Toowoomba Wordsmiths meeting – Sunday 20th July, 2013

The Toowoomba Wordsmiths  had  a super meeting on Sunday.  Thanks so much to Emma MacTaggart for her A to Z…
Such an interactive and enthusiastic group of people. It’s always interesting discussing everyone’s different opinions – especially when it’s so much fun.

‘You do judge a book by its cover,’ presentation by Carmel Rowley.

a. Good cover – we are all attracted to them! Visual society

b. Book covers as ‘art’

d. Two seconds is the time required to judge ‘desirable’

e. Look for unique, blind to ‘same’

f. Attention span getting shorter – texting, Facebook, shallow reading.

g. Design fundamentals and rules of advertising relevant to book… emotional triggers, create desire to buy, capture attention. Keep in mind ‘less is more’…

h. Know your audience.

i. Once well known, may be lessened to ‘sell’ the story.

j. ‘Tails Carried High’ – knew needed riveting picture of a horse because needed horse lovers to pick up the book…

k. Font is relevant.

l. Cover copy has to be active without discussing the plot.

m. Understand psychology of colour.

n. Emotions evoked influence purchase decision.

o. Keywords lend validity and cement the opinion the author is ‘right’

p. Research, research, research your audience. Use tools like Google Keyword Planner / Google Adwords.

q. Cover as art work so understand how the eye evaluates an image.

r. Discussed copycat or knock-off covers.

s. Psychology of portions of person, backs, half heads etc. is relevant and considered.

t. Decide what own dreams and goals are… So if interested in photography (for example) use own photos.

u. Consider and design for thumbnails for Amazon – simple and clear as possible.

v. Use all the resources at your disposal, for example, an orange cover to make it stand out…

w. Understand trends in colour and genre.

x. Brand yourself.

y. Test book cover – App called ‘Thumb’ – upload a picture to different categories – thumbs up / thumbs down…

z. And if you are happy with with the cover – then it is great! — with Willa Frayser and 7 others.