Book Cover Design Hell: Will I Make it Out of this Alive?
I need a book cover, and I need it by the end of the month. I need the agents and editors at the conference I’m attending to take one look at my cover, talk to me for five minutes, and think: “Wow. This girl really has her sh*t together. I want to help her succeed.”
When I began this quest for a cover last month, I tried doing what first came to mind: yellow, because yellow is happy. Some shapes. Maybe millennial pink? But nothing came out looking memorable, or even good.




Obviously first instinct wasn’t going that well– So I decided I wanted to do something a little bit homespun. First, because I don’t have the money to hire a cover designer, and second, because it communicates the personal nature of my book a bit better than something more refined.
I began by accumulating lots of inspiration.






Then, in MS paint or on my phone or with pencil and paper, I tried my hand at a cover of my own. Mostly they were very ugly.




My next idea: a drawing. I needed a better drawing.


I was happy with this cover. It was balanced, pretty, and it looked as if my hands were holding something precious.
The issue: it didn’t really communicate anything about what the core purpose of the book was. Friends and family said they liked it, but they didn’t love it.
I need a cover people will love.
My latest attempt is this:


I may have to play around with different drawings, but I like the concept I have going now. I just need to make sure it’s pleasing from a design perspective, and I’ll be on my way.
What is your favorite book cover, dear reader? I know we all judge.