FOR WRITERS
Today’s writer topic comes from QSFer Hank T. Cannon:
When do you start thinking about cover imagery? Is it something that percolates while you write? Are some images just immediately stuck in your head from the beginning of the project? Or maybe the project is inspired by a particular piece of imagery. Or, is it something that comes when it’s time to publish?
I imagine the cover from the moment I begin to draft the outline – just as I visualize certain scenes as if they are being played on stage or in a film. Thinking cinematographically , in particular, really helps me develop the story. Unfortunately – and I think this is not too uncommon – I have fairly little choice when it comes to the actual cover; I’m more or less at the mercy of the designer chosen for me by my publisher and by the ‘style’ that the publisher promotes. I chose the two alternate covers for my first book – which was self-published – and they are the only ones that I like thus far. It will be interesting to see what happens with my next novel (still stuck in line edits) when I get to the cover design. I’ve asked (begged, really) for a cover without ‘characters’. I’ve my own Idea how they look and I would hope that my writing would inspire readers to make up the character’s looks in their own minds.