{"id":22007,"date":"2019-08-12T03:00:52","date_gmt":"2019-08-12T10:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/?p=22007"},"modified":"2019-08-08T07:40:23","modified_gmt":"2019-08-08T14:40:23","slug":"questions-to-ask-your-designer-before-hiring-how-to-spot-a-professional-cover-designer-by-mary-neighbour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/12\/questions-to-ask-your-designer-before-hiring-how-to-spot-a-professional-cover-designer-by-mary-neighbour\/","title":{"rendered":"Questions to Ask Your Designer Before Hiring: How to Spot a Professional Cover Designer by Mary Neighbour"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Questions-to-Ask-Your-Designer-Before-Hiring-How-to-Spot-a-Professional-Cover-Designer-by-Mary-Neighbour.png\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-22011 size-medium\" title=\"Questions to Ask Your Designer Before Hiring: How to Spot a Professional Cover Designer by Mary Neighbour\" src=\"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Questions-to-Ask-Your-Designer-Before-Hiring-How-to-Spot-a-Professional-Cover-Designer-by-Mary-Neighbour-300x300.png\" alt=\"Questions to Ask Your Designer Before Hiring: How to Spot a Professional Cover Designer by Mary Neighbour\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Questions-to-Ask-Your-Designer-Before-Hiring-How-to-Spot-a-Professional-Cover-Designer-by-Mary-Neighbour-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Questions-to-Ask-Your-Designer-Before-Hiring-How-to-Spot-a-Professional-Cover-Designer-by-Mary-Neighbour-160x160.png 160w, https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Questions-to-Ask-Your-Designer-Before-Hiring-How-to-Spot-a-Professional-Cover-Designer-by-Mary-Neighbour-320x320.png 320w, https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Questions-to-Ask-Your-Designer-Before-Hiring-How-to-Spot-a-Professional-Cover-Designer-by-Mary-Neighbour.png 360w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>Please welcome back guest author\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/?s=Mary+e+neighbour\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mary Neighbour<\/a> as she shares with us \u201cQuestions to Ask Your Designer Before Hiring: How to Spot a Professional Cover Designer.\u201d Enjoy!<\/p>\n<p>***<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>You no doubt will feel excited as you embark on your search for a book designer<\/strong>, anticipating the creation of that irresistible cover, eager to discuss colors and choose fonts. An author may have visualized their cover before ever speaking to an artist.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Likely you\u2019ll interview several before making your final decision. But to conduct a meaningful discussion, bring all your enthusiasm into play as you research candidates for the job.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Question Before Your Start Your Search<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How will you find the best match for your book and your budget?<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/godwin-artist-group-copy.jpeg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-22008 size-medium alignright\" title=\"godwin-artist-group\" src=\"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/godwin-artist-group-copy-300x128.jpeg\" alt=\"godwin-artist-group\" width=\"300\" height=\"128\" srcset=\"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/godwin-artist-group-copy-300x128.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/godwin-artist-group-copy-768x327.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/godwin-artist-group-copy-1024x436.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/godwin-artist-group-copy-640x273.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/godwin-artist-group-copy.jpeg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Many start by taking referrals from other authors in their genre, but be sure to cover ground on the internet, as well, beginning with a simple Google image search, using keywords associated with your book.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For example, if your book is for young adults, and the story is about a girl and her horse, you might search: \u201cYA girl horse books,\u201d and the results you get will help you see what other covers look like.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Questions to Ask\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Questions to ask:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do they use photos or graphic art?\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do they represent the girl with the horse?\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Are certain horse breeds more popular?\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What types of settings are used?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Some covers may give you fresh ideas for your own book.<\/strong> If you do the same search on <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/s?k=YA+girl+horse+books&amp;i=stripbooks&amp;ref=nb_sb_noss\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amazon.com<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, you\u2019ll be able to drill down to the book\u2019s ranking and see which sell well.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Recommended<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Visit a library or bookstore to see how books like yours are grouped. Handling physical books is a different experience than viewing tiny, 2-D, online images.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Ask yourself these questions:\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What covers draw your attention first?\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Which ones are the last to get noticed?\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also, ask the librarian or bookstore owner what\u2019s popular.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Allow your impressions to inform your ideas about cover design<\/strong>, and bring these into the discussion with the artists you interview.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Share with the designer both the covers you like and those you do not like.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Start the Conversation<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you have a short list of designer prospects, start the conversation with each by describing your book\u2019s vitals:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">genre<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">title<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">synopsis<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">what you intend the reader\u2019s experience to be<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">how you plan to market the book.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>Few artists will have the time to actually read your book<\/strong>, and they\u2019ll likely have their own questions about your message, premises, and themes. Mention early on in the conversation how you anticipate having the book printed and manufactured. Discuss trim sizes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Continue your interview, asking the following questions\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/godwin_woman-man-book-copy.jpeg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-22009\" title=\"godwin_woman-man-book \" src=\"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/godwin_woman-man-book-copy-280x300.jpeg\" alt=\"godwin_woman-man-book \" width=\"200\" height=\"214\" srcset=\"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/godwin_woman-man-book-copy-280x300.jpeg 280w, https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/godwin_woman-man-book-copy-640x686.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/godwin_woman-man-book-copy.jpeg 759w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>Continue your interview, asking the following questions (answers to which have been covered in previous blogs).