How to tell someone the cover of his/her book is AWFUL - Page 2

Apache · 01-19-2016, 07:42 PM

I am in the jewelry business and that is one ugly ring.
Apache

Turtle91 · 01-19-2016, 08:02 PM

At first I thought the description was an "About the Author"...then felt sorry for the author when I realized it was the theme of the book. Someone should give the author some polite positive criticism on how to do it correctly - not just say "your cover sucks". After all, the story itself might be very good...but very few will get past the cover and description to read it.

fjtorres · 01-19-2016, 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eschwartz

I'm not sure whether the cover or the description is more of a turnoff.

I'd vote for the latter.
That blurb is more of a plot summary...

Cinisajoy · 01-19-2016, 08:34 PM

Well in this case, everything is working against the author.
Cover needs changed, description needs work, and the book is in need of a proofreader.

meeera · 01-19-2016, 09:34 PM

I'd actually call that cover just "meh" - it's obviously self-made by someone without design smarts, but I've seen far worse in the self-pubbed world!

pidgeon92 · 01-19-2016, 10:54 PM

The cover is awful.
The description is awful.
The biography of the author is awful.

Quote:

His ultimate goal is to one day have one of his stories become a movie for everyone to see. When will this goal be achieved? Only time will tell.

I think we can safely go with never.

Turtle91 · 01-20-2016, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pidgeon92

The cover is awful.
The description is awful.
The biography of the author is awful.

I think we can safely go with never.

I would certainly agree that the current level of work from this author would need some vast improvement to get to the movie contract level. But ... give 'em a break. Everybody has to start somewhere. So, instead of just bashing the author...anyone have links to threads/sites that will help them to improve in those particular areas??

meeera · 01-20-2016, 02:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turtle91

I would certainly agree that the current level of work from this author would need some vast improvement to get to the movie contract level. But ... give 'em a break. Everybody has to start somewhere. So, instead of just bashing the author...anyone have links to threads/sites that will help them to improve in those particular areas??

- Join an honest crit group. Improve your craft and learn about your industry.
- The public are neither your beta readers nor your business advisors.
- The internet is awash with information on self--publishing successfully already.

mbkimberley · 01-20-2016, 03:57 AM

I would just tell them, after all unless they created/designed it, they should take the opinion well.

MikeB1972 · 01-20-2016, 04:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSWolf

What is the best way to tell someone that the cover of his/her self-published eBook is dreadfully awful? Someone recently posted about a self-published eBook at Amazon and the cover was so awful, that I was unable to read the description. I had to close the tab in Firefox so I would not be seeing that cover.

Hi Jon

Depending on how supportive you feel, either one of these should work

JSWolf · 01-20-2016, 05:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turtle91

At first I thought the description was an "About the Author"...then felt sorry for the author when I realized it was the theme of the book. Someone should give the author some polite positive criticism on how to do it correctly - not just say "your cover sucks". After all, the story itself might be very good...but very few will get past the cover and description to read it.

The first thing is that the name of the book is misleading. Then the cover is not good. Finally, the description could be better. I cannot say how the book is as I would not be getting past these problems/issues.

Dr. Drib · 01-20-2016, 05:27 AM

I think if one decides to read a book and to leave a review after having read that book, then commenting upon the cover and offering one's opinion can be helpful, if the language is couched within the confines of helpful and critical courtesy, then the author can benefit from those comments if he or she is open to criticism.

Some individuals, however, have no conception of what common courtesy means.

Catlady · 01-20-2016, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meeera

I'd actually call that cover just "meh" - it's obviously self-made by someone without design smarts, but I've seen far worse in the self-pubbed world!

I agree; from the initial post I thought it was going to be truly horrific, but this cover is just bland. Clearly the point was simply to show an odd-looking ring to match the title, and that is certainly an odd-looking ring.

DiapDealer · 01-20-2016, 12:58 PM

Unless I'd read the entire book and really liked it, I'd probably just let the whole thing go. I've seen way more atrocious covers that sparked much less conversation afterall. Why're we potato-piling on this one book anyway? Slow couple of days?

eschwartz · 01-20-2016, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

Why're we potato-piling on this one book anyway? Slow couple of days?

Jon kicked up a fuss.

I would agree lots of book stink, but no one mentioned those and I don't care.

01-20-2016, 03:57 AM	#24
mbkimberley Enthusiast Posts: 26 Karma: 11010 Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Shepshed UK Device: none	Kindly I would just tell them, after all unless they created/designed it, they should take the opinion well.

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01-19-2016, 07:42 PM	#16
Apache Readaholic Posts: 5,277 Karma: 90000484 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: South Georgia Device: Surface Pro 6 / Galaxy Tab A 8"	I am in the jewelry business and that is one ugly ring. Apache

01-19-2016, 08:02 PM	#17
Turtle91 A Hairy Wizard Posts: 3,355 Karma: 20171571 Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: Charleston, SC today Device: iPhone 15/11/X/6/iPad 1,2,Air & Air Pro/Surface Pro/Kindle PW & Fire	At first I thought the description was an "About the Author"...then felt sorry for the author when I realized it was the theme of the book. Someone should give the author some polite positive criticism on how to do it correctly - not just say "your cover sucks". After all, the story itself might be very good...but very few will get past the cover and description to read it.

01-19-2016, 08:34 PM	#19
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	Well in this case, everything is working against the author. Cover needs changed, description needs work, and the book is in need of a proofreader.

01-19-2016, 09:34 PM	#20
meeera Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,817 Karma: 68407974 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Australia Device: Kobo Libra 2, iPadMini4, iPad4, MBP; support other Kobo/Kindles	I'd actually call that cover just "meh" - it's obviously self-made by someone without design smarts, but I've seen far worse in the self-pubbed world!

01-20-2016, 05:27 AM	#27
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,442 Karma: 59592133 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	I think if one decides to read a book and to leave a review after having read that book, then commenting upon the cover and offering one's opinion can be helpful, if the language is couched within the confines of helpful and critical courtesy, then the author can benefit from those comments if he or she is open to criticism. Some individuals, however, have no conception of what common courtesy means.

01-20-2016, 12:58 PM	#29
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 28,574 Karma: 204127028 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	Unless I'd read the entire book and really liked it, I'd probably just let the whole thing go. I've seen way more atrocious covers that sparked much less conversation afterall. Why're we potato-piling on this one book anyway? Slow couple of days?