Turn a swarm of concepts into a cover that sells. In this hands-on session, Kristin Johnson will share the playbook she used to run a 99designs contest that produced a professional cover—and helped sell 13,000+ copies of her middle grade book.
You’ll learn how to:
- Write a brief that attracts top designers (genre cues, comps, must-avoid elements)
- Set up your contest for quality: budget, timeline, blind vs open, guarantees
- Give feedback like a pro—clear, constructive, and creative without micromanaging
- Manage rounds: shortlist fast, run reader polls, and iterate to a winning design
- Judge with data: thumbnail test, retailer mockups, series and audio considerations
- Lock down deliverables: source files, licensing, rights, and print/ebook specs
- Dodge common pitfalls: vague direction, scope creep, stock lookalikes, too many cooks
Leave with templates, checklists, and the confidence to run a contest that lands a standout, sales-driving cover.
Indie Author Training Speaker Series
A Talk by Kristin Johnson
HeySummit
11am CDT Wednesday 26 November
Bring your questions, and I look forward to seeing you on the call!
Karen Guyler
Indie Author Training