Self-publishing by the Gutter

Norman D Gutter · Apr 17, 2013

Zero sales so far in April. At this point it's a great, shrinking writing career.

Covers are going to be the death of me. I can't do them, can't afford $500 plus for the software, don't think I could learn it fast enough for a monthly cloud-based subscription to make sense. I want to improve the e-book cover of my baseball novel, then expand it into a print book cover. But the two quotes I have are $500 and $800, which is way way way outside what I can spend. I'm bartering a print-book cover for my first novel, but after 3 weeks and nothing to see before this coming weekend, I'm much underwhelmed.

I'm about to say to hell with covers. Put up a generic cover of words in a box. If I get zero sales with decent covers (at least I think they're decent), how much worse can it be with generic covers?

Regards,
NDG

profen4 · Apr 17, 2013

Norman D Gutter said:
Zero sales so far in April. At this point it's a great, shrinking writing career.

Covers are going to be the death of me. I can't do them, can't afford $500 plus for the software, don't think I could learn it fast enough for a monthly cloud-based subscription to make sense. I want to improve the e-book cover of my baseball novel, then expand it into a print book cover. But the two quotes I have are $500 and $800, which is way way way outside what I can spend. I'm bartering a print-book cover for my first novel, but after 3 weeks and nothing to see before this coming weekend, I'm much underwhelmed.

I'm about to say to hell with covers. Put up a generic cover of words in a box. If I get zero sales with decent covers (at least I think they're decent), how much worse can it be with generic covers?

Regards,
NDG

Have you considered your market? Who are you looking to attract. What is the demographic you want to attract? I have to admit, when I look at your covers (with the exception of your non-fiction stuff), I don't have a clear idea of the target audience, or the genre.

Norman D Gutter · Apr 17, 2013

Hi profen4.

Part of my problem is "genre identity disorder". I've basically allowed my creative writing to flow on the path of least resistance. So none of my fiction is in series right now, except the two short stories about teenage grief. Even my novel-in-progress, which I'll post about later today, is in yet a different genre.

I have no real skills in the graphic arts, and can't do the work required to make the covers better descriptive of audience and genre. Neither, apparently, can the cover designers I've either bartered with or paid. And I can't seem to recognize the problem.

NDG

shelleyo · Apr 17, 2013

Norman D Gutter said:
But the two quotes I have are $500 and $800, which is way way way outside what I can spend. G

You can get a great custom cover for far, far less than $500. There are covers that are worth that much and more. But you don't have to spend that much. You also may be able to find a pre-made cover that's right for one of your books, or that would be right with a tweak or two. Pre-mades can be budget savers if you find the right ones.

PM me if you want some lower cost resources.

stranger · Apr 17, 2013

I was about to say the same as Shelleyo. If you are on a budget, look through the premades and find the closest you can find (premades seem to be about 30-50dollars.) Often those who make premades will do simple custom covers for not much more than 100. So, even if you can't find the right premade, looking through the premades can help you find the right designer.

I actually copied down a list of websites selling premades from another post. (Haven't gone through many of them yet.)

