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The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World…Word by Word

The Steve Laube Agency

The Steve Laube Agency

Helping to Change the World Word by Word

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Home » The Writing Life » Page 53

The Writing Life

045 How to Avoid the #1 Cause of Bad Book Covers: Design by Committee

By Thomas Umstattd, Jr.on October 8, 2019
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Today we are going to talk about design. This is an important topic and not one many people in the publishing industry have formal training in.  Just like everyone thinks they can write a book, everyone thinks they understand design.

Ignorance of the complexities of a profession is not a suitable replacement for mastering those complexities.

But, before we can talk about good and bad design, we need to talk about something more fundamental.

The Difference Between Art and Design

The purpose of art is to:

  • Make people think. To ask questions.
  • Elicit an emotion (joy, wonder, curiosity, grief, etc.)
  • Make the world better in intangible ways.

Art is subjective. Even the purpose of art is a matter for debate. Something that is beautiful to one person can be ugly to another person.

The purpose of design is to:

  • Serve a function.
  • Solve problems
  • Help people take an action.
  • Make the world better in tangible ways

Design is objective. You can use data and the scientific method to determine which of two designs is more effective.

“Good Art Inspires. Good Design Motivates.”

Otl Aicher

The art of a door vs the design of a door. Art is about making the door pretty. Design is about making the door easy to use (handle on a door or push plate). You can always tell a poorly designed door because it requires signs to tell you how to operate it.

Why is good design important for authors?

  • Everyone judges a book by its cover. (Brandon Sanderson story)
  • Journalists, event coordinators, and other influencers judge an author by their website. Does this person have good taste?
  • Cover design is the most important aspect of the book to potential readers.
  • The book cover establishes your in a micro genre (for better or for worse)

What is design by committee? 

  • When a group of people weigh in on the design of something.
  • Typically motivated by fear. Good design requires boldness.
  • Something that everyone likes is typically something no one loves.
  • Compromise leads to bad design. A camel is a horse designed by a committee.
  • Think of a recipe. If you try to accommodate everyone’s preferences you end up with catsup and peanut butter on ice cream.
  • Design by committee generates monstrosities for which no single person is responsible.

Where is design by committee an issue for authors?

  • Websites
  • Book Covers
  • Book Titles

How do you get feedback while avoiding mediocrity? 

  • Realize that not everyone’s opinion is useful. Some opinions can be harmful!
  • Only ask design experts and people within your target market.
  • Explain the target market and the goals of the project before sharing the design with experts.
  • People don’t know what they really like (iPad, Google’s new logo) when you ask them. You have to watch their behavior not listen to their words.
  • Ask “why” a several times in a row.
  • Ask for problems not solutions. “My engine is clicking can you change my oil?”
  • Don’t incorporate everyone’s advice.
  • Ask what kind of emotions it causes in them. How does it make you feel?

How do you give feedback to your designer?

  • Consolidate Feedback
  • Sleep on it.
  • Ask questions! He or she is the professional. Don’t squander their expertise by taking over design yourself by giving orders.
  • Pick your battles. Be willing to defer.
  • Identify problems and suggest (not demand) solutions.
  • Use data to make decisions. Split test versions to see which one performs better. (NM172)

Tips For Good Design

  • Work with an experienced professional.
  • Clearly identify a single representative target reader.
  • Clearly identify goals. What will make the design succeed. What would make it fail.

Sponsor: Christian Writers Institute

The Course of the Week: When to Break the Rules of Writing

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The post 045 How to Avoid the #1 Cause of Bad Book Covers: Design by Committee appeared first on Christian Publishing Show.

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Category: The Writing Life

045 How to Avoid the #1 Cause of Bad Book Covers: Design by Committee

By Thomas Umstattd, Jr.on October 8, 2019
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How to Avoid the #1 Cause of Bad Book Covers: Design by Committee
You can listen to this episode 045 How to Avoid the #1 Cause of Bad Book Covers: Design by Committee on Christian Publishing Show.

