Dear Author,
Your cover image is the first impression of your story. A good cover can attract readers, increase clicks, and make your story look more professional.
Here are some simple guidelines to help you select or create a better cover image for your Pratilipi story.
- 1
Keep the Design Simple and Clear
More than 90% of Pratilipi readers read stories on mobile phones. Since covers look small on mobile, use a simple design that is easy to understand at first glance.
- 2
Use Bright and Attractive Colours
Vibrant colours can quickly catch a reader's attention. Make sure the background and title font have good contrast, so the story title is easy to read.
- 3
Match the Cover With Your Story's Emotion
Your cover should show the main emotion of your story. For romance, show love or friendship; for horror, use dark and suspenseful effects; for drama, show strong emotions or conflict.
- 4
Use Characters Carefully
Adding one or more characters on the cover can work well if it matches the story. Real people's faces or expressive characters can help readers understand the mood of your story quickly.
- 5
Learn From Other Book Covers
Check online or visit a bookstore to see what kind of covers attract you. Look at covers from your genre and understand their common elements, colours, fonts, and style.
- 6
Use Copyright-Free Images
Do not use images randomly from the internet. Always use copyright-free images or create your own design to avoid copyright issues.
- 7
Avoid Explicit or Unsafe Images
Do not use explicit, vulgar, or sensitive images as cover images. Pratilipi does not allow such covers, and they may be detected and removed by the system.
- 8
Use Design Tools
You can use simple design tools to create better covers:
- Canva: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.canva.editor
- Bing: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.bing
- 9
Use Copyright-Free Image Websites
You can find free images from these websites:
- Pixabay: http://pixabay.com/
- Unsplash: http://unsplash.com/
- 10
Final Message
A good cover should be simple, attractive, readable, and connected to your story. When your cover clearly shows the mood of your story, readers are more likely to open it and start reading.
Happy writing!
— Team Pratilipi