Choosing Your Book Cover Format: Hardcover or Paperback
The past was when decisions on a book's cover was an established pattern among traditional publishers. Many of the big traditional publishers would publish a book in hardcover. Then, after a while the paperback version would be released. This was done due to a number of reasons. A brand new book, particularly written by a well-known writer is a sought-after object. First editions of hardcover books was one to cherish and was typically high-end and designed to be visually appealing, with dust jackets. For those who wanted to keep a book for the duration of their lives would buy a book with a hardcover. However, not everyone could afford books in hardcover which is why a less expensive paperback for mass-market readers will soon follow. Based on the worth the reader thought the book could bring to them, they may decide to buy the hardcover instead or they could wait to purchase the paperback. In the instances where the hardcover didn't sell well and the paperback edition not ever published.
Since the publishing world has evolved over the past few years, more publishers are now putting out only paperback versions of books that are not believed to be that valuable in the long run specifically in genre books such as romance novels or mysteries. This is a way to save the publisher money as well as making the books accessible to a wider audience who may not have spent the same price for a hardcover version of an intriguing novel that could be read in one or two hours.
Since self-publishing has become very popular, and also because traditional publishing houses are struggling to stay financially viable increasingly more books are printed in paperbacks since it's the cheapest option. But, hardcover books are still preferred for major publications by conventional publishers and self-published authors can are also choosing hardcover books frequently in addition to, but not always in lieu of paperbacks book covers.
When selecting a book cover design, authors must consider how their book is used and the utility of the choice of cover and their own printing costs as well as the cost that the market can afford and how customers will see the cover. Below is a summary of the guidelines to choose an appropriate book cover for self-publishers.
Hardcover: If you're writing your first novel and you are planning to publish your first book, it is recommended to limit your expenses to a minimum until you are certain that your book will succeed, therefore you should opt for a paperback rather than an hardcover book. There are exceptions to this policy. The hardcover book is usually the best option for:
Children's Books: Because children can be unruly with their books, these covers can provide the book with more endurance.
Cookbooks are ideal for hardcover books because they can be laid flat on counters in the kitchen to make it easy to reference when cooking.
Hardcover Coffee Table Books are much easier to carry than paperback ones because coffee table books typically are bigger than the standard dimension of about 6x9 inches or even smaller that are used in the majority of paperback books.
The majority of nonfiction books and novels are best as paperbacks It is also worth asking yourself what value customers will see within the text. What is the importance of your book and how important will readers consider it? In putting aside your own ego and recognizing that your readers will not going to put the same importance on your romance novel like they would if you wrote the biography about Mark Twain. The kind of cover you select will be a message to the reader and tell him the importance of your subject. Keep in mind that readers will evaluate a book based on its cover.
Another benefit of an hardcover book is the volume of "selling" text you can add to the book. You can print a beautiful attractive hardcover book with no dust jacket, which means that the front and back materials is the same as when you had printed on a paperback. But, the majority of hardcovers come with dust jackets that allows for additional text that can be printed onto the jackets. A great way to print text on the dust jacket is to cover the back with reviews you've received from experts or other authors in your area of expertise. The inside flap should include the description of your work that could even be affixed to the inside flap of your back. The back flap on the inside can be used to provide an introduction to the author, as well as an image of the author in color. The more space you have for text will mean more space to promote your book to a prospective readers.
However, if you're like me, then you might find that the dust jacket irritating while reading the book. I tend to take off the dust jacket as I read, however, when readers do this it's not a problem after the book is sold.
The past was when decisions on a book's cover was an established pattern among traditional publishers. Many of the big traditional publishers would publish a book in hardcover. Then, after a while the paperback version would be released. This was done due to a number of reasons. A brand new book, particularly written by a well-known writer is a sought-after object. First editions of hardcover books was one to cherish and was typically high-end and designed to be visually appealing, with dust jackets. For those who wanted to keep a book for the duration of their lives would buy a book with a hardcover. However, not everyone could afford books in hardcover which is why a less expensive paperback for mass-market readers will soon follow. Based on the worth the reader thought the book could bring to them, they may decide to buy the hardcover instead or they could wait to purchase the paperback. In the instances where the hardcover didn't sell well and the paperback edition not ever published.
Since the publishing world has evolved over the past few years, more publishers are now putting out only paperback versions of books that are not believed to be that valuable in the long run specifically in genre books such as romance novels or mysteries. This is a way to save the publisher money as well as making the books accessible to a wider audience who may not have spent the same price for a hardcover version of an intriguing novel that could be read in one or two hours.
Since self-publishing has become very popular, and also because traditional publishing houses are struggling to stay financially viable increasingly more books are printed in paperbacks since it's the cheapest option. But, hardcover books are still preferred for major publications by conventional publishers and self-published authors can are also choosing hardcover books frequently in addition to, but not always in lieu of paperbacks book covers.
When selecting a book cover design, authors must consider how their book is used and the utility of the choice of cover and their own printing costs as well as the cost that the market can afford and how customers will see the cover. Below is a summary of the guidelines to choose an appropriate book cover for self-publishers.
Hardcover: If you're writing your first novel and you are planning to publish your first book, it is recommended to limit your expenses to a minimum until you are certain that your book will succeed, therefore you should opt for a paperback rather than an hardcover book. There are exceptions to this policy. The hardcover book is usually the best option for:
Children's Books: Because children can be unruly with their books, these covers can provide the book with more endurance.
Cookbooks are ideal for hardcover books because they can be laid flat on counters in the kitchen to make it easy to reference when cooking.
Hardcover Coffee Table Books are much easier to carry than paperback ones because coffee table books typically are bigger than the standard dimension of about 6x9 inches or even smaller that are used in the majority of paperback books.
The majority of nonfiction books and novels are best as paperbacks It is also worth asking yourself what value customers will see within the text. What is the importance of your book and how important will readers consider it? In putting aside your own ego and recognizing that your readers will not going to put the same importance on your romance novel like they would if you wrote the biography about Mark Twain. The kind of cover you select will be a message to the reader and tell him the importance of your subject. Keep in mind that readers will evaluate a book based on its cover.
Another benefit of an hardcover book is the volume of "selling" text you can add to the book. You can print a beautiful attractive hardcover book with no dust jacket, which means that the front and back materials is the same as when you had printed on a paperback. But, the majority of hardcovers come with dust jackets that allows for additional text that can be printed onto the jackets. A great way to print text on the dust jacket is to cover the back with reviews you've received from experts or other authors in your area of expertise. The inside flap should include the description of your work that could even be affixed to the inside flap of your back. The back flap on the inside can be used to provide an introduction to the author, as well as an image of the author in color. The more space you have for text will mean more space to promote your book to a prospective readers.
However, if you're like me, then you might find that the dust jacket irritating while reading the book. I tend to take off the dust jacket as I read, however, when readers do this it's not a problem after the book is sold.