WNA #5: The cover, continued
I set out to update my publisher this week. I’ve taken their advice and homework to heart, and I’m excited to share the state of the project. If we’re aiming for an October ‘24 release, we need to get some contracts signed by Q1.
But, I’m not going to make it. At least, not this week. Client work got in the way — which is a luxury, but it got in the way nonetheless. Next week, I’m sure.
Luckily, that doesn’t mean I did not make any progress. As I discussed in WNA #3, I’ve been working on the cover. This week as well. Right now, I have a concept that I’m tentatively happy with.
Before you scroll down, let’s not forget what we’re trying to do here.
The purpose of the cover is to be noticed and picked up; to peak interest.
This translated roughly to the following principles of the design:
I will not use a sans-serif font — most creative book covers do, so we’ll go against that, and the title warrants a more rebellious look;
I will explore viability of bright yellow, blue, purple, or green instead of the more common red, black, white, and orange;
I will refrain from illustrations or purely decorative elements to avoid ageing too quickly and to give the cover a somewhat timeless simplicity.
That’s it. I’ve let it sit for a couple of days now (there’s a chapter in the book that calls this Creative Fermentation — it’s crucial) and every time I come back to it, I still think it’s good.
How about you?