Book Covers and the Creative Process

This post is about two days late buuut I have great excuses reasons. I promise ;) I've had school, extra events to attend for my honors program, blah blah blah. It's been great. *sarcasm*

Today, though, I want to tell you about an idea I had and also what my current project is in my design class. I've just started a book cover project in that class! While it's really exciting, it's also kind of terrifying since this is what I want to do when I graduate and I would really like not sucking at it. (Also, apparently the professor raises standards quite a bit the higher the class level goes.)

After a little brainstorming, I thought of a few book covers from a popular YA series that I'd love to remake (because that's what we're doing, remaking covers)-- the Mortal Instruments series. I love TMI to death, but that doesn't mean I like the covers. At all.

So begins my creative process to turn in sketches at the next class. Mostly, I've researched. I looked to find the covers I wanted to redo, I read some articles on good cover design, I tried to get a feel for what the average YA paranormal/urban fantasy looks like (not good).

And then I found a great list, which I'm going to summarize here, that talked about all the things a good book cover should have:

1. Match the genre, but still stand out. Very clear advice of course.
2. Appeal to readers with strong visual presence. 
3. Reflect content and writing style of book. 
4. Convince reader to invest.

These are some really good tips, ones that I'm going to try to keep in mind during this whole project.

I'm also going out into town this weekend some time, to look at book covers at the library and our Books-a-Million. I really hope that that helps me out too!

Now that I've kind of breezed through my process until now, I have a question for you all. Would any of you like to be a part of a critique group for this project and possibly future ones? I mean, I know my design professor knows his stuff but you guys are readers, bookworms, you are all out in the field (metaphorically ;)) every day. You know what things are cliche and which things grab your attention. So I'd love to have your (nice, rational) opinions on my work! What I'll probably do is create a group, either on Facebook or Goodreads, where we can all talk and suggest things comfortably. What do you guys think? Are any of you interested?

Peace out, peeps. Have a great weekend :)

Comments

  1. I would love to! Sounds like a awesome idea and I think it would help give you some sort of idea if what readers except!
    Chloee
    irishgirlwithacrazylife.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. Great! Exactly, I think you all are pretty much experts at knowing if a cover's good or bad, new or cliche. I'll be doing a follow up post soon with very rough sketches and ideas etc.

      Also, would you personally prefer a goodreads group or a facebook one? Or maybe another option?

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    2. I honestly prefer Goodreads just because I don't have Facebook.
      Chloee
      irishgirlwithacrazylife.blogspot.com

      Delete
    3. Yeah, I'm guessing a lot of other people have the same opinion :) So I shall be making a group this weekend. Can I get a what whaaat? *grins*

      Delete
    4. What whaaat!
      Chloee
      irishgirlwithacrazylife.blogspot.com

      Delete
  2. You know you can always count me in for anything! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks B! <3 What kind of group would you rather join-- Facebook, Goodreads, etc. ?

      Delete
  3. That sounds so cool! I would so love to help you with this project!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great! Hope you have fun critiquing in the Goodreads group *grins*

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