Help Me Pick Out My New Book Cover

by Jeff Goins | 242 Comments | Twitter, Facebook, Google+

I just heard from my publisher last week. My first book is coming together well, but I need your help in deciding a few things.

Before we do that, though, I want to share with you the full title. The book will be called Wrecked: When a Broken World Slams into Your Comfortable Life (Moody Publishers).

It’s about how people’s paradigms change due to exposure to pain and brokenness and how that shapes their faith in God and understanding of the world.

The following are four mockups — each of which are very different treatments of the title and concept.

Concept #1

Concept #2

Concept #3

Concept #4

If you’d like to help me pick a cover, answer the following questions (fill out the form below):

We’ll take your feedback into consideration as we decide on the final design. Thanks for being willing to help. Your answers will remain confidential.

Feel free to share more in the comments: Which book cover did you like and why?

← Finding Truth in Fiction: The Power of Creative Storytelling

Yes, You Can Publish a Book (Here’s How) →

About the Author

Jeff Goins

I help people tell better stories and make a difference in the world. I live in Tennessee with my wife and dog. Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

Stephen Taylor

Jeff, I have to go with the turtle and my wife likes the wrecking ball. The wrecking ball is good, just not as eye catching as the turtle.

The turtle begs thought and discussion as to what turned him upside down and how that relates to my life.

Perfect if you ask me.
http://twitter.com/rickwhogan Rick Hogan

I like the wrecking ball the best but perhaps the ball can be turned into the earth and use a much heftier rope or go medieval and use with a chain
http://twitter.com/ashmariedean Ashleigh Dean

I chose #4 because I like the colors and the font the best. The turtle might cause me to pick it up at first, but then I think I would just move on. I like the brick wall because it looks “wrecked”ish. I don’t know how this would work, but if the word “wrecked” was somehow more incorporated into the picture – that might be cool (or maybe now. Who knows.). I do like the wrecking ball, but it isn’t wrecking into anything or causing any damage. The brick wall is a solid image (literally and figuratively).
http://www.WalkingTheText.com/ Brad Gray

Jeff, I like Concept #1 the best. One suggestion … have the wrecking ball be cracked. The image is about brokenness wrecking into one’s life. Why not the image of the wrecking ball also embody the idea of brokenness? Furthermore, makes the wrecking ball more unique.
http://www.riatarded.wordpress.com/ ria

I love the first one! The turtle is a close second.

The second is too cluttered and makes me cringe.

The 4th is very teenager-ish but it could work if you changed the font of the word Wrecked.

Good luck Jeff! Can’t wait to read your book!
http://www.turningthepage.info/ Barry Pearman

wrecking ball. It speaks of the suddenness of the discovery of pain in the world, shattering your perceptions and rose tinted glasses
Stephanie Bolmer

I voted for the wrecking ball, but the turtle is certainly an intriguing image.
Elizabeth Young

I liked the first because it is the simplest. I find in all your writing Jeff you are clear and to the point. This is probably the main reason I follow you and read your work so often. Even if something is wonderful, if I can’t quickly understand it, it wouldn’t get read. Stick with your style and let your words speak for themselves!
Sarah B

#2 for me. As far as catching the eye goes, I think the grittiness of putting actual wreckage on there will draw attention compared to other books on the shelf; it makes it seem more real and helps connect with the poverty and brokenness aspect of the book. The wrecking ball feels like more of a theoretical messing up of life, and the turtle says “stuck” more than wrecked. I also like the concept of #4, but prefer the cleaner look of #2.
Ebony Sonnenberg

I really like the turtle. It conveys a picture of one’s world being turned upside down, rather than destroyed. I believe the former is what the subtitle means to express.
http://twitter.com/jeana_with_a_j jeana

I chose the wrecking ball. Each of the other covers come with some ‘baggage’ that make me think the book is about… (2) Post 9/11 (3) A cutsey chic-lit look at having a good life. (4) Hunter Thompson and a crazy drugged life. It reminds me of the font used in Hunter Thompson’s Biography – Gonzo (http://www.amazon.com/Gonzo-Life-Work-Hunter-Thompson/dp/B001EDFSIQ/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1326914992&sr=8-5)

Now, none of us can approach design completely objectively. And some of the biases I mentioned above may actually be appropriate for the book. The art on the first one seems over simplistic, maybe if the font were different on the 4th one it would be a good choice.

