What Makes a Bad Book Cover - And How to Avoid One as an Indie Author

Poorly designed covers can deter readers from checking out your book

Let’s be real: we all judge books by their covers — especially online, where attention spans are short and scrolls are endless.

As indie authors, we pour months (or years) into writing and editing our books. But if the cover doesn’t match the quality inside, it won’t matter. Readers won’t click, won’t sample, and definitely won’t buy. Your story could be your best work yet — but if the cover screams “amateur,” readers will scroll right past it.

I’ve seen it time and time again — not just in the writing community, but in my own early work. And I get it. 

The budget is often tight. We try to DIY. We reuse a template we saw someone else use. We pick a pretty photo we think fits the vibe. But here’s the thing: your book cover isn’t just decoration. 

It’s your most important marketing tool.

So let’s talk about what makes a bad book cover — and how you can avoid these mistakes while still staying true to your brand and budget.

1. Low-Quality or Unedited Images

A blurry photo. A stretched graphic. A stock image you’ve seen on three other book covers. Sound familiar?

Bad visuals are the first sign to a reader that this book might not meet their standards. Unfortunately, many indie authors fall into this trap because they’re working with what’s free or cheap.

But let me ask you this: would you walk into a job interview in wrinkled clothes with a blurry photo on your resume?

Then why launch your book that way?

Avoid:

• Pixelated, stretched, or watermarked images

• Clip art or public domain photos that haven’t been stylized

• Random stock photos that don’t reflect your story’s tone or genre

Do instead:

• Use high-res images that you edit or stylize (or have a designer do it for you)

• Think of the image as storytelling — what emotion or theme does it evoke?

• If you’re not a designer, that’s okay! Use a service like MiblArt, or browse pre-made covers on sites like TheBookCoverDesigner.com

Tip: Search the title of your book on Amazon. If ten other books have the same photo or the same Canva template? Time to rethink.

2. Genre Mismatch

This one’s a silent killer. 

Your cover might look “good” in terms of design… but if it doesn’t match your genre, you’re setting readers up for disappointment.

Genre is a promise. A dark cover with moody lighting signals a mystery or thriller. A bright, pastel palette with curvy fonts suggests rom-com. When a reader sees your cover, their brain is categorizing it in seconds.

Common Mistakes:

• Using elegant serif fonts on YA fantasy instead of bold, stylized type

• Choosing a romantic image for a dystopian thriller

• Making a poetry book look like a cookbook (yes, I’ve seen it)

Instead:

• Go to your category on Amazon and study the top 20 books. What trends do you see?

• Notice common colors, imagery, font styles, and layout

• Don’t try to “stand out” by ignoring genre cues — stand out within your genre by being polished and intentional

Think of your cover like a billboard. A rom-com reader should know instantly that your book is for them , not wonder if it’s horror in disguise.

3. Weak Typography

Typography is often the most overlooked design element — and the most powerful. The title and author name are how readers identify your book. If it’s hard to read, they’ll keep scrolling. If it looks amateur, they’ll assume the writing is too.

Fonts carry emotional weight. And poor font choices — like five different styles on one cover or decorative typefaces that don’t scale — undercut your credibility.

Avoid:

• Fonts like Papyrus, Curlz, Jokerman, or Comic Sans

• Using more than two fonts on one cover

• Titles that blend into the background or aren’t visible as thumbnails

Instead:

• Use fonts that are genre-appropriate (bold sans-serif for thrillers, elegant serif for historical fiction, handwritten styles for cozy romance)

• Prioritize readability at a thumbnail size

• Hire a designer, or use programs like BookBrush or Vellum that offer font-safe design elements

Test your cover by shrinking it to Amazon thumbnail size. Can you still read the title? If not, it needs adjusting.

4. Overcrowded Design

Trying to cram your entire plot into the cover? Don’t.

I know it’s tempting to include every symbol, character, or twist. But a cluttered cover confuses the eye and dilutes your message. The strongest covers are simple, striking, and focused.

Avoid:

• Too many visual elements (dragons, swords, spaceships, AND a couple kissing? Too much)

• Busy backgrounds that compete with text

• Crowded layouts that feel overwhelming

Instead:

• Choose one strong focal point (a face, a silhouette, a symbolic object)

• Let whitespace work for you — it draws attention to what matters

• Ask yourself: What’s the one image that best represents my book’s soul?

5. Doing It All Yourself (Without Design Experience)

Look, I support indie resourcefulness. But designing your own cover without any design training or genre research is like building your own house without blueprints.

It might work… but it might also fall apart.

DIY covers often suffer from all of the above mistakes: bad fonts, wrong genre cues, crowded visuals, and low-quality images. And unfortunately, readers notice.

Instead:

• Hire a cover designer who understands your genre and target audience (many offer affordable rates or pre-made options)

• Budget $50–$300 for a solid cover — it’s an investment, not a splurge

• If you do go DIY, study design principles, use templates built for books, and get outside feedback

Remember: You don’t have to do it all. You have to do it right.

Your Cover Is the Doorway to Your Book

Your book cover is the first impression. The handshake.
The spark of curiosity that gets someone to stop scrolling and start reading.

Bad covers aren’t just about bad design — they’re about missed connections. Readers don’t owe you a second look. You have to earn it.

So treat your book like the professional product it is. Invest in the presentation. Lean into genre. Show readers that your story is worth their time , starting with the cover.

Because no matter how powerful your prose is, the cover is what opens the door.

For more information, see: Updating My Book Covers Increased My Chance of Sales, When Book Sales Aren’t Coming, the Book Cover is Often the Culprit, and Learning Book Cover Market Trends