The person who said “a picture is worth a thousand words” had clearly not met an author who buys pre-made book covers.
In case you’re unfamiliar with the term, a pre-made book cover is one that a designer has made without being commissioned by an author or a publishing house.
It’s a cover that’s waiting to be adopted by an author who will hopefully give it a home.
Normally, a book cover is made based on a story that’s already written or, at least, planned. The author or publishing house will tell the cover artist what the story is about, and the artist will work off of that. They’ll make sure that the book cover fits the existing story and appeals to readers who are looking for that kind of story.
It’s like having an outfit made to measure.
But sometimes, designers make book covers without being commissioned. They’ll use the best of their skill to create artwork that fits with popular book genres, and lay these story-less covers out for sale. It’s a good source of extra income for the artists and can also be an excellent deal for authors. That’s because pre-made covers are often much cheaper for an author than getting bespoke artwork done. Especially if the cover designer normally charges top dollar for their commissioned work.
In other words, with pre-mades, an author can often get a “Bugatti” cover for a “Kia” price.
The downside is the cover is sold as-is. The only thing the artist will change on a pre-made cover are things like the title, series name, and author name.
There are Facebook groups which are marketplaces where designers offer pre-made covers for sale. The covers are often so enticing that authors like me grab them “just in case” we ever need them, even if we don’t yet have a novel to go with the cover. Some of my author friends and I often tease each other over the pre-made covers we’ve bought on impulse but are yet to use. I put the brakes on my pre-made cover hoarding when I hit ten of them. It’ll take me years to write enough stories to use them up!
I love looking at my pre-made covers and letting my imagination run wild. Who are these people? What is their story? Why is he looking at her like that? What’s that in the background? And thus a novel is born.
The story of Home Town Melody was inspired by a pre-made book cover.
My upcoming new series, Rhapsody of Grace, began because I saw a set of three pre-made covers that were too gorgeous to resist. I had no story in mind, but they sparked so much inspiration that I knew I would not fail to find a tale worthy of them. The three covers each had a man playing a guitar, surrounded by bright lights. So I knew they would have to be musicians.
I’m now well underway with the first book in a series about three brothers who have a contemporary Christian music band. God willing, the first book will release in July. This picture was worth way more than a thousand words to me—probably more than 50 or 60,000. And the story that it sparked is shaping up to be one of my favourite of my books so far.
What do you think about the concept of pre-made book covers being like “ready-to-wear” outfits for authors? And, for authors, have you ever used a pre-made cover?
Here’s more about Home Town Melody, the first book in Rhapsody of Grace.
Everything is at stake when a Christian recording artist learns he fathered a child during a one-night stand.
It was just one lapse in self-control, one poor decision, one night when he was in a dark place.
Since then, Levi Falconer has done his best to move past that almost-forgotten illicit encounter. No one knows what he did, and he and his brothers are bringing their contemporary Christian music band back together for a long-awaited reunion album. But he’s about to learn that his night of forbidden passion resulted in a little boy.
Highschool dropout Adria Baines got her real education from the school of hard knocks. After aging out of foster care, she’s no stranger to struggles. She planned on making her own way, even after a surprise pregnancy. But when she runs out of options, she realizes she’ll have to do the one thing she swore she’d never do: get help from the father of her child.
Levi and Adria never should have met. But their lives are on a collision course once again as they learn how God can transpose the broken chords of their mistakes into a beautiful melody.
I write fiction that reflects my Christian faith. I love happy endings, heroes and heroines who discover sometimes hard but always vital truths, and stories that uplift and encourage. My family and I live in the east of England where we enjoy rambling in the countryside, reading good books and making up silly lyrics to our favorite songs.
I think it is neat that a pre-made cover could spark a book or even a series. I used to be able to see a cover and remember if I had read the book. Now I can’t do that because some of the covers belong to several authors and their different books. Keeps me on my toes.
Plus authors often swap covers out, which can make it tricky to keep track of what you have and haven’t read! Thanks for your comment, Lori.
I’ve always found the idea of pre-made covers fascinating. I design my own covers, but after my first novel, I started making my covers before writing. It does help me visualize, but I haven’t ever started from scratch. Usually, I have the story in my head, design the cover based on that, then use the cover for characterization. Very interesting topic!
I’m a cover designer and create my own covers before I write the books that go with them. Right now, I have an image in my head of a cover I want to make for myself, but I’m already working on other writing projects, so it has to stay in my head for a while. If I make the cover, I’ll be tempted to move that book to the top of the pile!
Since I want to focus on my writing, I’m stepping back from designing, but will still make premades from time to time. It’s a great creative outlet that is different enough from writing to give me a break from it.
