A “How To” Guide for the Prospective Writer – Step Nine on the Writing Journey
Written by Melissa Velasco, Accomplished Indie Writer
Melissa Velasco is an Indie author with a quick wit, edgy writing style, and bold willingness to take a flying leap into the unknown. She is the author of the Hollywood High Chronicles book series, a metaphysical thriller deep dive into the trials of a pack of metaphysically charged teen misfits growing up in gritty 1990s Hollywood.
If you’re just tuning in to the “How To” Guide for the Prospective Writer, then you need to whisk back to the first step, because (drumroll please!), we’re almost done!
Alright! You’ve joined the ‘Step Nine Club,’ having made it all the way through editing your book! That’s huge! The editing shuffle can be torturous, but it’s worth the hard work and effort. Now, let’s get down to the next step:
The cover image and back cover wording
Can you feel it? The moment you finally reach the top of a long hill on your bike. You think your legs might give out at the summit. Now, though, you get to coast down the other side. Put your feet out to the sides with a big smile, as the breeze whips by. You’re free!
That’s where you are right now. It’s time to coast and enjoy the breeze as you effortlessly coast down the hill. There’s still work to do, but this is the fun stuff!
It’s time for your cover design. A warning, I go way above and beyond what most people do for my book covers. I’ll tell you how I do this, but I’ll also give you some more reasonable options. Here we go:
Front cover purpose
The purpose of your front cover is likely a lot more complicated than you realize. Here’s the breakdown. Your cover needs to:
Offer a peek into the world of your story.
Convey the vibe of your story.
Give your potential readers an instant idea of what they can expect in your book.
Be eye-catching.
Make your heart pound with pride and excitement when you, the author, see it.
Easy, right? Well, kind of. There are many routes to the perfect book cover. I researched all of them, but rarely do anything the easy way. My covers for the Hollywood High Chronicles books are an oddity, though. I have connections in the theater, dance, modeling, and entertainment industries where I live. With these connections, I had a route to the perfect models to portray characters in my series. Add to it that an incredible photographer and designer, Tino Duvick of Broken Chain Photography, joined my team, and I was set.
I love having models on my covers. They offer the ideal snapshot glimpse into the world I created. It was worth it for me, but that method isn’t for everybody. Creating a cover with models requires a photographer, a shoot location, a model wardrobe, and a photographer capable of creating everything from the setting to the lighting. It’s complicated and expensive.
A budget-conscious cover route
Many people use a photo of an object, a drawing, an AI-generated image, a cartoon image, or just words. These are all perfectly credible choices. There are options for every budget. The sky is the limit, but there’s nothing wrong with choosing a grounded option.
Back cover description
This is incredibly difficult for me. According to my editor, everyone struggles a bit with the back cover wording. How does an author boil their book down to a maximum of two hefty paragraphs? Where do you even start?
Your back cover description needs to include:
Main character name(s)
An idea of the conflict
Enough tantalizing sizzle to make your reader want to know what happens and buy your book.
Every word matters. Get out your list of book-related adjectives, and very carefully use them. Read those two paragraphs you wrote over and over, fine-tuning, juggling the order, and scrutinizing.
Your front cover image and back cover wording are crucial to the potential success of your book! Choose carefully. This isn’t the time to slack. This is where you infuse a huge, exciting, all-in energy burst directly into the heart of your project. Shock your book to life!
There are two more sneaky little tidbits.
The dedication and writer bio
While not mandatory, many authors dedicate their books to a person, group, concept, historical movement, or another entity that deserves their undying gratitude. I relish the opportunity to express my love to monumental forces in my life. A couple of heartfelt sentences can be added to a page of honor at the beginning of your book. Give it some thought. It’s a sweet little cherry on the top of your masterpiece!
Your author bio is another optional page. I put my bio toward the end of each of my books. I don’t put mine on the back cover because I always include a back cover picture with my description, but some authors put it at the bottom.
Your bio is a paragraph-long description of you. I add professional accolades, a little hint into my life, and I try to make it lighthearted. Do it your way. You deserve a little homage for your accomplishments.
This prepares you for the next phase, "The Galley Copy Final Check." (Are you ready to hold a real copy of your book in your hands?! The first copy ever off the press? Deep breath, because this is what you’ve worked so hard for!)
Melissa Velasco, Accomplished Indie Writer
With a quick wit, often edgy mouth, and loud laugh, Melissa exuberantly embraces life. Melissa Velasco is a true explorer of the arts. With a well-rounded background as a choreographer, professor, dance teacher, stage manager, and author, she thrives in creation. At her core, she believes that the arts save lives and provide a route for passion and connection. With five books currently published from her Hollywood High Chronicles metaphysical thriller book series, Melissa Velasco is an accomplished Indie writer.
