Support for Indie Authors discussion

I'm curious to see when other people get their book covers designed! I tend to jump the gun a little bit and usually end up commissioning someone halfway through the book. I think if you have the outline completed and know how to explain the book in a paragraph to your artist, then you're good to go for a book cover. If you don't know how to do that yet, then maybe you should wait.

So when does every else start working on those covers? :)

Typically after I've sent my book out to beta readers, then I start to think seriously about the cover.

I usually know exactly what I want to do from the get go. Sometimes even before I start writing the book. However, I don't actually work on it until the ms is completed. You never know when things might change.

I got my first novel's cover done within like a week of its release. It was extremely last minute, but I liked it.

A year later, though, and I was rereleasing it on my own, on Amazon, and I had to get a cover done again, because the company who put it out originally still had the copyright on the original cover. I got a friend of mine to do some photo trickery in the area where it's set, it took nearly a month, and, when I got it, I realised I never liked my original cover the way I did the new one.

So...it's context dependent, I guess. Whenever's best. You have to consider it, properly, but your schedule and understanding of your book as a whole product is what matters.

Sorry for rambling

I work on cover design before I start the book! It may change a few times, but by the time I am sending off to betas, it's final.

At the very end for me. It's like the icing on the cake. And as I get to plough through many images of handsome men it's like saving the best til last ;-P

I design several and the final version is usually done by the time it's sent out for betas. rarely I change it if it's not working (concept off or it's too artsy for folks). meh it's difficult at times getting it perfect if there's such a thing....

When I have enough money to pay for it, haha...

Whenever I've got the $$.

;D

Actually I've done two things:
1) Designs done to order I've waited until beta testers were reading.
2) Pre-designed covers I've bought both when ready to publish and before even starting writing a book. That's because I've bought them in bulk to save $/book.

I have covers done for stories that I haven't begun to write, yet. So, yeah, pretty early in the process I guess.

I have fallen into a pattern lately.

Write a Novelette.
Read it at writer's group.
Read it out lout to special joke improving beta.
Send Novelette to beta readers / editing helpers.
Design cover for Novelette while waiting for betas to read it.

Everything falls into place at about the right time that way.

For the actual novels I designed the covers when I needed them for hard copy proofs, then tweaked them during the time before publication.

Mostly, Cover design is the step between writing and editing for me, but at least two of my covers were finished before I had a book written and one was actually a photo that inspired me to write a book.

I get mine early. I have discovered that you can buy cover art for books far cheaper than commissioning art based on your story.

Then you can write the scene into your story...

Nanowrimo always encourages you to have a cover before you start writing, even if it is just an early mock-up. I think it helps to focus writing and keep the right mood and pace while you're writing.

I don't usually design my cover (or even come up with the title!) until the very end. Creating and illustrating my books is an evolution and where I end may be different from where I start, so I wait until the cover can be as accurate and honest to the finished product as possible.

I start working on it as the kick to put fingers to keyboard. Along the way, I work on it in spurts so I can be sure I like what I've done. I typically don't even look at the WIP for weeks on end. Then when I'm needing a mental break from the story, I'll work on the cover - I'm still being productive. Somewhere in the editing stages, I complete it and do a cover release.

Martin wrote: " I have discovered that you can buy cover art for books far cheaper than commissioning art based on your story."

True, but when your character isn't even close to being human...

I usually have my cover artist start on my cover when I'm half way done, almost done or done. I usually give her ideas of what I envision my cover as and when she gives me a rough draft idea and I approve then she gets started and piecing it together. Like writing, cover art is a process so anytime you have a general idea it's good to get started when it's fresh in mind.

I did my cover while waiting to hear back from beta readers, mostly because I felt like I needed to be doing something for the book but there wasn't much else I could do. It was fun though, and a good motivator. It made me more excited to get it all put together and published, even though that's still about four months away for me.

Since I design my own covers, I try to get it done as soon as possible. I may change it several times while writing the book, or I may discard it completely and go with something else, but having a great cover ready does give me inspiration to finish the story.

Joe wrote: "True, but when your character isn't even close to being human..."

