Doing Your own Artwork?

[Hummingbird]

I've read a little information about submitting your own art for your novels. But, I'm not sure exactly how to do it. If you want your own artwork for the cover and such, do you send in a sample picture with your cover letter, and suggest doing the artwork for the book?

~Hummingbird

[Richard]

I'd worry about selling the book itself first.

[Maryn]

I second Richard and add that it's quite unusual for the authors of first novels to have much say about the cover when the book is the product of a 'traditional' (non-POD) publisher. A writing acquaintance didn't even see the cover art of her first book until they sent her copies. A shame, since the artist made an obvoius mistake she'd have gladly corrected.

Maryn

[James D. Macdonald]

Are you a commercial-quality artist?

If so, send your portfolio to the art director of the publishing houses you're interested in.

Then, once you've been accepted as an artist by the art director, and your novel has been accepted by an editor at the same house, you can say "By the way, I'd like to do my own cover...."

(Funny artist story ... the artist who didn't send his portfolio along with his letter "because my works don't reproduce well." Talk about unclear on the concept...)

But, unless the art director has already given you the okay, all that sending along a proposed cover will do is a) make you look like a newbie who didn't read the guidelines (did the guidelines say to send a cover concept?) and b) give someone another reason to reject your book.

[Richard]

A writing acquaintance didn't even see the cover art of her first book until they sent her copies. A shame, since the artist made an obvoius mistake she'd have gladly corrected.

I still think my favourite cover art goof was Terry Pratchett's "The Colour of Magic". He describes one of the main characters, Twoflower, as being a four-eyed man - an English expression for 'wears glasses'. The artist promptly drew him as a mutant.

[Hummingbird]

A shame, since the artist made an obvoius mistake she'd have gladly corrected.

I've actually seen that before, one reason why I was asking.

Okay, so I probably won't be able to do art for my first. Thanks! :)

What if I get my name out there and such? Would I be able to do the art then?

Thanks for the information!

EDIT: Oh! I hadn't thought about submitting my art to the art director!
Though, I may still wait for someone to take my story first, being that I'm a newbie. Thanks!

[Maryn]

I still think my favourite cover art goof was Terry Pratchett's "The Colour of Magic". He describes one of the main characters, Twoflower, as being a four-eyed man - an English expression for 'wears glasses'. The artist promptly drew him as a mutant.

Oh, that's wonderful! Much more fun that the artist of my acquaintance's cover drawing the dog wrong breed and color.

Maryn

[maestrowork]

I did my own book cover, and I think it's a success (almost everyone who's seen it liked it).

[James D. Macdonald]

Maestro, you've got a striking cover.

Did you include the cover concept with your submission?

[maestrowork]

Uncle Jim, no I didn't. But after I was accepted, I showed them two concepts and the publisher loved them -- eventually I chose one. There will be some tweaks for the final product, but I think the cover would stay. ;)

And thanks, Jim. :)

Edit: Question, is it okay to include original artwork, cover concepts, etc. in a submission?

[James D. Macdonald]

Edit: Question, is it okay to include original artwork, cover concepts, etc. in a submission?

I would do it if and only if the submission guidelines said to include artwork.

(Yes, some publishers have asked me for suggestions for covers. Sometimes they've used 'em. Sometimes I've seen cover concepts and been asked for comments. Sometimes not.)

The purpose of the cover is to be a point-of-purchase ad for your book. It doesn't need to illustrate the book -- it should tell the reader what kind of book it is or how the book will make him feel.

[maestrowork]

The purpose of the cover is to be a point-of-purchase ad for your book. It doesn't need to illustrate the book -- it should tell the reader what kind of book it is or how the book will make him feel.


Can't agree more.

[Hummingbird]

The purpose of the cover is to be a point-of-purchase ad for your book. It doesn't need to illustrate the book -- it should tell the reader what kind of book it is or how the book will make him feel.


I agree too. Guess I better make sure to practice on that instead of illustrating the book. Thanks!

[Mya Bell]

It's pretty hard to get permission to do your own covers.

I had to be very diplomatic in my cover suggestions. I could tell the publisher didn't want my input so, on the first book with that publisher, I kept it to a simple suggestion (which they took). For the second, I made a stronger suggestion. (They took that one too but still wouldn't let me design the cover. They did, however, use my suggestion for subsequent book covers from other authors in that genre to give the line a particular "look.")

For my third book, I sent them some art work and a verbal description. They didn't execute it quite as well as I felt I could have myself, but they went with the idea. So, it took three books to earn their trust. For the fourth book, the answer was still "No," but at least they agreed to look at the artwork.

Well, I sent them two packages, the artwork they had requested (at my urging) and a full cover design. Then I waited--worried that I had overstepped my bounds.

Finally, I got an answer.

The response was, "This is gorgeous, we'll go with it."

And they did. In fact, they liked it so much, they featured it on one of the sales flyers along with some of their other books.

So, it's not easy, but sometimes you can work up to it, if you are tactful and have professional level design and layout skills.

I like James' idea of registering with their art department. I didn't have that option (my publisher has in-house designers), but it's a good suggestion.

--- Mya Bell


Oh, I should have mentioned... It isn't enough to have professional-level design and layout skills to do a book cover. You also have to have copy writing and promotional/advertising experience. I've worked in publicity and promotion, so I've done enough copy writing and promotional art to be qualified to design book covers.

[Hummingbird]

Hm... This'll be fun. ;)
I like challenges, but I hadn't thought about needing some promotional/advertising experience. I think my layout skills are okay, but I'm still working on design.

Okay! :sun: More stuff for me to look into! That would be fun to do promotional art too! Of course, someone has to like my art first. ;)

Thanks so much everyone! Really, this is great!