@Thinker X, you're right, this would get exponentially more complicated for a major, multi-faceted world with multiple story lines. Luckily my plot line was fairly simple ;)
I posted this on my blog a while back and thought I would post a link to it here in case anyone else finds it helpful.
Basically, I had written out a plotline and a rough first draft and then decided I needed a map. But I had river crossings and travel back and forth across a valley and...
The font is Charlemagne in case anyone's wondering. Very similar to Trajan, but a bit more medieval and not nearly so overused.
PS - I agree with your FB page, I like the second version of the first cover (with the script) over the version with the type between the shadows. I can picture it in...
Sorry... I know you aren't asking for any more input, but I threw this together before I read your last comment.
It's going to be hard to read at a small size, but in this case it would be more the image that catches people's eye. I think you might be better off that way anyway, since it's...
The biggest problem setting words over an image is getting them to not fight! LOL.
So, because there are diagonal lines (the shadows) under the top layer of vertical lines (the type), the reader has to do a bit of deciphering either way. I do think it's more legible with the type at that...
Yep! Looking not too bad :) Now I'd put a bit less space between Shadows of Nadril and the subtitle. You might have to keep playing with the overall spacing of the elements, but keep at it til you're happy - and keep different versions so you can compare changes. Good luck!
I like the one without the firebirds better. They seem a bit out of place and confuse the text.
You could try making Shadows Under a tiny bit smaller, so there's a bit more air around it on the left and right sides, and make Nadril a bit bigger, then close the space a bit between Shadows Under...
If you went with the Collector's truth, I'd try using drop caps for the C and the T - that would move the capital T away from the word Collector's a little bit, so it's closer to the rest of the word Truth. But I must admit The Rage Within fits the picture better...
I think one of the biggest problems that says "amateur" for the cover is the font. It's kind of pixellated - meaning the edges are all jagged. You've got a nice enough background and picture happening; since you've got the type placed the way you want it, maybe it would be cheap enough for a...
I can't speak for anyone else, but here's what I found works for me. I write and edit a lot for my line of work and it's all non-fiction. While this helps with the sentence structure, grammar, etc, it's not the same as crafting fiction. I've had an epic story in mind for at least the last five...