How not to design a book cover

[TGS]

For your edification, a lighthearted compilation of object lessons in how not to design a book cover.

http://lousybookcovers.tumblr.com/

[kennyc]

Some nasty stuff......

[teh603]

I think someone linked this a few months ago. Although instead of just a "fail blog," IMO he should try actually pointing out how these could be improved. The internet is too full of destructive criticism.

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by teh603

I think someone linked this a few months ago. Although instead of just a "fail blog," IMO he should try actually pointing out how these could be improved. The internet is too full of destructive criticism.

As I wrote in my journal yesterday: "The internet breeds contempt."

I actually thought the swamp one was not that bad depending on market and story/genre, same for the time tunnel thing....ever see Dr. Who lately?

[frahse]

Originally Posted by teh603

I think someone linked this a few months ago. Although instead of just a "fail blog," IMO he should try actually pointing out how these could be improved. The internet is too full of destructive criticism.

Well said. Very well said.

[VydorScope]

Originally Posted by teh603

I think someone linked this a few months ago. Although instead of just a "fail blog," IMO he should try actually pointing out how these could be improved. The internet is too full of destructive criticism.

According to the site he used to, but he came under attack for it:

NOTE: I used to offer a free cover redesign to any author whose book was featured here, but because a couple of hyperventilating "sweet snowflakes" accused me of posting these covers as nothing more than a cynical "negative business model" to drive readers to my cover design site, I've ended that offer. Because the NERVE of offering a free gift to good sports! The VERY NERVE! Harumph!

I only know that cause its right on the first page linked above...

[gmw]

Originally Posted by VydorScope

According to the site he used to, but he came under attack for it: [...]

I'm inclined to agree that offering his own cover design services as part of such a site is not entirely appropriate.

I glanced through his archives. Okay so the majority are pretty atrocious, but there are some that aren't any worse than I've seen done by professionals. Several there remind me of old cheap paperbacks for horror/sci-fi in the seventies - and for all anyone knows, without talking to the author, that was the intention.

Cheap shots are easy ... and sometimes even justified ... perhaps. But a lousy cover every day of the month? That's just filler for his site. Amazon had almost 92,000 new releases in the last 30 days, of course there's going to be some pretty ripe choices.

[VydorScope]

Oh its all link bait for sure. For what ever reason - put up a fail blog of some kind and people will come. People will talk about it on message boards and post how wrong it is.

To be clear, it is not a genre I am a fan of. At all. I would have like to see a "heres how ugly it was - and here is how we fixed it" style blog. That would be helpful to me.

[gmw]

You're thinking before and after photographs, like weight-watchers or something? Maybe we need "cover-watchers", and "blurb-watchers". We could all go on the diet, see how many pounds (sterling) we can gain.

[VydorScope]

Originally Posted by gmw

You're thinking before and after photographs, like weight-watchers or something? Maybe we need "cover-watchers", and "blurb-watchers". We could all go on the diet, see how many pounds (sterling) we can gain.

LOL

Sure - that would at least be educational.

[teh603]

Originally Posted by VydorScope

According to the site he used to, but he came under attack for it:

So what about having a section, maybe once a week, on how to design a good one? Or a not too horrible one at least? I doubt that would get many attacks.

But like all things on the internet, its just too easy to be destructive.

[jamadams]

I think it's great - even just as a reference point for what a cover shouldn't be. I don't really care if he uses it to advertise his own services. It's his site - and clearly his services are needed!

[teh603]

Originally Posted by jamadams

I think it's great - even just as a reference point for what a cover shouldn't be. I don't really care if he uses it to advertise his own services. It's his site - and clearly his services are needed!

I dunno, I wouldn't go with a guy who advertises like that. He sounds like the kind of artiste who would reject my input and charge an arm and a leg.

"Yes, I did hear you tell me the main character dresses in gothic lolita. Well, I'm the artist, and I say that urban cowgirl suits her better! Who's the graphic artist, me or you?"

[QuantumIguana]

A lot of those covers are hand-drawn covers. Hand-drawn covers can be good if you have the talent for it. But if you don't, they can be bad. A lot of them (hand-drawn and otherwise) would be better if they kept it simpler. Plus, drawing people is hard, a hand-drawn cover might be ok, but it takes extra talent to be able to draw people well.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by jamadams

I think it's great - even just as a reference point for what a cover shouldn't be. I don't really care if he uses it to advertise his own services. It's his site - and clearly his services are needed!

I am with jamadams on this one. We see scads of truly awful covers come through here, and I try very hard not to say a word, although on rare occasions, I have. Bad covers are even more prevalent than bad fiction or bad books in general, and that's saying a lot.

If you think that a lot of the wrong people believe that they are writers, you haven't hung out around people applying for cover design work yet. When I post ads seeking new talent, the responses I receive from folks who really believe (like the guy/gal who did the one with the rat, the pelican and the "neanderthal" in the boat) that they're ready for nearly-prime-time inundate our inboxes. And most of what we get for portfolio shots is just...painful.

If you like constructive critcism, try "Your Cover Uncovered," http://yourcoveruncovered.blogspot.com/ , but I admit I have a sad addiction to laughing at truly bad covers. I know: it makes me a lousy human being. But in my defense, I'd point out that I sift through dozens of new manuscripts for production daily; in scrutinizing them for quotes, I inadvertently read a lot of them, and my poor brain needs an outlet. Thus, I confess, this guy slays me: http://causticcovercritic.blogspot.com.au/

Hitch