Oh my what a beautiful blurb! The cover looks great too. Initially I didn’t understand about premade covers. A friend had to explain it to me when suddenly I saw four books with the same cover, what???? I think it’s a great idea for both sides, but it can be confusing when the cover is used for multiple stories.
I think it’s great that a cover could spark a story, and the story sounds great!!! As a reader, I’ve learned NOT to judge a book by the cover! I did judge This Present Darkness that way, until a little sticker appeared that said you could get a full refund if you didn’t like the book!! It’s one of my all-time favorites now!! A friend and I had gone on a weekend trip, and a florist made a delivery of flowers to the B & B we were staying at, so I made up a whole story for my friend about why the husband (I guessed) bought them for his wife. The next morning at breakfast, a young couple sat our table, and I got the real story behind the flowers! My made up story was almost as good as the truth, and was actually kind of close!
This was very interesting to read. I knew authors used stock photos for covers (and have seen the same picture on several different books), but I had not yet heard of pre-made covers! I liked reading how the covers have sparked the series for you, and just pre-ordered the first book.
Wow, you’re incredibly talented to design your own covers! That’s amazing.
It’s so interesting to hear from the perspective of a cover designer who also writes! Thanks for your comment, Elle. Do you have a story in mind when you make premades for other authors?
Hi, Dianne! Wow, that was strange that the same premade was used for many books! Most reputable designers will assure the authors that they won’t re-sell the cover. I feel bad that that happened.
Wow, what an experience with the flowers, Trudy! Isn’t it amazing what can spark our imaginations? This Present Darkness is one of my absolute favourite books, too, which I’ve read many times. But the cover definitely doesn’t do it justice.
Aw, thank you so much, Margaret!
It’s a really attractive cover and I’m glad it sparked your imagination to create a 3-book series!
I like that this option exists for authors. I remember seeing some of them from a couple of people I follow (one is an author who is also a designer, and the other is the daughter of an author.)
Also, your story sounds so intriguing! Can’t wait!
I didn’t know about pre-made book covers before this article, very interesting. I think as long as the cover is eye catching/ nice, it doesn’t matter if it’s pre-made or not. What a nice bonus if you can make up a story or stories after getting pre-made book covers!
Interesting Idea. I know as a quilter, I like to have my pattern in what it will look like when finished. So all I have to do is pick out the fabrics and/or tweak it a little bit.
Good morning, wow, I really like the pre made covers! It brings to mind when I was in elementary school and our teacher would put a random picture up on the chalkboard once a week and she would ask us to write a story about it, I really loved doing this. Each one of us in our class would write a story about it and so many different stories were written about what we thought about what was happening in the picture or the story behind it. Congratulations on your new book , it sounds Great and I love your book cover. Have a great day and a great weekend.
Thanks so much, Laurie!
Thanks, Priscila! Yes, it’s wonderful how all these new industries are cropping around to support authors and help us get our books out.
Thanks, Joannie! Premade covers are so much fun! I love just looking at all of mine and daydreaming. :-)
Thanks for your comment, Lori. I just love the huge array of ways God has gifed us with creativity. Quilts are a wonderful art form.
Thanks, Alicia! I would absolutely have loved that kind of work in elementary school! And I can well imagine every child’s story being completely unique.
I sometimes think a fun project for an anthology would be to give authors the same picture or prompt and ask them to write stories based on that.
Have a lovely weekend, too!
This is so interesting, I had no idea premade covers existed. I have to confess, I’m not really one for covers – I think I’m not a very visual person, I can never ‘picture’ characters or scenes that I read and I’m not really one for photos even of family, so I don’t pay much attention to covers, especially on e-readers (I feel bad saying this as I know from other blogs here how much work and thought goes into covers, I really don’t mean any criticism with these comments).
I think it’s amazing you could come up with a whole series inspired by cover art! It’s also really interesting to here there are writers who design their own covers, and people who produce cover art AND write. You are all very talented.
Aw, thanks, Ruthie! I love having a jumping off point for my imagination.
And your comments don’t come off as criticism at all; I was reading an interesting article the other day about how people visualise things when they’re reading or writing. There’s a spectrum from those who imagine things like a movie in their heads, while others struggle to picture anything.
I couldn’t find the exact article I read, but this one describes the same phenomenon. It’s fascinating! https://www.verywellmind.com/why-some-people-can-visualize-better-than-others-5189694
That’s so interesting to learn about! I never knew there was such a thing as pre-made book covers.
I cannot tell you how much I agree with everything you said about the premade covers. Some are absolutely gorgeous, and I want to purchase them to get ideas for my next story. I just filtered through thousands of covers and found the perfect couple and setting for my debut novel. It was a Godsend!
Hi, Elizabeth! And thank you! It was a real eye-opener for me when I found out they existed. I love browsing when the designers have premade cover sales even though I’m not actively looking for something.