But good luck!! Designing a book cover is tricky business.
http://twitter.com/calinvalean Calin

I chose pic no 1, but it is not the best solution. I would go for something more damaged and if possible the sign of damage to be generated by something obtrusive.
http://www.topcoach.ca/ Aldo E Moller

Wrecking ball stands out to me… it goes along the line of the book
http://youronline.biz/ Jacko

The turtle.

I don’t I need to say anymore do I?
http://blog.ashleypichea.com Ashley Pichea

The turtle was cute, but didn’t get the point across, I didn’t think. #1 was definitely the cleanest look, yet was right on point.
Susan Mires

I picked the wrecking ball because it seems the most finished. But I like #2 as well, especially if you’re targeting a male audience. The turtle looks like a self-published (sorry!) book that anybody could do. The brick wall has a youth-y feel.
http://www.andytraub.com/ Andy Traub

Jeff, just voted. FYI, you can change the confirmation message we see after we finish the Google Survey. Email me if you want me to show you how. Found you through Hyatt. He’s a good man isn’t he!?
Tanya

I liked the turtle. It made me giggle and pay attention. The others seem like more of the same ‘ole gloom and doom stories we get every day. The turtle stood out as unique, light, and worthy of contemplation.

The ball and chain would be my second choice because it’s a clean simple look. I think the person who suggested the globe with a crack had a good idea.

Congrats! Hope that helps.
Renee

Aloha Jeff
Sea turtles (honu) are endangered. It’s offensive that someone would purposely turn an innocent turtle on it’s back for a photo op. #2 & #4 are too busy. #2 the pics are distracting as I try to figure out what they are, rather than focus on the title.
http://rachturner.wordpress.com/ RachTurner

The wrecking ball is my choice, but needs to be cleaned up a bit. I think the image could be more powerful. The turtle just makes me laugh – but wouldn’t make me buy the book.
Kelly Guo

I like the turtle best. That looks like the cover of a book I’d pick up.

The fourth one makes me think of young adult fiction novels for some reason, and I think a wrecking ball is just a tad bit cliché/obvious when it comes to things crashing into things and knocking them down. The second cover just confused me for a while. At first glance I thought it was a natural disaster-stricken area, but upon closer inspection it appears to be metal squished into cubes? It’s just not very interesting.
Stephanie Hilliard

To me the wrecking ball, while not as innovative as the turtle, is clean, simple, and really conveys the message in a powerful way that made me want to read the rest of the book more than the other three covers.
http://shewritesandrights.blogspot.com Bethany Suckrow

I realllllly dislike the turtle cover. I find it plain awful and totally awkward. If you’re talking marketable, I think the last one is the best. But I also like something about the simplicity of the first one, although I would go with a sans serif font for the title.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

thanks, Bethany. interesting. people either love him or hate him (the tortoise, I mean).

http://twohourblogger.com Martyn Chamberlin

Concept #3 is by far the best. I love that one!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

hah! thanks.

Marieke

I prefer the first one because there is more action on it. I like how the wrecking ball goes well with the title and verb “slam” in the subtitle.
I didn’t like the turtle one at all. I find it too passive and it makes me think of people wanting to hurt animals.

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001124542537 Linda Maupin Neal

“Passive.” That was the word I would have used to describe the turtle, had it come to me when I posted my comment here. Well said…

Debra

I was torn between the wrecking ball and the turtle, but I think that the turtle is more eye-catching and speaks to the issue of shifting paradigms and turning your world “upside down.”
Eileen H

I would pick the turtle one. It’s simple but eye catching. If I walk past it in a bookshop I would wonderful what happen to the turtle and what is the message behind an upside down turtle. Concept # 1 is also simple but not innovative enough. Other concepts to me are too complicate to be eye catching.
Steve Goble

Emotionally, people relate to animals and the wrecking ball is too much of a cliche relating to the title. Looking forward to reading it when it comes out…regardless of the cover!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

thanks, Steve!

http://thomasmarkzuniga.com TMZ

Turtle for the simplicity angle, brick wall for the slightly flashier angle. I love both, but ultimately voted for the brick wall. Can’t wait to see what you settle on, and to read it!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

thanks, man!

