Essential Cover Design Tips For Self-published Authors By Derek Murphy

This is an introduction to book cover design, based on a presentation I gave at a writing conference in Ecuador. I'll cover the #1 mistake authors make on their cover, some foolproof layouts that work in any genre, where to find stock photos and art, and how to put it all together... this is the first video in a series so much sure you watch the whole thing.

For templates or more advanced videos on book cover design, check out:

GET HELP: I help authors on a budget with book cover design templates and tutorials, because I believe everyone deserves to tell their story, even if they don't have a budget for book design. And while it's possible to design your own book cover that's "good enough" to publish, investing in a professional cover will absolutely boost sales and make marketing so much easier (not to mention, save you a ton of time and frustration).

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Hey there - I'm Derek Murphy. I'm a fine artist who became a book cover designer, then started writing young adult scifi and fantasy. I've spent almost 20 years living abroad, have a PhD in comparative literature (revolutionary politics in Paradise Lost), and have been featured in CNN for renting castles to use as writing retreats. Although I'm not working with clients anymore, I've built a ton of resources to help indie authors write, design and publish bestselling books.

On this channel, I talk about writing, publishing and creating personal freedom with unconventional business strategies and providing value. My videos are unpolished and a little raw, because we travel full-time and I focus on content, not production quality.

If you're a writer, artist, or entrepreneur, make sure you SUBSCRIBE - then let me know what you need help with, and I'll make a video just for you! Here are some resources to get you started:

DIY book cover and formatting templates (FREE)

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[ameliaheart]

These are the kind of covers I hate though... A face on a cover immediatly turns me off because it spoils how the character looks for me. Also all these people look "perfect" and i just cringe at that... I like covers that are more unique like where illustrations are used or more sophisticated kind of design that is not centered around a figure or person. I just think they look cheesy as hell. But then maybe im just a very picky person lol i hope im not the only one with this opinion though!!

[briemac]

"Red doesn't go with anything else..."

Red, the primary color. In color theory it goes with everything especially teal, a fantastic horror complementary tone.

[kandystorressantiago]

I think with book covers you have to find something that kind of symbolizes the story and what the audience can easily recognize in an instant. If you think about pictograms people recognize what what they mean without even thinking about it.

[_AVUR]

As someone that judges a book by its cover, here are good and bad things on a cover.

When I look at a book, here are the things I like in a book cover.
-full Color for most of the book (not too detailed
-flowers, nature or household items, icons are good (no faces! Eyes are okay tho)
-a good font! Pleaseee no ugly fonts.
-a Color that matches the vibe of the book, if it’s a sweet calm book than a pastel Color would go well.

[franslam]

I know you're a professional and I appreciate the information here (despite being a little disheartening) but I don't really like this personally. Erotica novels used to have a very specific look; couples in overtly seductive positions, bodies entwined in various states of undress. Fifty Shades came along and went more abstract by putting a picture of a grey tie on the cover. That was it. Just symbolism. That cover changed the way future erotica novels have been marketed in terms of their covers. You'll see a picture of a pair of cuff links or a photo of handcuffs or a picture of a seductive shoe or some wrinkled bedsheets. No faces on the cover. John Green does YA and has no ppl on his covers, just typography. All I ever see in self-published romance novels on Amazon are photos of naked male torsos and they bore the shit out of me I never buy them. But I'm sure if I was writing that kind of book I'd be advised to have my book look like the thousands of other naked male torso covers because it must clearly sell, however, it is so uninspiring. Imagine being a writer where one of the most exciting things about writing a book is the cover design, and yours turns out to be a cover of a naked male torso. Just like the hundred others you saw on Amazon last night.😐 Whoop! What a cover reveal!!😒

EDIT: 4:59 that pic on the right is the perfect example. Man, I see these covers everywhere😴And I do appreciate the nuance between a trad publishing cover and a self-publishing cover and how much (or less) work needs to be done depending of which avenue the book has gone down, so yes, I absolutely appreciate that level of information and how that does change perspective a little on cover design.

[bryangarrison]

I’m just starting out on this journey. I wrote my book, which apparently isn’t the first thing I should have done, and now I’m getting into the marketing, etc. This was very helpful. Thank you.

[StevePhillips]

A professionally made video sounds great too. Interesting cover selection. A cover is of course what attracts us to a particular book. Though I like to read a little of what it's about before purchasing.

[savakha]

this book covers have no life though. its all just photographs. i understand you are a professional but the book covers you put in has no life.

[inbedduringcovid]

Would love a update on this video. A artist that loves drawing realistic and loving learning how to create filter feelings and lettering to create covers for books and movies

[sonnyboyd]

What about comics and manga's? They represent the story with their cover. And they make money just fine.

[gailynnesam]

I have found your videos very inspirational and easy to follow, thank you for the great content. Creating book covers is something I would love to do full time. I just finished designing the cover for my mom's journal/auto biography and fell in love with the creative process. Do you have any tips for me on how to get started doing this? Or maybe how to get freelance jobs through like fiverr or upwork? I know its competitive but I love it.

[gopro_audio]

I am seeing this after I did about a dozen test covers yesterday. I was already focused on blue and orange. checking out the next segment.

[Greywolfgrafix]

I've been hired to do a cover featuring a gangster with a G-man in the background, and also have to work in a train depot and Alcatraz in the background. Sort of a film-noir sort of thing. This is the most difficult project I've ever done...

[rosemariewright]

Derek, Name here is Bill from Bills Book Club and just want to make you aware if knowing already that Cover Design Basics main topic with How to make a book cover that sells sub topic created 50, 000 reviews others will pay.

[lattacamp]

I’m trying to get some tips on cover designs as I’m writing my first book and I’m need some help

[jonaswtfpwned]

How much do you charge for a book cover design?
Currently writing my first sci-fi novel.

[Stephanie-sirs]

'Just fit in, don't stand out'... I couldn't disagree more. Your cover must fit your story and you must strive to perfect it. But if your story is mediocre, or stereotypically average, then go ahead. Fitting your book in the crowd will make you blend for sure.

And it will help your cover designer. He will only have to retouch a few details of your 'acacia tree with an orange sunset' in your Africa-themed cover. Like hundreds of others already in the market.

[uhavemooface]

When I go to publish my book I am using a cover that I want not what the designer wants it to look like. If it sells then it sells if it doesn't sell then it doesn't. I think that when you make a cover design you should do what the person asks or you won't get paid.

[Growndweller]

Very interesting video although I would disagree that you shouldn't put scenes from the book on the cover. When I look at the covers of the Harry Potter books, all I see is scenes from the books, and Bloomsbury would have used the best cover designers for those books. Perhaps you should add a note that this tends to work better for children's fiction.

[thomasl.]

Derek I have been watching many of your videos and I just finished to read your book. I can not put a review in amazon com because I'm from Italy living in France, so I could only do it in those websites, I actually found your e-book in Italian amazon but it is not available. I suggest you to let it available because there is not such quality book cover design material to read and several Italians speak or read English. I want to put a 5 star review cause you deserve it, but if the book is not available...should I put it anyway? In Italian or English language? I let it up to you