Friday, September 30, 2005

Crafty TV Writing cover

What do you think, guys? Would you buy this book?

Please let me know what you think about this cover. Seriously. You like, you don't like... you are my core readership, so let me know your honest reactions.

(And please let me know now, as if there's anything you don't like about it, I have to convince my editor, and she'll have to convince the graphic design people at Holt!)

2:53 PM

12 Comments:

If that's exactly as the book cover is expected to appear on bookshelves, then my answer is no. Sorry, Alex. I've been a graphic designer and marketing strategist for many years, and this design just doesn't cut it with me.

Be careful with the use of red type and that semi TV Guide-looking graphic. One of my former clients, Larry Brody, was threatened with a lawsuit by TV Guide magazine last year because he used an almost identical graphic and red type.

By  Kelly J. Crawford, at 3:14 PM  

Gotta agree with Kelly on this one. Too close to TV Guide's very recognizable trademarked logo.

Go with something that is similar to your previous book, but geared to TV and in a slightly different color scheme. How about a bunch of folks crowded around the set watching TV? Instead of red, a blue cover? It's going on the shelf next to Crafty Screenwriting so why not make it a companion?

By  Cunningham, at 4:09 PM  

Funny you should mention that, Bill. My idea was a blue cover, with a TV set, with the words "your name here" on the TV set. I like your idea of people in the photo actually watching the tv. That's even better.

By  Alex Epstein, at 4:13 PM  

I've got to agree with the others. If this is the final cover art then you are sure to miss sales simply because it is too bland. Red does not mean dynamic if that is all there is to it. The lettering is too stock and reminiscent of fifties' style advertising. The book is about modern screenwriting and not about a history of TV but the cover has a retro feel to it. It will definitely get lost and if I know bookstore staff, mis-shelved.
I would suggest that you keep the basic layout of the first book, use a blue or green screen colour background and have a great big modern flatscreen TV on the bottom with the silhouettes of several heads- (mixed ages and types). The modern big screen TV will mimic the movie theatre frontage of the first cover but with enough difference to make the point. Use "your show here" instead of "your name here" and that should bring the point home.

By  Hawise, at 6:09 PM  

As a business student I have to agree with kelly and bill. You should follow Bill's advice of making it a companion (design-wise) to the first Crafty book. THis will help people associate the two, can help improve the sales between them, and satisfy customers who own both. (People care... just look at the hullabaloo that was caused when fox changed the Simpson's dvd set design... *whew*).

Just like in TV, continuity between the two books will help association... Just my two cents

By  Jason Sanders, at 6:16 PM  

I wish I could buck the trend here, but alas...

Crafty Screenwriting has a great, mass-market cover, but this is too academic. Too technical, more like a manual than an enjoyable informative read. It's almost begging course directors to include it on their scriptwriting syllabi. Suddenly I'm having flashbacks to ten years ago, wandering around university owned bookstores with a reading list of books that have been out of print for decades.

I don't know what the contents of the book will be, but that's at least one highly subjective opinion to consider.

By  Lee, at 6:22 PM  

Glad to be of assistance.

By  Cunningham, at 7:01 PM  

I agree with Hawise's opinion of what it should be, but want to add why the present design sucks.

It obviously resembles TV Guide, but TV Guide answers the "what" of TV: i.e. what's on.

The book, however, answers the "how" of TV: how shows get made and how you, the reader, can find a place in the biz.

Even if you get away with the TV Guide rip-off, it doesn't represent the book correctly.

By  Webs, at 1:52 AM  

Still unanimous.. I don't like it either.

Why? What they said... all of it.

By  writergurl, at 3:48 AM  

I thought that right away, too close to the TV Guide logo. Glad to see that great minds think alike.

By  PJ McIlvaine, at 9:10 AM  

I can't read.
You people are so cruel.

By  DMc, at 12:15 PM  

Hideous is the only word I can think of for that cover. You want a cover design? I'll give you a cover design. Just check out a sample of what I can do at:

http://bondingwithmyself.blogspot.com

You'll see it right away at the top of the page.

By  Uniquester, at 1:51 AM  

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