What a print designer knows about front cover design and book cover layout
First published October 19, 2017: This article has been updated and improved.
It’s a funny thing but often the front page of a newspaper is the last page to be sent to the press.
Frequently it is left to the end, right before deadline, for breaking news.
But after working on thousands of page ones as a newspaper designer over the years, I know page one is prime real estate: it is the paper’s ‘shop window’.
The same can be said for your autobiography, memoir, biography or life story project.
A great book cover will intrigue and interest your readers to turn the page.
Here are three key points to keep in mind when you are designing your ‘page one’.
Book covers show don’t tell
Humans are visual creatures so it is no surprise we are drawn to pictures.
Often this is the first way we ‘enter’ a page or engage with a story.
A good picture should tell the story.
This can be through a photo of ‘action’ or an emotive portrait.
Picking a photo
You should have no trouble finding suitable shots for your book cover from your photo albums.
The hard part will be narrowing it down to one!
To help do this, think about your memoir and its core message or theme.
Ask yourself:
- What key ideas have I shared?
- What is the overall mood or tone of my story?
The answers to these questions will help you narrow your selection to photos that fit your overarching message.
Photos and space
You also need to look closely at the composition of each shot.
The final image will need to work in a vertical space with room for titles and your byline.
A classic portrait shot set at the left of the page with words to the right often works well.
Or you could use a landscape shot along the bottom with words at the top.
Play around with the book cover design and get creative.
And get inspiration by taking a look at other published autobiographies in libraries or biographies and memoirs online.
Related article –What is theme? Theme definition and theme examples for autobiographies
Tell the story with a book cover
Brainstorming headlines can bring a newsroom alive.
It can be so much fun as everyone yells out suggestions, from serious to silly!
Coming up with a book cover title should also be a creative and relaxed process.
Don’t fight it.
Ideally, your title should be a few words that clearly tell the gist of your story.
But don’t be afraid to try other ideas too.
A short saying or telling quote can add intrigue and interest.
For most titles it is handy to include a secondary headline, or kicker, that further explains the title or adds more information.
Fun with fonts
There are no hard and fast rules about the fonts and sizes of your title and kicker.
Generally speaking, however, the title is the largest font on the page.
It can be capped for dramatic effect but doesn’t have to be.
The subhead is often about half the font size of the title and uncapped.
Try to pick a font that is clear and easy to read from a distance.
You don’t want your reader to have difficulty understanding the first page – they might not persevere beyond it!
Layout tips
Book cover titles can be set to the left, centre or right of the page.
Often your photo will dictate where your words will sit.
Again play around and tweak your words to fit the image.
I’ve used and can recommend Canva if you want a free design program to get started.
Canva also offers many book cover templates.
Related article – How to write a book title: Catchy headlines and good book titles
Take a step back from your book cover
It is very easy to get too close to your book cover, to even fall in ‘love’ with it!
You may be trying to jam too much into your ‘shop window’.
Take a step back and look at your book cover with a critical eye.
Ideally you want the picture to work in harmony with your words and be balanced with white space.
Repeat after me: less is more!
Now is the time to show your book cover draft, or drafts, to someone else for their impressions.
Give it a test drive on your partner, family or friends.
Ask them what they like about it and what they don’t.
Do they have suggestions for improvement?
Related article – Best books of 2018: Must-read books about life stories to enjoy these holidays
Final say: Book covers
It is worth spending time selecting the correct image, words and layout for your book cover.
After all the hard work of writing your book, a catchy and intriguing page one will be the icing on the cake of a job well done.
However your final cover turns out, be proud you have created an empowering read that will become a family treasure.
Your page one will be the memorable start to a fascinating book for your children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and future descendants.
Happy writing!
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Your say
What’s your favourite book cover? I’d love to take a look! Send me an email or leave a reply in the comments section at the end of this article.
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This article first appeared on the website Forever Young Autobiographies.com.
