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

[GrannyGrump]

I totally agree with CatLady --- the cover is not ghastly, just blah.

If you want to see some really horrid ones (burn-eyes-before-looking style), visit
http://lousybookcovers.tumblr.com/

The site is addictive, in an awful sort of way...

[issybird]

Originally Posted by DiapDealer

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?

Originally Posted by eschwartz

Jon kicked up a fuss.

Yeah, I think the response is a bit much and I'm as much to blame as anyone. I feel bad because I think far too much criticism of books gets out of hand to no point at all except creating bad feeling.

But in defense of Jon, his original question was just a general one asking for advice and didn't cite the particular book. And when he answered a direct question, he took care not to name the book, so it wouldn't be searchable.

[Cinisajoy]

I did have a look at the book. I did let the author know what I found nicely.

[DiapDealer]

Originally Posted by issybird

But in defense of Jon, his original question was just a general one asking for advice and didn't cite the particular book. And when he answered a direct question, he took care not to name the book, so it wouldn't be searchable.

That's true. I just seems a bit of a shame is all. I would think the only people who would care about a cover being subpar, would be those who enjoyed a book well enough that they were worried it might be short-changing itself. And conversely: if one didn't like the book, I would think a critique of why would be much more helpful than pointing out a subpar cover. *shrug*

[Dazrin]

Personally I think it is best just to move on unless they are asking for feedback on cover/blurb/etc. If it is someone you know in real life (or even through Facebook or other social media) you could send them some feedback about it too but I would make sure you have good constructive criticism for the cover, not just that it sucks.

On the passive-aggressive side, I suppose you could always submit it to Lousy Book Covers* and if they accept it send that to the author so it isn't just one person's opinion. Or for print books Good Show Sir works as well.

After looking at Lousy Book Covers, I would give the specific book in this thread a pass. It isn't nearly as bad as others.

*After reviewing GrannyGrump's post this appears to be the same content as the Tumblr site she linked.

[BearMountainBooks]

If the author doesn't ask, don't tell. There are many, many reasons for this, but in general, if someone wants your help, they will ask.

[fjtorres]

Originally Posted by GrannyGrump

I totally agree with CatLady --- the cover is not ghastly, just blah.

If you want to see some really horrid ones (burn-eyes-before-looking style), visit
http://lousybookcovers.tumblr.com/

The site is addictive, in an awful sort of way...

Egads!
And the blurbs and titles aren't much better.

I went to the source website and this one was nominated:

http://www.amazon.com/Catcher-Rye-J-...9f51a4f60e9641

Ouch.

The beauty of the Amazon also-bought bot is I never see those books.

[Tarana]

I WOULD be honest with the person BECAUSE many of us readers randomly select books we might not otherwise read because the cover attracted us. It's not a question of the fact that YOU don't like the cover, but that the cover has to do the marketing FOR YOU when you are a new author. Most people pass buy new authors, but if you stop and make them look at your cover, you will increase the number of folks who will go further and perhaps buy.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Tarana

I WOULD be honest with the person BECAUSE many of us readers randomly select books we might not otherwise read because the cover attracted us. It's not a question of the fact that YOU don't like the cover, but that the cover has to do the marketing FOR YOU when you are a new author. Most people pass buy new authors, but if you stop and make them look at your cover, you will increase the number of folks who will go further and perhaps buy.

@Tarana:

WARNING, rant cometh:

Spoiler:

You know, there is simply NO shortage of resources out there telling people just how NOT to screw up releasing a book. How NOT to screw up and release something unedited; how to NOT screw up and use some dumb-ass image as your cover; how NOT to write the worst description and "about the author" section in modern history.

WHY--seriously--why on earth does a reader, in this day and age, some 8 years into the heyday of self-publishing--have to point all these things out to a new publisher? Honestly, it boggles my mind that people don't understand that the writing skills that they had in 3rd grade aren't good enough for a book.

The sad truth is this: 75% of the self-pubbed authors badly need fundamental, grade-school courses in English. In grammar, punctuation and spelling, never mind basic sentence construction. I've lost track of the authors I've seen that don't know the difference between an ellipsis and an emdash. AFTER they've had that course or those courses, THEN they need a few years in Creative Writing, which unlike breathing, isn't actually autonomic.

And the next time some author says "Oh, but Stephen KING uses an editor to fix up HIS stories," as if that's an excuse for being illiterate, my head will do the Exorcist dance on my neck.

And after the grade school English courses, and the Creative Writing I, II and III classes, they should then, and only then, worry about something like a freaking COVER. The fact that so few of these writers can manage to construct a decent, intriguing description should be the equivalent of an early-warning bell for those of us who are expected to PAY. MONEY. FOR. TRAINING-WHEEL. DRIVEL.

</rant>

We've had 3,000 books through our shop. Another 2K that came through for quoting, but never accepted, for whatever reason. I'm here to save all of you the brain damage. There is NO simple, easy, or kind way to solve the Neverending Story of Bad Book Covers. I'm fortunate in that most of our clients have better sense and taste, but still...I've seen some doozies. I have had to break out brain-bleach on more than one occasion.

I relieve the pain of it by timesharing the agony at LBC. Afterwards, I stop by Cakewrecks, Cover Critics, and Clients from Hell. If that alone doesn't do it, I drop by Slushpilehell, and gorge on older posts. It's a sanity check. Save yourselves. Just pass by bad book covers. Trust me. You'll be happier for this. That way lies madness.

Hitch

[Cinisajoy]

Since I would like a video of your head doing the Exorcist on your neck, I will share one I heard.
"But Cormac McCarthy uses emdash instead of quotes for dialogue. "

You will put the video here please.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Since I would like a video of your head doing the Exorcist on your neck, I will share one I heard.
"But Cormac McCarthy uses emdash instead of quotes for dialogue. "

You will put the video here please.

LOLOL.

You're right. I nearly forgot #102: the Cormac McCarthy "Quotation marks and dialogue tags are not necessary" Excuse.

eta: I received via PM, Excuse #103: Shakespeare didn't care about spelling either.



I'll see what I can do about that video. Hmmm...

Hitch

[Katsunami]

I think the author was going for a look akin to this one, but missed the target somewhat

(I wonder if the next book in TSOIAF will come with 30 different covers, to make sure everybody has one that matches their particular series. On an ebook, a cover can be replaced, but it's a bit more difficult with a pbook.)

[Dr. Drib]

Originally Posted by GrannyGrump

I totally agree with CatLady --- the cover is not ghastly, just blah.

If you want to see some really horrid ones (burn-eyes-before-looking style), visit
http://lousybookcovers.tumblr.com/

The site is addictive, in an awful sort of way...

I looked at that site, and now my eyeballs have been boiled by the experience. Horrid, horrid covers.

But then, I've seen some here on Mobileread that cause eyeballs to pop.

[Hitch]

Originally Posted by Dr. Drib

I looked at that site, and now my eyeballs have been boiled by the experience. Horrid, horrid covers.

But then, I've seen some here on Mobileread that cause eyeballs to pop.

It's addictive. I know, I'm a horrible human being. I suck.

On a bright note, you can visit the sister site: "Covercritics.com" and contribute meaningful help to those who've asked for it. That site is rewarding, in its own way.

Hitch

[pdurrant]

I didn't really mind the picture. But the font! In Underlined Italics!