What the Font

by Cindy Layton

There’s an adage that claims you must master the rules - of writing, design, art creation, etc., before you may attempt to break them.

Show don’t tell.

Decorative objects should be grouped in threes.

Choose colors from opposite ends of the color wheel.

I know, I know, there are reasons for these rules. But, in case you haven’t noticed, we’re in a rule-breaking, up-is-down, aliceinwonderlanddoesn’tlivehereanymore, kind of world. I say that gives creatives all kinds of license to do as they please. What’s the worst that can happen?

I bring this up because, in the process of designing a cover for my book I became inundated with the availability of fonts. Yes, fonts inhabit my dreams. At least, the rules for fonts. I was okay when told that 12 point, Times New Roman was required for all manuscripts. I didn’t have a need to go all rogue about it. If that’s what the editors and agents want and they’re going to be anal about it, then no need to call for a revolution.

Then, there was the requirement that short story submissions be styled in Courier font. I’m sorry, but that’s just a horrible looking script. In a nod to tradition, (or fear of rejection) again, the gatekeepers will win. It’s just easier.

However, in formatting my book, it’s up to me to decide what fonts to use. Who knew, though that, like stripes and plaids, some fonts are complementary, and others are not? One’s Sans Serif should never be paired with certain other’s Sans Serif. Prior to last month I had no idea what the difference was between Serif and Sans Serif fonts. 

Some fonts are better suited for certain genres. Some fonts are so out of style they are practically forbidden. Those that might have once been deemed highly desirable in an Anna Wintour kind of way now collect dust in the thrift shop of fonts. One must never use them lest you be singled out as hopelessly out of step. That’s you Comic Sans.

Behind in your style choice of font. Like fanny packs and poodle skirts. Imagine.

There is a rule, should you choose to follow it, that suggests your title be designed in one style and the author name be designed in the other. So, if your title is Sans Serif then the author name should be Serif.

I come from the business world. Things tend to be orderly. Business people rely on continuity and stability. Even in the free-wheeling, chaotic, start-up world people will establish routines. They follow rules.

The biggest surprise coming from business to the creative side is that there are still so many rules! Even about fonts!

I imagined my writing time in a flourish, much the way I imagined painters painted, a splash of blue here, a drop of yellow there, the free flow of intuition, inspiration and spiritual utterance. There would be endless avenues to pursue and choices that would be all mine. I present to you  ee cummings, with his all lower case-ness, to make the point.

Instead, every sentence becomes a lesson in structure, cadence, syntax. Each paragraph is a construct of scene building, character development, and continuity. Each chapter is a furtherance of plot development. Each book is a carefully constructed architecture, adhering to its technical and structural roots. Nothing free flowing about that.

Writing may have its moments of spiritual utterance, but I often wonder if all these rules are not so much steel beams and plywood sub-flooring, but walls and ceilings that block the view. They’ve become obstacles to overcome. I’ve already spent too much time matching my Serif to my Sans Serif.

For those so inclined, here are a few articles that may help explain the rules of fonts.

300 Fool Proof Fonts to Use for Your Book Cover Design by Derek Murphy

Canva offers an app to help match one font to another here.