Let’s be real: We do judge books by their covers. But it doesn’t stop there. Fonts, spacing, layout, chapter headings, back covers—every design element either pulls a reader in or silently urges them to scroll past or set it down.
Think of your book like a storefront. No matter how amazing the products (aka your words) are inside, if the window displays looks thrown together, customers will keep walking. If you’ve ever published—or are about to—you need to know which book design mistakes are red flags for readers and retailers alike.
Let’s break down the 10 biggest book design blunders that could send your sales spiraling, and how you can dodge them like a pro.
1. Using Amateur Cover Design Tools
We get it. Canva and free online editors make DIY look easy. But book covers aren’t social media graphics. A cover created in a generic template screams “self-published rookie.” Your book needs to look like it belongs on a shelf beside traditionally published titles. If your design lacks polish, it won’t matter how brilliant the writing is—people won’t give it a chance.
2. Choosing the Wrong Font
Fonts have personalities. Choosing Comic Sans for a thriller? Instant turnoff. A swirly script for a business book? Confusing. The wrong font distracts readers and gives off the wrong vibe. Also—be careful with font sizes. Too small, and your book is hard to read. Too big, and it looks like you’re padding the page count.
Pro tip: Stick to classic, legible fonts for body text like Garamond or Minion Pro, and let your title font be unique but genre-appropriate.
3. Poor Text Alignment and Justification
Have you ever opened a book and the text was all over the place? Uneven spacing, ragged edges, weird gaps? That’s a clear sign of an amateur layout. Professionally designed books have consistent margins, justified alignment, and careful kerning. Clean layout = effortless reading experience.
4. Neglecting White Space
White space isn’t wasted space—it’s breathing room. Cramped pages full of dense text are overwhelming. Good book design uses spacing to guide the reader’s eyes and create a rhythm. Think of it like music: even the silences matter. Don’t try to fill every inch. Let your words breathe.
5. Inconsistent Chapter Formatting
Imagine reading a book where one chapter starts with a bold heading, the next with italics, and the next in ALL CAPS. Not only is it jarring—it looks unprofessional. Consistency in formatting helps readers stay immersed in the story or message. It’s one of those subtle cues that tells readers, “This book was designed by someone who knows what they’re doing.”
6. Ignoring Print Guidelines
Designing for eBooks is one thing. Designing for print is a whole other beast. You need to know about bleed areas, trim size, spine width, and color profiles. If you don’t, your printed book might come out with weird margins, cut-off text, or distorted images. If you’re going to print, respect the print process.
7. Overloading the Back Cover
Your back cover is your pitch—your final shot to hook a buyer. But so many authors try to cram too much into it. A cluttered back cover with three different fonts, too many blurbs, and a wall of text will scare buyers off. Instead, focus on a sharp, compelling book description, a clean author bio, and a professional layout.
8. Skipping a Professional Interior Layout
Interior design is more than dropping your manuscript into a Word doc and hitting export. Margins, headers, footers, line spacing, and section breaks all play a role in how your book reads. A professional interior layout keeps the reader engaged and makes your book feel premium. Sloppy design? It’s the fastest way to lose credibility.
9. Low-Resolution Images
Nothing screams “DIY disaster” like pixelated images. Whether it’s the cover art or illustrations inside the book, blurry visuals are a huge no-no. Always use high-resolution images—300 dpi for print, minimum. Low-res images might look okay on a screen but will look terrible in print.
10. Forgetting Branding and Genre Expectations
Every genre has design cues. Romance novels, sci-fi epics, business books—they all “look” a certain way. If your book doesn’t fit the mold, it could confuse readers. That doesn’t mean you can’t be creative—it means you need to know the rules before you break them. Branding consistency (fonts, colors, tone) across your series or author platform also builds trust with readers.
So, What Separates Amateurs from Pros?
Design is invisible when it’s done right. A professionally designed book feels effortless to read. It flows. It makes people want to keep turning the pages. Readers may not know exactly what’s “off” about a poorly designed book—but they feel it. And often, they’ll walk away without giving it a chance.
Think of it this way: Your book might be the result of months or years of hard work. Isn’t it worth presenting it in the best possible light?
That’s where expertise comes in.
What Harper Book Writers Knows That DIY Tools Don’t
At some point, every author faces the same question: Should I do it myself or bring in the pros? There’s no shame in rolling up your sleeves and trying it all—but great design isn’t just about having the tools. It’s about knowing how to use them. It’s about experience, an eye for detail, and understanding what actually sells.
At Harper Book Writers, we’ve seen it all—books that had incredible content but were held back by cover choices, awkward layouts, or genre-mismatched design. We've helped authors reimagine their books, not by rewriting them, but by presenting them in a way that commands attention.
We believe your story deserves more than just “good enough.” Whether it’s layout, formatting, or creating that eye-catching cover that stops someone mid-scroll, the right design can elevate your work and set you apart from the crowd.
So, if you’re serious about your book—and your readers—you already know how much first impressions matter. Make sure yours is unforgettable… for all the right reasons.
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