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AP Photo: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute
You have written your work of art, you’ve check it twice, once by yourself and a thorough once over by your editor, you’ve designed your logo… what’s next? Your title and cover artwork.
Having professionally designed cover art is equivalent to giving a great gift wrapped in a pretty package. Picture this. You are standing in front of a bookshelf at your local bookstore. You and your spouse have just purchased your first home and you are looking for a book on gardening. Most of the spines look alike. They are some form of green grass and flowers. As you are scanning the shelves, a title and spine catches your eye that is quite different from all the others. It stands out. What is it? A yellow book with black writing that says, “Gardening for Dummies.” Having never owned property before, you figure you and your spouse are just that, “Dummies at gardening.”
A catchy title and crafty artwork can give you an edge over your competition and catch the attention of browsers. Who ever came up with the idea for a book, which has now become a trademark unto its own, “____ for Dummies,” is certainly NOT a dummy. I am not implying that all you need to do to sell your work of art is a catchy title and great cover art. No. You will still have to have meaty writing. After drawing in your browser, you have to be able to hook them into purchasing your title by delivering on what you have promised them with the lure.
I was half-way through the writing of my book when my title began to develop itself. The same might be true for you, or it might come to you before its writing or after. You may even have to brainstorm with your editor or colleagues to find what constitutes a light bulb for you in relation to your work.
The cover art for my title also began to develop in my mind while I was writing. By the time my work of art was complete, I knew exactly what I wanted my cover art to look like. Not having been gifted with the ability to draw, I needed to work with an artist who could listen to me carefully as I described what I wanted and being to translate it, so to speak, through his artistic talent. I was able to find such a talented artist through my editor.
Reiterating something mentioned in a previous article on searching for an editor, your editor is more than just a person to dot your “I’s” and cross your “T’s.” They partner with you in helping you publish your artistic venture. They are a fountain of knowledge and wisdom when it comes to publishing. If they don’t have an answer for you, they should know someone who does have an answer and be able to get that answer for you.
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