| Have you ever wandered through Barnes & | | | | marketing or design trends that are essential for |
| Noble or Borders and have books jump off the | | | | gaining notice for your self-published book. |
| shelves straight into your attention center? It's a | | | | Yesterday's look will not sell today's book. |
| great idea to do this. Set aside a few hours and | | | | Dynamic Graphics: Key to How the Book is Perceived |
| make a trip with notebook in hand. You might be | | | | You will want your book cover design to be unique - |
| amazed at what you learn. I know of one author | | | | a different expression to portray your main idea. It's |
| who did this and learned that all of the books in her | | | | got to be done tastefully and creatively. Turning |
| category contained the word "happiness" or some | | | | people off with something not tasteful needs to be |
| form of it. She might never have recognized this | | | | avoided. The graphics need to create interest. Using |
| without the trip. Look specifically at the category of | | | | original graphics and choosing the right color pallet can |
| the book you are writing and see what is attractive | | | | be just the thing to snag your buyers as they |
| about it or investigate what book is selling the best. | | | | browse through the section. Boldness on a spine is |
| The staff can help you with statistics. This trip will | | | | quite effective as well as on the front cover. |
| give you excellent clues about superb graphic book | | | | What About the Book's Interior? |
| cover design as you move into the publication phase | | | | You wrote your book with the intention of providing |
| for your self-published book. | | | | something for your audience: a service, |
| Enhancements that Make Your Book Sellable | | | | entertainment, a feeling. Does the appearance of the |
| The design of the book cover should hum a little | | | | inside of your book allow readers to know you, to |
| song that tickles both the eye and the ear of the | | | | like you and to trust you? Would they trust someone |
| shopper. Will they pick the book up and flip through | | | | with uncorrected editing errors? Will they be |
| it? Will they want to take it home with them? Would | | | | immediately aware of the benefits they'll enjoy when |
| the book store management be proud to have it on | | | | they see your Table of Contents? |
| display? Is it tasteful? Does it visually say "Come | | | | You can affect their trust by the wise choice of |
| here." Does it stand out from your category's | | | | paper stock. If your book has a precious message, |
| crowd? These elements should be evoked by a | | | | using cheap stock won't convey your message. The |
| great book cover design. | | | | formatting of your book using the key elements of |
| What is the Theme of Your Book? | | | | leading, margins, art work, photos, typeface will let |
| Can you tell the theme of your book from its cover? | | | | the reader want more and want to read the book |
| Think of the graphics for the vampire series currently | | | | again and again. |
| so popular: they speak their theme in purples, greys, | | | | Graphics elements for your self-published book need |
| blacks and mysterious eyes. You know exactly what | | | | to be wisely chosen, and an experienced graphic |
| the theme is about. Does your book cover design | | | | artist can play a substantial supporting role in the |
| portray your voice, your style? Will the market that | | | | successful selling of your book because of the |
| you target through your writings find it appealing? A | | | | successful designing of its cover. |
| savvy graphic artist is current with the latest | | | | |