We say, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” but we all do it. Not just judge the cover, but JUDGE. 

As readers, we make assumptions of the story based on the cover we see. We use what we see as a reason to read—or not read—a book. It’s up to us as writers then to ensure our covers are polished and represent the story within the pages. 

Which makes choosing the right cover an important part of the process. 

Start with your story. What is it about? What are the key points (if nonfiction) or key scenes (if fiction)? This can give you a starting point for selecting imagery that fits the cover. Is it literal or is it symbolic? Is it illustrated? Or a photo? Designed? Or a simple collection of colors and patterns? What fits your story? If you don’t know…

Check out the market. You don’t have to follow the trends of other books in your genre. Not all romances need a scantily dressed woman in the embrace of a shirtless, buff man who looks like he spent his formative years in the gym. Not all sci-fi novels need a spaceship set against the backdrop of stars. But they may provide you with a starting place. Peruse your local bookstore, or online book vendor. See what’s out there. You may come across something that inspires you. 

Think about design. A cover is more than just a picture or illustration. It’s also about placement of the text. It’s about the relationship of all the elements that will help the reader decide if this book is what they need. Now, you don’t have to be a designer for this part. Again, checking out the market and finding options is in itself an option. You can also tap into programs like Canva to design covers. Or hire a designer. 

Pay attention to the details. And we’re not just talking about using high resolution or making sure all the details of a photo line up. Think about the blurb, is it intriguing. Do you have book reviews that can help sell the book? Do you have all the minute details that will help identify the book (the ISBN, the author’s name, the barcode)? 

All of this together should give the reader a sneak peak into your book and help them judge whether your book is what they are looking for.