Pretty much since I started writing I always wanted to create my own covers for my novels. I never knew how–what programs to use, how to get the pictures legally, etc. So I never bothered… Or I would, but I just wouldn’t show it to the rest of the world.
Yet, whenever I can, I try to take pictures of nature or other things that strike me at the time. I tend to use the camera on my phone, which takes great pictures. However, when I learn to use my real camera then I’ll start bringing that with me to places.
I recently got Photoshop and while I took a class on it in high school, it’s an updated version… and I probably still wouldn’t remember how to use it even if it was the same version.
But I did my best and creating graphics can only get better with practice.
So, lo and behold, here is the cover to my Camp NaNoWriMo novel, The Lost Girl.
It’s simple as I have to work with what I have and what I know. Though I think it came out pretty well, if I do say so myself.
The background was taken from the backyard of the family I babysit for. I took the picture myself with my phone.
I had other ideas for the cover, but as I don’t have a model to act as the protagonist for the cover, I decided to go easy and simple.
Sometimes I think simpler can be better.
I hope this cover does the novel justice!
I would like to say, “It’s not like I’m going to publish this or anything,” but I do plan on putting this story on Wattpad when it’s edited (hopefully by the end of 2016 or very early 2017).
I made a Wattpad account a while ago hoping to get more of my original work out there other than just quick Short Story Sundays. I still haven’t posted anything on there, but I think The Lost Girl will be the first one.
I don’t really think The Lost Girl will be publishable by a traditional publisher and I don’t have the desire to attempt to self-publish it. So I think Wattpad would be a great fit. It would be like the next step up from my blog. Of course, I’ll still continue to give updates on here and let you all know when the next chapter is up.
But that won’t be for a while, so don’t worry about it.
That’s where I stand at the moment. I hope you like the cover. I’m looking forward to actually writing the story in two days!
Good luck to those who are participating in Camp!
Love the Cover Rachel – you might need to reduce the width of the text and relocate your name up and to the left to avoid getting it caught in the bleed-over of the CreateSpace template. 😀
I don’t know if I’ll ever put this on CreateSpace, but that’s good to know just in case! Thanks. 🙂
Welcome Rachel (guidelines suggests leaving a clearance of about 3/4 to 1 inch all around the edges) 😀
Again, that’s good to know! Thanks. 🙂
I made a draft cover for my novel too. It’s not that easy and I wonder where all the self-publishers get theirs done. They are always so beautiful. Yours is great! It definitely fits the story and is wonderful it was a photo you took yourself. Good luck with WattPad! It’s a great next step above a blog and self-publishing seems like a lot of work with little payback. I’m looking forward to seeing it done and I’ll be reading it on WattPad!
It’s not easy, no. I had a completely different idea for the cover, but I don’t have models or a studio or anything of that sort. 😉
Thanks for the positive feedback. 🙂
I’ve never even thought of Book Covers for my novels. I normally use images to catch the imagination for all my stories so I guess that could be seen as a book cover though I’ve never thought about it like that until now.
I like your cover and perhaps you should looking at downloading free fonts and using them for the title instead of the default Photoshop fonts? There’s plenty out there and some are really amazing… for free.
Looking forward to reading your story (eventually haha) on Wattpad. I’ve also been dabbling on it but I’m not so keen on Wattpad but who knows right?
Goodluck with Camp!
Thanks! Glad you like it.
I do have some extra fonts in mind, I just haven’t downloaded them yet, lol.
Looks awesome! Nicely done! I have no artistic talent so I wouldn’t manage this. :’D
Thanks! It took me a long time and I kept calling my sister to help me, lol.
I will be editing during Camp. Hope you have a successful Camp NaNo!
Good luck with your edits. 🙂
I love the simplicity of the cover. I love how the title is slightly below center. And I certainly love the picture.
Yeah, lots of love here. 🙂
I think it’s a wonderful cover despite your limited experience with Photoshop. In fact, not having too much experience can help sometimes to not overdo something like a cover. Rather than thinking of all of the things you can do with it and putting too much into it, you’re instead asking, “What can I do with what I have?” To me, that can make something turn out better than it would have otherwise (not that I’m trying to discourage you from learning the ins and outs of Photoshop).
I don’t know if I’ve ever shared with you a jacket cover I mocked up for my first novel, but if you’d like to see it, click here: https://gabriel360live.wordpress.com/2015/09/26/200th-post/
I like you’re line of thinking! That’s a good way of putting it. Thanks for the wonderful thoughts. 🙂
I glanced at the cover you made and I really like it! I’m on the WordPress app right now, but when I get on the computer I’ll look at it closer and comment. 🙂
I make my book covers in Canva.com, using royalty-free images from unsplash.com. Highly recommend!
I’ve used Canva before and I think it’s great! Thanks for stopping by. 🙂
It’s simple but incredible.
I should make myself use Wattpad more.
Thanks!
I’m hoping to use Wattpad more after this.
Once your story is published on Wattpad, I’ll have more reason to go on the site. 🙂
Lol, thanks! I follow a few people on there, but I still have to actually read their stuff.
Ah that’ll probably be me eventually.
It’s easier to say you’re on there than actually being active, lol.
That’s true. If only we had more time.
I know! I always feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day.
Exactly. I always feel this way at night, right before midnight.
Oh I’m in bed by ten, lol.
ah cool – I made a cover too for one of the novels I’m still in the first draft for. I create almost all my blog graphics in Adobe whether thats photoshop or illustrator – but the over one thats good for book covers is Canva – it has all the layouts for you. 😀 That’s what I did Adultland’s cover in.
I’ve used Canva a couple of times. I like it, especially since it gives you the layouts and correct sizes.