Some stories are much easier to find appropriate art or photos for, that is for sure. Genres, theme, style, they all play a big part in this process.

Write a romance story about a woman with a scarf who moves back to her hometown and falls for her old crush that likes sweaters? Yes, that is a premise that a stock photo can be found for providing you are open to the colour of sweater and style of scarf.

Write a space opera about the leader of the Space Valkyries with a scarf who moves to Vortex 8 and falls for the leader of the Space Crocodiles that likes sweaters... you will be in for a harder time on the stock image websites. (Mostly because space crocodiles are not very fond of sweaters.)

I ordered the cover for the first book in my series after I completed the rough draft of the manuscript. Since it was the first in a series that I had already planned out, I chose the 2nd book cover before I started writing the second book. I also have covers for 3, 4, and 5 chosen, even though I am just beginning on the manuscript for book 3. So I feel like I have jumped the gun in a way. I cannot afford to have custom design, so I use pre-designed covers, all of which I am 100% happy with anyway. So win-win! Good luck with your book! :)

Emma wrote: "I'm curious to see when other people get their book covers designed! I tend to jump the gun a little bit and usually end up commissioning someone halfway through the book. I think if you have the o..."

I start the cover process as soon as I can, as soon as the book is nailed down in my head and I know what I want on the cover. If you're going to do any early promotions or pre-orders, you need the cover done long before the book is.

In fact, I just hired a model and photographer to shoot a cover that won't go live until September. I had to grab the model and the photographer when I could get them.

C.B. wrote: "Space Crocodiles that likes sweaters... you will be in for a harder time on the stock image websites. (Mostly because space crocodiles are not very fond of sweaters.)"

I had to see if I could find one, just because:

V.M. wrote: "I'm always on the lookout for images that strike me, so sometimes the cover kind of does itself before the story is even written. It can help me finish a story if I'm stuck. Other times, the cover ..."


I feel the same. I'm such a visual person, I'm constantly on the look out /consciously and subconsciously/ :-).
I also think about it while writing, as the story molds, but the final for me doesn't happen until the finish line. For me the story has to end, be complete, the cover is like wrapping a present. :-)

Joe wrote: "I had to see if I could find one, just because:"

♥!!! Amazing!

Whenever I find the cover I want, regardless of where I am in the writing/editing process, I snatch it up before anyone else has a chance at it (I go the pre-made route for budgetary and time reasons, and I've found SelfPubBookCovers.com to be my best bet more often than not).

Joe wrote: "C.B. wrote: "Space Crocodiles that likes sweaters... you will be in for a harder time on the stock image websites. (Mostly because space crocodiles are not very fond of sweaters.)"

I had to see if..."

The little human logo on his chest has me in tears. This is the best thing ever! Or at least, for the next five minutes. ;)

I make my own covers, which is a lot of work since they're usually digital paintings rather than composited photo elements, so I usually put off doing the cover until my book is in the beta-reading/proofreading stages.
That said, most of the time I start to brainstorm the potential cover as early as the first draft. If I find pictures on the internet I want to use as inspiration, or I see places/objects I want to reference for my cover I'll grab my camera, and keep all the images together to use later once I'm ready to stop procrastinating.

I create my own covers, usually a draft cover when the book idea begins, then it is tweaked as the story takes shape and finally glossed after first edit.

I start working on the cover after I have the story written, but mostly because I find cover design rather addicting. If I start the cover too soon then I end up working on it instead of getting any writing done.

I usually have the cover made before I even start writing the book, or sometimes just after beginning. :) I find that it helps me want to write faster to put my cover out into the world!

Christina wrote: "Joe wrote: "C.B. wrote: "Space Crocodiles that likes sweaters... you will be in for a harder time on the stock image websites. (Mostly because space crocodiles are not very fond of sweaters.)"

I h..."

AWEsome funny! Luvin it. :P *Always can find some cheer here*

A-hem, oh...right, back to the topic.

Let's see...phew. *wipes eyes*

I design prior to the write, most of the time. But there are times when it changes. I believe, for me, inspiration plays an important role. If I am not feeling it (writing), as it were; then, working on the cover is usually a direction I take. The one thing I will not do is force the story to match the cover. I have no issue in changing the cover if need be.

