Is there a generic way to describe popular erotic book covers?

[AG31]

I find them mind-numbinly similar. Anonymous "beautiful" women, unclothed male torsos. (I guess I'm not the only one into impersonality.) I subscribe to some free erotic sites and get e-mails each day. I don't think I've ever found something I wanted to look into... Probably have. Just don't remember. I did a search here for "cover," and there are not money, but the posts I found where people displayed their covers (or wished for covers) were way more imaginative. That's what I had expected. Anyway, ever questing for the right words to describe something, what do you think is going on one erotic e-book covers?

I did get this bit of advice for my Smashword stories. "...you really need to come up with a cover that somewhat pops," Maybe "popping"

My covers are all dark maroon with only the title and author. It's exactly the kind of cover that I would open up, no matter what the title. So I'm content with it, since I'm looking for like-minded people.

Again. How would you describe what's going on?

Aside. Perhaps it's related to the equally mind-numbing practice of putting together stock photographs to show the silhouette of someone in front of a mountain view or haunted house or.... that has taken over the regular fiction market.

 

[RejectReality]

The availability of free and low cost images with non-commercial licenses is far greater, which contributes to the generic nature of the average erotica cover in the marketplace.

 

[TarnishedPenny]

Not trying to be argumentative or mock in any way, but at whom are you aiming these covers? Putting it another way, what purpose do you see them achieving?

I accept that you prefer your format, but I might hazard a guess that the reason there are so many 'predictable' covers is that somebody (more likely multiple somebodies) in the business thinks they will attract more attention.

You may attract like-minded people and that's great, but how big a tranche is that of potential readers/buyers? It's your call, of course and good luck in any case.

 

[lustychimera]

I know exactly what you mean. Bodice ripper is the first thing that pops into my head.

It's a great way to show exactly what kind of story it is at a glance without thy need for tags or a blurb, but it would be great if they'd zoom in just a little bit more to show whatever emotions on the faces of the characters that suits the themes.