FOR READERS
Today’s reader topic comes from QSFer Alexis Woods:
What visual on a cover might turn you off to reading a book?
Maybe it’s a cover model who has been way over-used? Maybe a bad font? Too much going on?
Without naming book titles, what on a cover has made you turn a blind eye or gloss over a book?
Writers: This is a reader chat – you are welcome to join it, but please do not reference your own works directly. Thanks!
Preface: I am a writer. I am also a reader. When it comes to my purchases, there are three factors that come into play for me:
1. Professionalism: Was the cover designed by someone by hand who has no cover creation experience? If so, I skip over.
2. Busy-ness: Is the cover trying to do too much? They may be custom illustrations, but if the title is lost amidst hundreds of minute details that draw my attention away from the title or author name, I am more likely to skip it. To me, covers should be minimalist.
3. Pomp: I cringe when I see “From Bestselling author, blah blah” or an elevator pitch on the front cover I tend to run away fast. It gives off a “you should be so lucky to read this amazing book by this paragon of an author” vibe.
I hate covers with photorealistic people looking out at the reader. Actually, unless it’s young adult or children’s I don’t want people the focus of the cover at all.