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Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/44888
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/44888
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

> _Am I to believe that the person will move on and not check it out simply because it was clearly homemade?_

Yes, believe that. Of course, believe that _on average_, you will still get some percentage of people that will click on it, but most people won't.

The quality of the cover art influences the perception of quality of writing. Something that looks amateurish or childish will prevent people from reading because it implies the writing inside is amateurish and childish.

Buyers browsing for something to read have to sort through dozens or hundreds of books to pick something, and they have to use _something_ as a proxy to judge whether to spend any time looking into it. So, in addition to restricting their search to certain genre, even avid readers will judge a book on its cover. They don't have the time to "check out" every book on the shelf, or even if they do that is not their idea of a hobby, they want to find something and start reading.

The cover should convey an image of what they will find inside; if it is romance they expect to see a couple on the cover, not a battle. If it is magic, something magical. If it is dinosaurs, show one. If it is futuristic space, something that conveys that. It is a good idea to put faces, eyes and hands on the cover; we humans have specialized brain wiring that recognizes these elements.

It is hard to explain what makes a good cover; but it is psychology: I strongly suggest looking through a lot of them, _as if_ you are looking for a book to read, and the covers that make you pause to look at more closely: That is exactly the effect you want to create in readers; that moment of intrigue that makes you stop and look. It will usually mean a lot of detail, professionalism, sometimes it is a scene of tension or it is interesting characters. Whatever makes you stop and look, try and figure out _why_ and what feeling the cover scene creates in you.

Then look for an artist (I use fiverr.com) whose work mimics that style. I'd design the cover yourself, in blocking (what/who goes where to convey the scene), but leave the drawing to the artist. Provide character descriptions. Get a simple outline pencil sketch first; very few details but enough for you to approve of the overall scene. Then move on to detailed sketches of the character bodies, faces, dress, etc. When you are satisfied with those, on to the final line drawing of everything, then on to coloring.

Original score: 12