Phorn

Make the ball on concept 1 a globe
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001124542537 Linda Maupin Neal

The wrecking ball is by far the best. Reasons already mentioned by others. I think it would look better with a little more color, though. It looks pretty pale. Ummm, like others said, make the wrecking ball a globe, and have one of the world’s oceans (and/or other things) spilling out into the air to depict motion. The turtle, though highly popular, leaves me cold. As an animal lover, it made me wince to see the turtle upside down…kind of hard to get beyond that. It does get your attention, but I think it needs to do more than get your attention; attention-getting in and of itself is not necessarily a good thing–it needs to make sense and visually articulate the message you are putting forth in your title. I agree with the person who said the turtle doesn’t look that in distress; he can easily be righted (depending on his size, of course). Choices 2 and 4 are pretty milktoast. I don’t even get what choice 2 is trying to depict. If you go with number four, by all means, change the font!! Ugh. The “c” in particular looks bad. Beyond that, I don’t get the wall variations… Will definitely be reading your book.
http://profiles.google.com/heatherhart84 Heather Hart

I also like the wrecking ball one. It’s simple, yet powerful.
FranYo

Without reading the other comments to avoid bias, I like them in this order:

#1 – It’s clean, clear, and the wrecking ball is a perfect metaphor for a wreckin’ about to happen.
#3 – The turtle would be a hit for cuteness, but is that the overall impression you’re making? The connotation (to me) is that by reading the title, Wrecked, soon that turtle is gonna be flat in just a couple more…..oops! Too late, too sad.
#4 – Looks wrecked, but a little too close to many other current covers out there to be picked out of the crowd for uniqueness, and interest (some of us really DO pick a book by its cover)
#2 – Waaaaay too busy. My eyes just scan right over it due to the clutter.
Emily

Hey Jeff! These are some great cover design options. Looks like you have lots of comments already… my two cents – I love the last cover design (with the exposed brick / cracking ) – however, I would make one change. Think the text for “Wrecked” should be a more streamline font like in the second or third design (all caps.) Congrats to you!

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

thanks, Emily!

http://www.facebook.com/people/Gwyn-Wiens/1322981191 Gwyn Wiens

I’d like to see the wrecking ball slamming into the background on #4. Still simple visual, but able to see the consequence as well.

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

interesting. thanks, gwen!

Anonymous

I chose the wrecking ball specifically because symbolically it is better known imprint on people’s amygdala which will have more have a lets-pick-this-book-off-the-shelf to see what it is about. Most muggles don’t know what it means to a turtle to be on its back so the transference would be lost and perhaps unrelatable. Some of us are curious and would pick up the book with the Turtle, however, most of us need to be poked in the amygdala. So, Jeff it is really is how reaching you want the book to go–some, or most. Also, the 360 circle has many subconscious ’attractions’ as well.
7thdaylady

About the cover–Please, not the turtle! I would never buy or read a book with that poor turtle on the cover.
Eileen

i like the turtle one! it makes you wonder how to really get back to your feet after you’ve been hit or wrecked. just like you stare at the turtle and wonder how it will be able to turn over itself if someone goes wreck his normal life of climbing on all fours.
7thdaylady

After leaving my comment “Not the turtle!” I read a lot of the others’ selections. What’s with so many people liking an upside down turtle? Where’s our heart? I can’t stand it. Why would that concept for a cover ever come about, and who would want to turn a turtle upside down? and then take a picture? I can only hope whoever did had the heart to turn it right side up again. Sorry, but this touches a raw nerve in my soul.
DouglasGPratt.com

I like #1 and #3. Ultimately I chose #3 because of the uniqueness.
Anne-Xx

Concept #1 and 3 definitely attract more. But #1 is slightly cold though. :/ Plus I would say the title is ‘hard’ enough, no need to get ‘violent’. In the end, the book has to look like you; and you look pretty warm, simple and smartly funny to me! Look at the top pic of your blog…I don’t see cover #1 through this look
With all my support.
http://christtribe.com/ Bob Holmes

The turtle is cute, but the wrecking ball wrecks! I can hear it slam.
David Cumming

Hi Jeff

I was wanting to know if you designed the covers yourself and if so, what software did you use?

