers for Your Novels: A Complete Guide for Writers
You’ve written the perfect novel—crafted compelling characters, built an immersive world, and polished every sentence until it gleams. Now, your book needs something just as vital: an eye-catching cover. A great book cover can grab readers’ attention, spark curiosity, and communicate the essence of your story before they even open the first page.
But how do you go about getting the right cover for your book? Whether you’re a self-published author or working with a traditional publisher, there are multiple ways to find, create, or commission a book cover that will do your story justice. Let’s dive into the steps for getting a professional, beautiful cover that resonates with your novel and your audience.
Why a Good Book Cover Matters
Before we jump into the process of acquiring book covers, it’s essential to understand why the cover is so important:
- First impressions matter: Despite the old saying to the contrary, readers often judge a book by its cover. In a crowded market, an appealing design is your first opportunity to make your book stand out.
- Sets expectations: A cover tells potential readers what kind of story they’re getting—whether it’s a romantic comedy, an epic fantasy, or a gritty thriller. A mismatched cover could turn off your target audience.
- Brand identity: If you’re writing a series or multiple books in a specific genre, your covers help establish your author brand. A cohesive visual identity can build reader loyalty.
- Psychological impact: The right colours, typography, and imagery can evoke emotions, making readers more likely to feel connected to your story before they even start reading.
Now that we’ve established why a cover is essential, let’s explore how to get one.
Step 1: Define Your Cover’s Purpose
Before you start the cover design process, think about what your book cover needs to achieve. Consider the following:
- Target audience: Who is your reader? A romance reader is looking for something different than a sci-fi fan. Know what appeals to your specific audience.
- Genre cues: Different genres have visual elements that signal to readers—like dark tones for thrillers or whimsical fonts for young adult novels. Research covers of bestselling books in your genre to understand these visual cues.
- Story tone: The cover should convey the mood of your book. Is your novel lighthearted, serious, mysterious, or magical? The imagery, colours, and typography should match the tone.
Once you know what you’re aiming for, it’s time to start the process of getting your cover!
Step 2: Explore Your Options
There are multiple paths to getting a professional-looking book cover, and the one you choose depends on your budget, skills, and goals. Here are the main routes:
1. Hiring a Professional Designer
- What it involves: This option lets you collaborate with an experienced designer to create a completely custom cover.
- Best for: Authors with a budget who want a professional and unique design.
- Pros:
- Full creative control.
- A polished, high-quality result.
- The ability to communicate the essence of your story directly to the designer.
- Cons:
- Can be expensive, with costs ranging from $200 to $2000+ depending on the designer’s reputation and skill level.
- How to Find a Professional Designer:
- Freelancing platforms: Websites like Upwork, Fiverr, or 99designs host many freelance designers. Browse their portfolios to find someone with experience in book cover design.
- Book cover design agencies: Agencies like Damonza or BookFly Design specialise in creating book covers for authors. These agencies usually offer packages that include design, formatting, and sometimes promotional materials.
- Personal recommendations: Join writing communities or author forums (like on Reddit, Goodreads, or Facebook) and ask for recommendations from fellow writers who have worked with cover designers.
2. Pre-made Covers
- What it involves: You purchase a pre-designed book cover that can be customised with your title and author name.
- Best for: Authors on a budget or with a tight deadline who still want a professional design.
- Pros:
- Affordable (usually between $50 to $150).
- Fast—you can get a ready-made cover within hours or days.
- High-quality designs for a fraction of the cost of custom work.
- Cons:
- Limited creativity—you’re picking from what’s available.
- The cover may not fully capture the uniqueness of your story.
- SelfPubBookCovers: A popular site with thousands of pre-made covers in various genres.
- The Book Cover Designer: Offers an extensive selection of ready-made covers.
- Go On Write: Another option that lets you browse pre-made covers by genre.
3. DIY (Do It Yourself)
- What it involves: If you have graphic design skills (or are willing to learn), you can design your own cover using software like Photoshop, Canva, or GIMP.
- Best for: Authors who are confident in their design abilities or want to save money by creating their own cover.
- Pros:
- Total creative control—you know your book better than anyone!
- Budget-friendly—it only costs your time and the price of the software (many free options are available).
- Many free or low-cost resources are available, including royalty-free images and design tutorials.
- Cons:
- Takes time to learn the skills.
- Risk of an amateurish result, especially if you’re not familiar with design principles.
- Canva: An easy-to-use online tool with templates specifically for book covers.
- GIMP: Free, open-source software with many of the same features as Photoshop.
- Adobe Spark: A simplified design tool from Adobe that’s beginner-friendly.
- BookBrush: A tool created for indie authors that offers templates and customization options.
4. Work with a Publisher
- What it involves: If you’re working with a traditional publisher, they will typically handle the book cover design process. However, your input may vary depending on the publishing house.
- Best for: Authors who are traditionally published.
- Pros:
- Professional design expertise without the cost.
- The publisher will ensure the cover fits within market expectations.
- Cons:
- Less creative control—publishers often make the final decision.
- You may not always like the design if the publisher doesn’t fully capture your vision.
Step 3: Collaborating with a Designer
If you decide to hire a designer, collaboration is key to getting the perfect cover. Here’s how to make sure the process goes smoothly:
- Create a brief: Write a clear design brief that includes information about your book’s genre, target audience, plot, and tone. You can also include cover examples you like or inspiration from other books.
- Provide feedback: Be specific when reviewing drafts. Instead of saying, “I don’t like the colours,” try, “Can we try darker tones to emphasise the mystery element?”
- Trust the designer: Remember, they’re the expert! While you know your story best, they know what works visually in the marketplace.
Step 4: Final Touches and Format
Once your cover is ready, make sure you get the files in the correct formats. If you’re self-publishing, you’ll need versions for both print and digital platforms.
- For eBooks: You’ll typically need a high-resolution JPEG (minimum 1600 x 2560 pixels) for platforms like Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).
- For print books: You’ll need a full cover wrap, including the front cover, spine, and back cover. Check the specific guidelines for the print service you’re using (e.g., KDP, IngramSpark).
Bonus Tips for a Stand-Out Cover
- Consider typography: The font is just as important as the imagery. Use a font that matches your genre (e.g., elegant for romance, bold for action).
- Focus on readability: Your title and author name should be easy to read, even in thumbnail form. Make sure the text isn’t overshadowed by the background.
- Use colours strategically: Different colours evoke different emotions. Warm colours (red, orange, yellow) tend to feel energetic, while cool colours (blue, green, purple) evoke calmness or mystery. Choose wisely based on your book’s tone.
Final Thoughts
Getting a book cover is an exciting part of the publishing process—it’s the moment when your story begins to take a tangible form that readers can connect with.
Whether you hire a professional, go the DIY route, or pick a pre-made option, your cover will play a crucial role in attracting readers and building your author brand.
Take your time, explore your options, and don’t be afraid to invest in this key part of your novel’s success. After all, you only get one chance to make a first impression!
Have you had any experiences creating or commissioning book covers? Share your tips and stories in the comments below!
© Colin Lawson Books