Cover Remodel

909 Views 19 Replies 13 Participants Last post by Amber, Feb 17, 2015

Warren Williams

Discussion Starter · Feb 17, 2015

On my last post, the majority agreed that my covers were pretty bad. But before I go to the experts, I had to take one more stab at it with the book Fraidy Hole. Here's the poll.

A. Love it
B. Much improved but still needs work.
C. Quit wasting your time and go pro.

One more question. How many of you know what a Fraidy Hole is? Most of us here in tornado alley know that it's an underground shelter from storms. So is the title a mystery? Does it matter all that much?

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1 - 20 of 20 Posts

PiscaPress

· #2 · Feb 17, 2015

I guess C. The photoshop is not good. Any reason the face needs to be there at all? The image of the cellar is good, the font is good, the face is the problem. Just my opinion

G

· #3 · Feb 17, 2015

Unfortunately, C.

I admire that you tried though.

Accord64

· #4 · Feb 17, 2015

Sorry Warren, but I have to be honest: C.

I grew up in the mid-west and have been though one tornado (and countless warnings), but I've never heard of a "Fraidy Hole" before. Perhaps it's more of a rural term?

Z. Rider

· #5 · Feb 17, 2015

Another vote for C, Warren. Outsource it to someone who's got the skills for it, spend your own time focusing on what you've got the skills for.

cinisajoy

· #6 · Feb 17, 2015

I am also in tornado alley and had never heard that term. Agreeing with the others, that face just looks wrong. I think you could lose it easily.

Allyson J.

· #7 · Feb 17, 2015

C. There are plenty of good, affordable pre-mades out there.

Warren Williams

Discussion Starter · #8 · Feb 17, 2015

The face can be deleted with one click. Even with the change, I'm thinking my career as cover designer is without promise. :-[

:-[

cinisajoy

· #9 · Feb 17, 2015

Warren Williams said:
The face can be deleted with one click. Even with the change, I'm thinking my career as cover designer is without promise.

Click and show us without the face.

ufwriter

· #10 · Feb 17, 2015

I've read your Look Inside samples. You have a nice way with words, and your stories sound interesting. If I were you, I would go with C. It will give your stories the packaging they deserve.

Stewart Matthews

· #11 · Feb 17, 2015

Go with C.

In all honesty, you're intelligent enough to learn how to make a good cover, but you're not there yet, and it'll take a lot of time and effort to get there. So you have to ask yourself - is it worth the effort when you can shell out $50 for a decent premade cover? Personally, I'd rather spend my time writing my next story.

Amber

· #12 · Feb 17, 2015

I hope you don't mind; I played around with your cover a little bit. This is just a quick revision, so feel free to overlook. Your b&w photo needed more contrast and less gray tones. The empty space in the hole could be taken advantage of in a much better way than just slapping on a face. Lastly, I think a pop of color will really help to grab potential readers' attention.

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ufwriter

· #13 · Feb 17, 2015

Amber, you do such great work. That really made the image pop.

EC Sheedy

· #14 · Feb 17, 2015

Yes to Amber's redo! Very cool. As to the title, Fraidy Hole, I don't think it matters if someone gets it. I think it works and I don't live in tornado country.

Well done, Amber.

Lady Vine

· #15 · Feb 17, 2015

CadyVance said:
Amber, you do such great work. That really made the image pop.

Agreed. Looks good.

Warren Williams

Discussion Starter · #16 · Feb 17, 2015

CadyVance said:
I've read your Look Inside samples. You have a nice way with words, and your stories sound interesting. If I were you, I would go with C. It will give your stories the packaging they deserve.

cinisajoy said:
Click and show us without the face.

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over and out

· #17 · Feb 17, 2015

1

rebelblue

· #18 · Feb 17, 2015

I like what Amber did to change it up. That rocks. Otherwise, probably C., sorry to say. OR D. A couple cover design courses/photoshop/gimp/whatever courses to get you moving in the right direction.

Warren Williams

Discussion Starter · #19 · Feb 17, 2015

Okay, I get the hint.

No more covers from me. Amber's idea looks great. Thank you.

Amber

· #20 · Feb 17, 2015

Oof, thank you everyone.

If design is something you're actually interested in, I would encourage you to continue studying and practicing. It's really not a bad skill to have in your arsenal.

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