Some of the most bitter disagreements I’ve witnessed in book publishing (aside from contract disputes) are about title and cover design.
At the mid-size publisher I once worked for, we had two catalog seasons (spring and fall) and thus two (very extended) rounds of title and cover design meetings per year. The marketing department was in charge of administrating the process, and it was my least favorite meeting. Conversations would go in circles, everyone’s opinion was more or less equal, and even the smallest differences could upend the process as it neared the finish line. (This is one reason why authors’ publishing contracts rarely give them approval over title and cover—only consultation.)
In my latest column for Publishers Weekly, I discuss an aspect of the cover design process that has become popular among traditional and self-published authors alike: social media feedback.
Unfortunately, as you’ll see, I think sharing your cover on social media to solicit meaningful direction is like throwing a bomb into the process. Read: Don’t Crowdsource Your Cover Design.
Jane Friedman has spent her entire career working in the publishing industry, with a focus on business reporting and author education. Established in 2015, her newsletter The Bottom Line provides nuanced market intelligence to thousands of authors and industry professionals; in 2023, she was named Publishing Commentator of the Year by Digital Book World.
Jane’s expertise regularly features in major media outlets such as The New York Times, The Atlantic, NPR, The Today Show, Wired, The Guardian, Fox News, and BBC. Her book, The Business of Being a Writer, Second Edition (The University of Chicago Press), is used as a classroom text by many writing and publishing degree programs. She reaches thousands through speaking engagements and workshops at diverse venues worldwide, including NYU’s Advanced Publishing Institute, Frankfurt Book Fair, and numerous MFA programs.
Thank you for this. Much appreciated.
Thank god someone addresses this ‘decision by committee’ nonsense! Nothing but trouble.
I’d say it’s much better if author has 5 close author friends in the genre and ask their feedback plus sends out a newsletter for subscribers and ask their feedback (BUT take this part of feedback as general feel, rather taking some specific advice from any one reader).
The more people give advice the more we need to take it as ‘directional’ and broad tips (does it fit a genre in general and if a new person can tell it) and from there on take more specific advice just from those with some know-how in the industry.
Great to see this topic explored. Hopefully, more will come. And as always, love the blog, keep up the good work!