Hey, Kelly Jo. Congratulations on your upcoming debut! And, yes, they are so inspiring. I’m so glad you found a cover you loved. I wish I’d known about premades when I was just starting out. You’re way ahead of the game!
I am fine with premade covers as long as it matches the story.
I think its a fun idea. Would be good if you have ideas of stories and the covers speak to you. Its also great to be able to save some money.
I have learned a lot in the last year or two about covers, as well as, writing and publishing a book. I did not realize all of the work and all of the people involved in bringing a story to life.
I think it is great that authors can get premade covers and save some money. Also, it undoubtedly sparks some really good stories like the one you are working on now. I want to add this book to my “books of imterest” list.
Thank you for the education. ❤😊
Hey, Cherie! Thanks for your comment. It’s definitely much easier to match the cover to the story if an author gets the cover early in the process. Much more difficult if the story is already written and they get a pre-made that may or may not quite fit.
Thanks for your comment, Jenny! It’s so much fun to let cover art inspire a story. And every saved penny is a big plus.
Aw, thank you, Bonnie! Pre-mades have been such a blessing to me and many other authors.
Great way to be inspired to write
I love a lot of the premade covers that I have seen. If an author purchases a cover that they feel they can use to write a story that the cover can be used , I think it is a great idea. It is a win/win for both of you. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
It really is, Katrina! Thanks for your comment.
Thanks, Debra! God bless you, too.
I did not use premade covers as you describe them, but I have a painter friend who allows me to use his paintings on the covers of my books which fit. And often I was sure what painting to use (or what photo, for a few of them, done by another friend) before actually writing the book…
I like the idea of pre-made covers inspiring a story, and I also like the idea of someone already having the perfect story and then a perfect pre-made cover appearing as if it was made for them :)
Wow, that’s so special, Marina! How wonderful that you’re able to use artwork like that.
I’m sure that’s also happened sometimes, Milica! Thanks for your comment.
Thanks Milla, I will have a read.
I think that’s really great that a pre made cover can inspire a writer to come up with a storyline to write a book or a series. I wish I had that type of imagination!
Thanks, Cindi!
You’re welcome!
As someone who wants to pick a paint color simply because I like the name, I definitely have to avoid these book cover sites… (Why’d you paint your kitchen black? Well, it was called rich onyx and I couldn’t resist the name :)
This is so fun, though, and congratulations on your new series! Love the cover, by the way :)
Jennifer, you made me laugh out loud! And rich onyx is a great name! :-D
nice cover
I wasn’t familiar with this concept before reading your post, but it sounds like a great option for authors.
I never knew that, about pre-made novel covers. It makes sense though, and could definitely spark a book idea!
Thank you!
It really is, Jessica B! I only wish I’d found out about it earlier. Thanks for your comment.
Thanks for your comment, Megan! Yes, it’s a growing cottage industry, and a blessing for both authors and designers.
Hahaha – the power of words. Not 10 minutes after I read your blog, I was reading my daily devotions from John 7 and read 7:24 “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgement.”
I nearly fell out of my chair. Our books ARE judged on their appearance – it was almost like God placed that verse in my path for a bit of irony and a sweet reminder…
On a different note, you are a new to me author. And, I like to ask new to me authors to tell me the title of their favorite book. Because, even as authors, we can have favorites, right? So, would love it you would tell me the title of your current favorite (that you authored), especially if it’s on KU.
Have a lovely Monday,
Jennifer
I think that premade covers can be fun. But what is always interesting is when I see the same couple on different book covers. However, I do love this cover!
I guess pre made covers could be inspiration for authors, but I imagine they could also be a challenge to craft the story in a way that the cover reflects. I think if I was writing I might feel stifled in some ways by a premade cover.
I don’t mind pre-made covers, what I’m struggling with is when authors “upgrade” covers… so hard to tell if I read the book already.
That happens very often, Angeline! And it’s hard to avoid when many authors and cover designers use the same pool of stock photos. The number of times I’ve seen “my” couples on other author’s books… I used to cringe, but now I just shrug, haha. Thanks so much for your comment!
Thanks for your comment, Martha! Creativity definitely works in so many different ways.
I get what you mean, Natalya. I’m glad Goodreads often keeps a record of the covers a book has had, for that very reason.
That’s hilarious, Jennifer! Yes, God does know well our tendency to judge by appearance!
All of my novels are wide. It’s so hard to choose a favourite. Maybe Through the Blaze?
I do have one novella that’s in an anthology on KU, although it’s women’s fiction. The anthology is called A Thrill in the Air, published by the Mosaic Collection, and it’s currently a Selah Awards finalist!
Looking them up now – thank you!
I’ve never heard of this before! It makes sense though and if it inspires a story, why not go for it?
Thanks, Melynda! It’s one of those things not well known unless you stumble upon it within some writing circles.