A book cover is a distillation.
It is a haiku of the story.
— Chip Kidd

Hi, I'm Lucy and I'm here to try to make your cover experience less of a hassle. ( The keyword is try.) Whether you make your own or are trying to request one — these tips could be helpful to everyone.

Book covers are difficult. Between finding the right designer and knowing what you want, it all gets overwhelming. So here are a few things to consider when thinking about a book cover. 

Note: If you are trying to publish a book or are making covers for books that will be published. Make sure all elements used on the cover — images/stock, fonts, software — are free for commercial use or have been bought with a license to avoid legal issues.

Disclaimer: This is in no way a manifesto or rule book for anyone who might take it that way. It's just some some ideas and concepts you can start with when planing or thinking about what you want from your book cover.