http://www.goonwrite.com
http://art.kalenodonnell.com/
http://alchemybookcover.blogspot.com/p/sample-sale.html
http://sarah-janelehoux.blogspot.ca/2012/09/30-premade-covers.html
http://thebookcoverdesigner.com/product-category/premade-book-covers/
http://www.marionsipe.blogspot.com/p/premade-book-covers-for-sale.html
https://www.razzdazzstock.com/product-list.php?pg1-cid68.html
http://www.litteradesigns.com/p/pre-made-covers.html
http://www.bookcoversale.com/
http://coverart.joleenenaylor.com/
http://ebookindiecovers.com/pre-made-covers-fiction/
http://e-finiteecovers.com/
http://artbykarri.com/pre-made-covers/
http://libbiegrant.blogspot.com/p/pre-made-covers.html
http://indiebookcovers.blogspot.com/
http://www.najlaqamberdesigns.com/premades.html
http://kalosysart.deviantart.com/gallery/36311301
http://covershotcreations.com/
http://www.coverd.wix.com/premadecovers
http://www.indieauthorservices.com/
http://www.avalongraphics.org/books.html
http://cpbookdesign.blogspot.com/p/for-sale.html
http://www.creationwarrior.net/gallery/635837
http://dafeenah.deviantart.com/gallery/
http://www.dreamscapecovers.com/pre-made-covers.html
http://www.ebook-coverdesigns.com/pre-designed-covers/
http://www.premadecovers4u.com/
http://www.eldesigns.net/index_covers.html
http://graphiczxdesigns.zenfolio.com/f641008928
http://jaebeecreations.com/pricing.html
http://www.jsimmonsillustration.com/pre-made-covers.html
http://www.katiewstewart.com/cover-designs.html
http://www.kitfosterdesign.com/Home.aspx
http://lharper.deviantart.com/gallery/
http://www.llpix.com/premade.html
http://melchelledesigns.com/premade-ebook-covers/
http://mishka19.deviantart.com/gallery/33572981?offset=0
http://mycoverart.wordpress.com/premade-designs/
http://www.ninjameldesigns.com/pre-mades/
http://www.q42graphicdesign.com/Gallery.php
http://sarah-janelehoux.com/coverart.htm
http://shaynehellerman.deviantart.com/gallery/#
http://www.tugboatdesign.net/ready-to-go.html
http://www.waywardsunstudio.com/art.htm
http://www.wickedsmartdesigns.com/#!stock-covers/c1xmk
http://CoverBistro.com
http://librariat.com/

profen4 · Apr 17, 2013

Norman, I couldn't draw a stick man if someone had a gun to my head, and I'm colorblind. But marketing 101 is know your audience. The marketing department for major publishers are usually in the acquisitions meetings. If they don't have a clear path to market, that title might not get picked up.

When you self publish, you are the creative director. You tell your designer what you want. So you need to have a very clear idea. I suggest, once you sort out your market, for you to find book covers for books like yours, specifically book covers that are on books that are selling well.

Find 50 or 100 of them and just stare at them for a few days and try to think up a concept. Then find artists who have done something similar to what you're looking for. You want to play to the artist's strengths, you don't want to approach an artist who excels in one type of art, and ask them to do something totally outside their comfort zone.

But Shelleyo made a good point, premades are a good way to go.

I think $500 is totally reasonable for custom artwork, but you need to work within your budget, and maybe some kick-ass typography-only cover would work. I've seen some really cool ones like that. Not saying that would be crazy cheap, typography isn't cheap, but certainly cheaper than custom illustrations.

Good luck!

shelleyo · Apr 17, 2013

Awesome list! I was prepared to make one, but it wouldn't have been that long.

The one on top, I know him has Humblenations, has some interesting non-fiction pre-mades and a really clean style that I like a lot. I know some of the others have non-fic pre-mades, too. I realize that finding a pre-made for non-fiction is a lot harder than fiction for many reasons, but as stranger said, most are surprisingly affordable with their custom fees, too.

Norman D Gutter · Apr 17, 2013

Thanks for the comments, everyone. And for the list, stranger. I've looked into various cover services before, and found they tend to prefer e-book covers to print book covers. However, I checked the first two on that list, and they at least mention they do print covers, and for reasonable prices. I'll need to see what they can do with a non-genre book.

NDG

Tienci · Apr 17, 2013

Exactly as stranger said and graciously posted! I've been looking at cover artists and pre-mades myself, stalking a few of those on the list for a bit since I too need to update my Keynote covers (although I'm getting better with Gimp creations).
Still, it's a lot of work trying to figure it all out yourself so basically, yeah- what all these guys said, lol. Good luck and have fun!

Spell-it-out · Apr 18, 2013

Tienci;8121949 said:
I too need to update my Keynote covers (although I'm getting better with Gimp creations).

Did you change the cover for Emancipating Alice? I coulda sworn it was something like a fountain and outstretched arms?
If so, has it helped sales?

Just curious

Celeste Carrara · Apr 18, 2013

Norman, I just sent you a PM

Norman D Gutter · Apr 18, 2013

Celeste Carrara said:
Norman, I just sent you a PM

Saw it. I'll respond soon.

Thanks,
NDG

Tienci · Apr 18, 2013

Spell-it-out said:
Did you change the cover for Emancipating Alice? I coulda sworn it was something like a fountain and outstretched arms?
If so, has it helped sales?

Just curious

Pm'd you.