Thanks so much!
PS I chose the first option but they are all brilliant!!
Sherie Cunningham

I chose #4, it is to the point and the title is all the “Graphics” it needs. The others were too busy and the Title got lost.
Scottc

Broken, Slams and Wrecked fits the ball. Looking at the ball w/o reading the title suggests somthing is or has been destroyed.
The second too “junked” up. The third I get the idea, cute but nothing cute about a wrecked life. The last looks more like its poorly maintained.
The ball’s the winner.
Joni

Jeff,
The wrecking ball is the strongest image in my opinion to express when your life is slammed! The turtle is cute not but the image not strong enough, the tools or scaps of materials are too neat and organized. I did like the way the word WRECKED was written on the last one but not of the other kick me in the gut like the wrecking ball.
God Bless,
Joni
Rhonda Ransford

I definitely like number 4 – has energy and emotion and is more modern looking. I am interested in reading your book. Sounds interesting.
Tina B

The turtle is the best one to me. It made me smile and it said to me ‘when your life is completely turned upside down – it’s really difficult’ but the humour conveyed the message to me that it’s ok – you can deal with it (it doesn’t have to be complete devastation what ca’t be repaired)
Felecia Clarke

Firstly, congrats on the publication of your first book! That is awesome and I can’t wait to read it. Secondly, I prefer the wrecking ball because it’s something that smashes into you. I gave the turtle some thought but unless your book is about needing others to get you through – and the back cover shows one turtle helping the upside down turtle (which is necessary or the turtle is dead) – I don’t think it carries the message well enough. Its too hard to determine what the wreckage material is – I needed your explanation. Lastly, you slam into a brick wall – it doesn’t slam into you.
Know you’ll keep us posted on publication date – again – congrats!
Blessings,
Felecia
http://ratiooffailures.blogspot.com/ Kim

The turtle does it for me. All turned upside down and helpless…
http://twitter.com/Brockie23 Brenda Troche

I voted for the turtle, but really liked the wrecking ball, too. The only thing it needed, though, is a splash of color, like the red in #2. Thanks for letting us participate!
http://www.nginaotiende.blogspot.com Ngina Otiende

i love the wrecking ball!

it captures the mind, it’s strong and straight to the point.
http://twitter.com/IDSensitivity CarolinevanKimmenade

definitely the brick wall. the others are too obvious, except for the turtle, which is too random. comfortable life -wall- home also makes sense.
DrLindaTravelute

Wrecking ball…boring.
What’s that on #2? Trash compactor slides? If I had to ask, it doesn’t sell your book.
#4…cool font, but hard to read. And the wall doesn’t look broken, just messy.
The turtle grabbed me right away. You can feel the little guy’s pain immediately. Inside you’re going, that’s me, or at least has been at some point. He even looks like he’s got his arms outstretched grasping for anyone who will help. Yep, the turtle delivers!

Just my humble opinion
Mike Zserdin

No turtle for me Jeff. A bit cliche. Also kind of cutesy which is not what you’re after is my guess. I like the wrecking ball. What if you put a little house with a white picket fence in the lower graphic? Regardless, I like the wrecking ball.
http://byrdmouse.com Jonathan

I love the turtle cover, but it just doesn’t quite fit with the title. The second cover was neat, but a little too busy. The wrecking ball just gets it all and seems to fit well.
Jannah Gee

Concept no. 3, it’s very defining.
PHUONGLE

Pretty good post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I
have really enjoyed reading your blog posts. Any way I’ll be
subscribing to your feed
http://iamconvicted.com Brett Henley

Man – flying along, gotta love that it’s creeping ever closer.