<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What other covers have you created in my genre? \u201cI\u2019d like to follow up with those authors as references.\u201d<br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do you offer a written contract covering each of our responsibilities, what you\u2019ll charge, and who owns the copyright on the design?\n<p><\/span><b>Tip<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: It is not uncommon for cover artists to retain the copyright of their designs, or elements of the design (e.g., a photo they took).<\/p>\n<p><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nevertheless, your payment to the artist typically will entitle you to use the design on your cover and related materials, without additional licensing fees.\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Just get the agreement in writing, and include any limitations on the artist\u2019s use of that design element, so that you protect your book\u2019s brand.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How many design concepts will you develop? When we settle on a design, will I be able to ask for variations of color and font selection?\n<p><\/span><strong><i>Listen for<\/i><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>:<\/strong> mention of how the designer handles \u201ccreep\u201d in the scope of the work. Because this is a creative process, the work to be done can easily grow beyond the boundaries initially set. This occurrence has been the death knell of many an author-artist relationship.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I can\u2019t decide yet whether to use a photograph or a graphical design. Can you draft both types?<br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are the licensing issues with the fonts you\u2019ll use?<br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I created on my laptop a crude mock-up of my cover concept, but when I printed it out, it looked terrible, especially the colors. What would you recommend to improve it?\n<p><\/span><strong><i>Listen for<\/i><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>:<\/strong> mention of the role of RGB and CMYK color models.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Have you worked with book printers before? Have you worked with their cover templates?\n<p><\/span><strong><i>Listen for<\/i><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>:<\/strong> mention of their experience with printers. In order to position the design correctly on the cover, templates are essential.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do you have ideas for tying together the back and spine with the front? Can you show me examples of how you\u2019ve done this in the past?<br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What colors are typical for my genre? Should I do something different?\n<p><\/span><strong><i>Listen for<\/i><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>:<\/strong> their answer should reflect their experience with your genre, as well as a basic understanding of the psychology of color.<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I\u2019ve heard that using color gradients is old-fashioned. What do you think?\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once we have a design, will you give me a physical proof?\n<p><\/span><b>Recommended<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: don\u2019t rely on a digital view of the final design. Colors, especially, will look different when the design is printed.<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">I\u2019d like to test market the design. Depending on the feedback I get, are you willing to make adjustments?\n<p><\/span><b>Recommended<\/b><span>: If you are able, show the design to people who are <\/span><i><span>not<\/span><\/i><span> friends or family. Stop by libraries and bookstores to ask librarians and booksellers to react to the cover.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/godwin_portfolio.jpeg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-22010\" title=\"godwin_portfolio\" src=\"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/godwin_portfolio-300x160.jpeg\" alt=\"godwin_portfolio\" width=\"200\" height=\"107\" srcset=\"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/godwin_portfolio-300x160.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/godwin_portfolio-768x410.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/godwin_portfolio-640x341.jpeg 640w, https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/godwin_portfolio.jpeg 812w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong>All of the above are intended to initiate discussion on matters that matter<\/strong>. The artist\u2019s answers won\u2019t be right or wrong; rather, they will be revealing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">These questions\u2014in combination with your review of the artist\u2019s portfolio\u2014are sure to help you select the best designer for you and your book cover.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>Now you\u2019re ready for one of the most exciting phases of getting your book out into the world!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Next week in this series: we\u2019ll introduce our series of blogs on <\/span><\/i><b><i>interior<\/i><\/b><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> book design.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The following week: \u201cInterior Design Standards.\u201d<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p>***<\/p>\n<h2>ABOUT THE AUTHOR<\/h2>\n<p><a class=\"\" href=\"http:\/\/www.medianeighbours.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"http:\/\/www.medianeighbours.com\/ noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft wp-image-21650 tc-smart-load-skip tc-smart-loaded\" title=\"Mary Neighbor\" src=\"https:\/\/writersfunzone.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/Mary_3x3.jpg\" alt=\"Mary Neighbor\" width=\"150\" height=\"171\" \/><\/a>Some call\u00a0<strong>Mary E. Neighbour<\/strong>\u00a0a \u201cbook shepherd,\u201d though Mary wields a blue pencil far more expertly than a herding rod. For the past ten years, she and her husband have helped dozens of writers bring their manuscripts to the marketplace, through\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.medianeighbours.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">MediaNeighbours<\/a>, their publishing services business.<\/p>\n<p>Passionate about helping authors make their work shine in the world, with a combined professional expertise of over 50 years in editing and design, this family team is one you\u2019ll want to adopt as your guide through the challenging world of independent publishing.<\/p>\n<p>Mary\u2019s other passion is learning about the history of slavery and how it impacts race relations today. She incorporated much of her research into her novel,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/speakrighton.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><i>Speak Right On: Conjuring the Slave Narrative of Dred Scott<\/i><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Here are good questions to ask cover designers as you interview to find the right one in our How to Spot a Book Professional series.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":22011,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[515],"tags":[4009,4010,3306,3955,3956],"class_list":["post-22007","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guest-columnists","tag-book-design","tag-book-designer","tag-hiring","tag-mary-e-neighbour","tag-publishing-industry-standards"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Questions to Ask Your Designer Before Hiring: How to Spot a Professional Cover Designer by Mary Neighbour &#183; Writer&#039;s Fun Zone<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Here are good questions to ask cover 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