Norman D Gutter · Apr 22, 2013

I finished the first round of edits on my latest novel (and have actually started on the second), and am ready to begin putting a virtual book launch team together. My tentative title for the novel has been China Tour. However, I’m thinking of changing that to Smugglers and Spies. The title is very much up in the air. The one-sentence description is: An American couple’s troubled marriage is further endangered when they become embroiled in a CIA operation while touring China. The book is about 74,000 words, or 257 pages when formatted for editing. It's set in 1983.

This is the first time I’ve tried to put a virtual book launch team together, so I’m kind of feeling my way. What I thought I would ask of my team:
- Read the book. I’ll supply a Word or PDF copy ASAP. I’d ask that you read it within two weeks and give me some feedback.
- Give me feedback about the title, either one of the two I'm thinking of or even something different.
- Obviously if you find the book isn’t something you could endorse you can back out.
- Within the first month of publication, make at least three on-line posts promoting it. This could be a blog post, Facebook post, tweet, or whatever, the goal being to get some buzz started.
- Once the book publishes, post a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads.
- After publication, I’ll give everyone on the launch team an official copy, either paper or electronic at your choice. I’m hoping to do the paperback version almost simultaneous with the print version, but the cover will dictate that.

Anyone want in on the launch team? Message me here at Absolute Write, or e-mail me at norman_d_gutter AT yahoo DOT com. I’ll get the file to you..

Norman D Gutter · May 1, 2013

1 sale in April, of the very first thing I self-published, a short story. 35 cents in revenue for the month. Yipee. I won't bother with a sales graph or table.

I'm almost finished with the second round of edits of my latest novel; should finish tonight (or possibly tomorrow). I have a book launch team of 11 people, three of whom have given me full or partial feedback. That's all looking good. I'm working with the cover designer on some ideas. I'm hoping I can launch the book before the end of May, though realistically it will more likely be in June.

merrihiatt · May 1, 2013

One sale is better than zero. Good luck with the book launch.

Norman D Gutter · May 2, 2013

Kobo just reported for March, and I sold one book there. That increases my March sales from 2 to 3. I'll take it. In these doldrums I'll take every sale I can get. The book, The Candy Store Generation, is listed at #47 on the Public Affairs & Administration best seller list. It's amazing what one sale can do to a book on a narrow list.
http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/The-...baqRA/page1.html?s=1bRLGLtwgUGq1-i29ZhQeA&r=1

NDG

Tienci · May 2, 2013

Keep it coming Norman.

Looking forward to seeing the results of your book launch.

Norman D Gutter · May 11, 2013

Today I typed the last edits of round 2 of editing my novel-in-progress. Unless something else comes to me, all the editing left is proofreading, which I start tomorrow. I also found the lost pictures I need to illustrate the cover, maybe even at the beginning of each chapter.

5 out of 12 people on my launch team have reported back with comments and ideas. One other is down to a few pages left.

So things are moving,
NDG

FionnJameson · May 11, 2013

Good luck, Norman!

Things moving are always a step in the right direction.

Or is it it's a step in the right direction if things are moving...?

Norman D Gutter · May 16, 2013

Today I sold a copy of the paperback edition of Doctor Luke's Assistant. Hasn't shown up on my stats yet.

Down to the proofreading stage of China Tour, which I'm going to rename either Lotus Sunday or Operation Lotus Sunday. The covers are in production. I hope to publish by the end of May.

Tienci · May 16, 2013

Cool beans! Well, 2 weeks until the end of May--plenty of time.

robertbevan · May 16, 2013

Norman D Gutter said:
The book, The Candy Store Generation, is listed at #47 on the Public Affairs & Administration best seller list. It's amazing what one sale can do to a book on a narrow list.

You're not wrong there, Norman. That's part of why I chose to have my books on the Comedy and Fantasy Series lists. A single sale will put them on the list. But a couple of sales close together will sometimes put them on the first page. Good luck, Norman!

Noah Body · May 17, 2013

Sounds like an interesting book, Norman.

Norman D Gutter · May 23, 2013

I just finished the proofreading round of edits, in manuscript. I think I'll wait to type them over the weekend. Now I get to go through my wife's copy and see what she's marked.

The book launch is drawing closer. The cover designer says she'll be done with the e-cover proof by tomorrow. Hoping now to set a launch date some time in early June.

Self-publishing by the Gutter

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