100 things #44 blurbs and cover art

[jana_denardo]

{Take the 100 Things challenge!}


Okay technically not a ‘writing’ related post as such but still part of the publication process. The cover blurb and the cover art are key to hooking a first time reader. As the author you often don’t have complete control over either of those things. I’ve been lucky with Dreamspinner, for example, that they are willing to both let me write the blurb and/or help me write it.

I suck at blurb writing sometimes. It’s a very learned skill. It’s difficult to not only write short but to make it both exciting enough to lure someone in but not be misleading at the same time. I’m still learning how to do it well. I’ve even seen some blogs offering up professional critiques of the cover blurb (not as much in the last few years). It’s really that important. Or so I thought.

I always read the cover blurb and that extends to the blurb on things like Amazon or goodreads giveaways but I’ve noticed a very bizarre and somewhat disturbing trend at least on GR. People aren’t reading the blurbs at all. How many times have I seen a review begin, I won this book but I hate this genre… Okay, seriously, what the hell people? I have yet to see one that didn’t have a blurb. Do you just run around putting your name in for every book in the giveaway? I always read the blurb. How else will I know if it’s something I like or not? There are tons of genres that I don’t like. Contemporary, romance with nothing else going on (like paranormal or mystery), memoirs, religious/political fiction (and usually non-fiction). Then I realized what they’re looking at. The cover art. They are basing their entire desire for the book based on the art.

Back in the early 90’s, I had a discussion with another author friend of mine about cover art (I knew next to nothing about the process at that time and I’m still very much a noob) I knew one thing: I wanted the prettiest art I could get a hold of. I had been turned off a book by ugly art. He had the opposite idea. He wanted the art to be so ugly it was eye catchingly bad. What a shame, I had thought at the time especially since he could have done his own art and it would have been beautiful. That said, I suppose some people would pick up the book just because the art was so bad they were curious to see if the story was, too.

I see this all the time on GR too. People who review the cover art. Who actually knock stars off the book if the art is bad or they think it’s ripping off another cover. “oooo look at that cover. I have to buy this book 4 stars!” Nothing like reviewing a book without reading it, people. I sort of want to find those people and punch them (though I suspect in most cases I would have just punched a 12 year old girl in the face. Or at least that’s what I’m hoping. I’m hoping very much that these people aren’t in their 40’s or something).

So good cover art has become almost critical. Great. The one thing that the author has very little control over. I’ve only done one cover (all the rest have been under anthology umbrellas where my input on cover art was not needed). The cover was with Dreamspinner Press (points to my icon, that’s it). If all publishers do something similar, I received a big sheet of questions to fill out that would hopefully cue my artist in on who I’d like to see on the cover, what sort of pose etc. The one thing I learned quickly was to be as detailed as humanly possible. I’m going to doubt the artist sees the manuscript at all (based on thousands of covers I’ve seen over the years) so that is the only way s/he knows anything at all about your character.

I can only speak to DSP’s policy on art (others feel free to weigh in on this. I’d love to hear your experiences). I was thrilled with Shobana’s first attempt. Only one thing was missing, their emblem on their uniforms (and that was because someone wasn’t as detailed as she should have been on her questionnaire, shifty eyes). Adding that in wasn’t much of an issue. I don’t know what would have happened if I had thought, ‘omg this is all wrong.’ I’m hoping, in the future, that I’ll be smart enough to get enough info to my artist that it won’t ever be an issue. They were very thorough questions and I was allowed to say what I wanted and just as importantly didn’t want. For example, I’m not a real fan of the pants half down or mostly naked covers. Don’t ask me why. I’m not sure.

So I guess my advice, is take it seriously when they ask your input on the cover. Remember that it’s the first interface with the reader and if you’re writing, urban fantasy with kick-ass female protagonist, good luck to you. Some of the most hysterical things I’ve been seeing lately are people trying to emulate those poses. One more astute GR reviewer noted ‘hey look, the girl on the cover is standing in a position that is comfortable and anyone can actually do.’ Yeah, it’s just that bad.

Comments

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Maybe they need to see "The Hawkeye Initiative", those cover artists.

[jana-denardo.livejournal.com]

yes they do.

they also need to remember that it's not the 1960s any more. The bulk of the fantasy readers is no longer male. It's at least a 50/50 split and the women want to see something other than bosoms of doom and women contorted into positions only yoga masters could hope to achieve.

(also Big Bang Theory needs to remember that)

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Write to the producers of TBBT.

[jana-denardo.livejournal.com]

hmmmm

[evil-little-dog.livejournal.com]

Might not hurt.

[jana-denardo.livejournal.com]

true