Read more045 How to Avoid the #1 Cause of Bad Book Covers: Design by Committee
Category: The Writing Life

Always Be Learning

By Steve Laubeon October 7, 2019
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During the Summer of 1978 the #1 hit on Christian radio was the classic “He’s Alive” by Don Francisco (click here to listen). That same Summer I attended a Christian music festival in Estes Park, Colorado and decided to take a class on songwriting being taught by Jimmy and Carol Owens. I settled into my chair near the back of the room with notepad ready.

Just as the class was about to start a …

Read moreAlways Be Learning
Category: Conferences, Get Published, The Writing Life, Writing CraftTag: Book Business, Conferences, Craft, Get Published, Writing Craft

I Almost Quit Writing

By Bob Hostetleron October 2, 2019
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Nearly twenty years ago, I was totally spent as a writer. I’d endured a three-year process of revision and revulsion on one book that had me doubting my ability and drained of all enthusiasm for writing. I’d had a good run. I’d authored or coauthored numerous articles and books. I’d won awards and appeared on best-seller lists. I didn’t need the stresses of editing and revision, contracts and …

Read moreI Almost Quit Writing
Category: Inspiration, Personal, The Writing Life

044 How to Become a Better Writer with Jeff Goins

By Thomas Umstattd, Jr.on October 1, 2019
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Today we are getting back to the fundamentals and talking about how to become a better more successful writer.  And who better to talk to about this than Jeff Goins? Jeff a writer, speaker, and podcaster. He is the best-selling author of five books, including You Are a Writer (So Start Acting Like One) and Real Artists Don’t Starve (Affiliate Links). His award-winning blog GoinsWriter.com is …

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Category: The Writing Life

044 How to Become a Better Writer with Jeff Goins

By Thomas Umstattd, Jr.on October 1, 2019
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How to Become a Better Writer with Jeff Goins
You can listen to this episode 044 How to Become a Better Writer with Jeff Goins on Christian Publishing Show.

Read more044 How to Become a Better Writer with Jeff Goins
Category: The Writing Life

043 How to Use Public Speaking to Change Lives and Build Your Platform With Aurora Gregory

By Thomas Umstattd, Jr.on September 24, 2019
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Today we are going to talk about one of the scariest and most powerful tools in the book promotion toolbelt: public speaking. There is a reason nearly all of the top nonfiction authors are also public speakers. Even many novelists find public speaking to be a key way of driving book sales. If the idea of public speaking scares you, don’t worry! Joining us today is Aurora Gregory. Aurora is the …

Read more043 How to Use Public Speaking to Change Lives and Build Your Platform With Aurora Gregory
Category: The Writing Life

043 How to Use Public Speaking to Change Lives and Build Your Platform With Aurora Gregory

By Thomas Umstattd, Jr.on September 24, 2019
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How to Use Public Speaking to Change Lives and Build Your Platform With Aurora Gregory
You can listen to this episode 043 How to Use Public Speaking to Change Lives and Build Your Platform With Aurora Gregory on Christian Publishing Show.

Read more043 How to Use Public Speaking to Change Lives and Build Your Platform With Aurora Gregory
Category: The Writing Life

More Carrots and Sticks

By Bob Hostetleron September 18, 2019
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Last week I opened a can of worms, to use a cliché—and one should never use clichés, because they’re old hat. I asked some of my favorite authors (and clients, as it happens) whether they motivate themselves as writers with “carrots” (i.e., some kind of reward) or “sticks” (an external discipline of some kind). The responses were so many and varied—and enlightening—that I decided to follow that …

Read moreMore Carrots and Sticks
Category: The Writing Life

042 Why Podcast Tours are Replacing Blog Tours and What to do About it

By Thomas Umstattd, Jr.on September 17, 2019
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Today we are going to talk about promotional tours for your book and which works better, a blog tour or a podcast tour. We’ll also talk about why podcast tours are replacing blog tours and what to do about it. What is a blog tour? A blog tour is when you (or your marketing/PR person) schedule a series of blog posts about you and your book.  These posts take a few forms: Author Interview – The …

Read more042 Why Podcast Tours are Replacing Blog Tours and What to do About it
Category: The Writing Life
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