Kudos!
Karan Kamble

I would certainly vote for the brick wall, as I already did in the poll. It portrays something already wrecked and open for anyone to see. Especially, the house-wreck depicts more clearly (can be related by anyone) the idea of ‘pain and brokenness’.

The turtle upside down made me laugh a bit because it looked cute; the 2nd cover is too literal an adaptation of the title. It is as though it says “listen if you don’t believe the title, check the cover!” Whereas, one of the interpretations to the first one is that a pendulum might wreck something, which is against the title – something is wrecked already.
http://godspotting.net Sheila Seiler Lagrand

I chose the wrecking ball. The turtle distracted me…my rescue genes kicked in. Number 4 looks weathered, but still standing (a good thing…), not wrecked.

The palette and italics in number 2 didn’t attract me.
William Burnett

Sorry to say, none of these combinations work for me.
The turtle is an excellent graphic that fits well with the subtitle but doesn’t fit the main title. Maybe Turtled as a title?
The wrecking ball fits the title but doesn’t fit the subtitle. How many of your intended readers have ever seen a wrecking ball?
The wall is just visual noise.
Anonymous

The turtle has its home on its back. This looks like your life is in a spin! Slowly! But I do like the colours on the wall.
Moriah

I would only pick up #4 off the bookstore shelf. the turtle made me a little sad actually.
Adam’s Eve

Personally I looked at what would jump off the bookshelf to me.

The 1st one the wrecking ball was too generic in my opinion.

The 2nd too confusing of a cover. I couldn’t figure out what it was until I looked at the voting options.

The 3rd just made me laugh, but didn’t actually draw me to the title of the book which is more important in my opinion. I may be tempted to pick up this one, but might be less likely to take it seriously.

I like the 4th one with the brick wall. It’s simple. It highlights the important words and the author’s name isn’t huge. Honestly, I like when I have to search for the author’s name a little. It’s my way of knowing I love the book and want to read books by the author and haven’t been bombarded by it in the first place. As a writer, I’m not selling myself; I’m promoting an idea. I want the people to remember the idea and in turn, look for other works by myself than for people to remember me but not the idea. And in this case the idea is “WRECKED! broken world vs. comfortable life.” And personally hitting a brick wall would leave me wrecked.
Adam’s Eve

there’s more beneath the surface of #4 too, unlike the other ones. it gets at a deeper point.
Natalie Timoshova, Ukraine

I think this tutle in trouble feels the same that people wrecked with the world, circumstances, losses, grief and pain feel. So this cover shows the result of the process depicted on the 1st cover. I think the choice should be made in terms of initial idea of what exactly do you want people to think about: reason, process or consiquences. sorry if I’ve made mistakes, English is a foreign language to me
Natalie Timoshova, Ukraine

I think this turtle in trouble feels the same that people wrecked with
the world, circumstances, losses, grief and pain feel. So this cover
shows the result of the process depicted on the 1st cover. I think the
choice should be made in terms of initial idea of what exactly do you
want people to think about: reason, process or consiquences. sorry if
I’ve made mistakes, English is a foreign language to me
me again

I meant “consequences”
Jennyboltprice

#4
had the most “impact” as i saw it. it meant what it said.
http://www.ricardobueno.com Ricardo Bueno

#3 first and then #4. I think the tagline before the title is good…or at least, it catches my attention a little bit better for some reason.
Charmainetdavis

I like the brick wall, but not the font for “wrecked.”
Gracie

Concept 4 really brings to mind Ralph Steadmen’s work with Hunter S. Thompson (The print for the title “Wrecked”, specifically) & I don’t think that’s what you’re going for.
http://www.twitter.com/johncade John Cade

The turtle is epic & unforgettable. Not cheesy. But Classy. Plus, blog commenters everywhere often say “I like turtles”. Listen to them…
http://www.twitter.com/johncade John Cade

I like turtles. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMNry4PE93Y

http://goinswriter.com/ Jeff Goins

as do i. thanks, John.