Gonna add this in, along with my earlier comment.

I have TONS of photos I've taken with a sepia filter on the camera. Quite often the Noah City stories I do come from looking at the photos and trying to build a story out of what I'm seeing.

Dwayne - write a story about how the world was taken over by Sepiatone

My covers have been created by my good friends who are talented artists. Unfortunately, they were both done very last minute. I gave them a couple months notice, but they took longer than expected. This time, I plan to hire someone at least 4-5 months ahead of the projected publishing date. I don't like doing it so last minute. Editing is hard enough!

Christina wrote: "The little human logo on his chest has me in tears. "

I didn't even notice that the first time. I had wondered what could have possessed someone to draw a crocodile wearing a sweater, and that explains it.

I tend to have a vague idea, which I run past my cover designer (my other half). I still wish Grubb could have a blood splattered blazer, but never mind! Sometimes I do sketches but they're often too ambitious for my limited budget.

The original concept for Love and Robotics was very arty but didn't say "gay romance." Thankfully the finished cover doesn't leave any room for doubt - though it may have fooled people into thinking it was erotica rather than a sci fi adventure romance satire (what a mouthful!)

Rachael wrote: "gay romance... sci fi adventure... satire "

How are you not my friend yet?

I usually have my cover done when I send the ms in for editing. By then I have an idea of what I want (hopefully), but I was a bit early cos of Xmas break. Thankfully my designer (she's awesome, so very patient) waited patiently for all the edits to be done to finish it, trim size etc.

I am getting a cover designed now for a book I am only half-way (if that) through the first draft. reason: I have some image credits that are about to expire, so I might as well use the money. Not totally desirable, but . . .

As I write, I begin to have ideas about what I want the cover to say to the potential reader.

I planned to wait until I'm at the editing stage, but I just saw some premade covers that are just perfect for what I had in mind.... so I might buy them now (half-way through first draft), just to make sure they're mine and don't get sold in the meantime...

Slight amendment; actually, I do look at the stock free male images for my cover before I write these days. I need to make sure the guy I'm writing about has an image which fits my cover.

I didn't do this on my first, and it caused hassle.

But still, I don't actually commission the work until the end.

I do my own covers, and I do the cover as soon as I have an idea for it. Sometimes, it's before the book, sometimes after, sometimes in the middle.

You should have an idea of what you want for a cover right after you think of what the story is about. Think about it, plan it out in your head and then look into getting a professional cover artist and go over what you envision with them. Get someone who will not only see your vision but will work with you, not make changes to it and do their best to give you a out of this world cover that makes people stop in their tracks to pick up and read.

Justin wrote: "You should have an idea of what you want for a cover right after you think of what the story is about. Think about it, plan it out in your head and then look into getting a professional cover artis..."

That's a clear example of how one can go about it. There's more than one way to skin a cat (such a violent phrase, by the way!). There's also the authors-who-are-also-artists/photographers who are driven to design their covers themselves. Then there are those who might not be able to afford to hire an cover artist but can afford to buy a sweet stock cover...etc etc.

It's interesting to read all these various ways everyone goes about designing their book cover and when in the process they decide to get started with it. With some the inspiration happens right away and they jump on it, with others they need it to marinate a bit - and everything in between!

Quoleena wrote: "Justin wrote: "You should have an idea of what you want for a cover right after you think of what the story is about. Think about it, plan it out in your head and then look into getting a professio..."

True. Not everyone needs to hire a professional artist to do their covers. Some people actually ARE professional artists. LOL!

Quoleena wrote: "Justin wrote: "You should have an idea of what you want for a cover right after you think of what the story is about. Think about it, plan it out in your head and then look into getting a professio..."

I have an image of what the over of my WIP book would be like and I am only half way into the story. I am already stealthy looking for cover artists whose style fit into what I am looking for because I can't design anything to save myself and that's okay.

I have my cover in mind when I'm writing. Then during the editing phase, I start working on it. By the time the editing is finished, so is the cover.