Communicating with Your Cover Artist by Sessha Batto

Whether self-published, small press, or traditional, authors eventually need to communicate with a cover artist. Although self-publishing gives you more freedom when it comes to your design, you will still want to get the best value for your investment. For those published by a small or traditional press, the more concisely and clearly you can communicate what you want and why, the more likely you'll be pleased with the results. So, since I'm both a writer and a cover artist, I thought I'd pass on some tips to help you get the most out of your input into your cover.



First, look at covers in your genre. If you have a publisher, chances are your cover will strongly resemble these. If you self-publish, you should have a good reason for trying anything radically different, as it could negatively impact sales. Whether you like or hate the trends, keep in mind that readers are scanning for covers that resemble those of books they've enjoyed. Collect 5-10 that you particularly like, and figure out what it is you like about them. Stress these elements when you make cover suggestions.



Cast your main characters. Find pictures of people who look like them to give to the artist for reference. Reference pictures of key landmarks, houses, clothing, really any critical element, can help ensure you convey your ideas accurately. My idea of a country cottage and yours may be very different, after all.



Let the artist know from the beginning if the cover is for print, e-book, or both. The layout and design is very different. However, don't skimp on low-quality images, even e-book covers should be high quality and large enough to dominate the book's webpage. If you're a self-publisher, make sure you let the artist know which printer you're using as they all have slightly different layouts, you also need to know the size and approximate number of formatted pages. This will minimize the need to tweak for the final print file.



Have a good, concise, synopsis that includes the key visual elements of the story. As much as we might like to, cover artists do not have the time to read every book we design for. If you don't tell me something is important, I'm unlikely to think to include it.



When you see the first cover ideas do not freak out. Take a deep breath and look at them as if it isn't your book, decide what you like and dislike, then calmly communicate it. It is important to be descriptive, 'I hate it' doesn't give any direction for change. On the other hand, keep in mind that the purchaser has not yet read the book, the cover needs to entice them in, not tell the entire story. It is unlikely that they will note a small inaccuracy, and I've never heard of someone returning a book because the cover didn't match the interior.



Finally, remember that design is a process, it takes time and cooperation. The more you put into it, the smoother it will go and the more satisfied you'll be with the end result.