STRAWBERRY, HERBIVORE, SNOWFLAKE:
HOW TO MAKE A MAN
COVER DESIGN AND BOOK FORMATTING
CONCEPT
Pixel art style: '90s nostalgia, reflects setting of story
Elements on cover arranged to resemble a face
Use of strong primary colors and black background: contrast and sombre mood
FORMATTING
Font Pairing: Georgia (titles, text) and Avenir Next (subtitles)
Hang Line: 3" from top (titles), 4" from top (body)
Body Text: Georgia 10pt with 14pt leading, 0.1875" paragraph spacing, no first line indent
THE STORY
Strawberry, Herbivore, Snowflake: How to Make a Man is a fictional coming-of-age biography that follows our protagonist, Harry, from just after birth till he reaches 21. His life story will explore a range of topics including discrimination, gender, culture, western vs eastern pop culture, confidence, self-esteem, image, identity, belonging, failure, fear, vulnerability, leadership, pursuit, etc.
The aim of the novel is to provide modern young men a realistic fictional mirror through which they can evaluate their own lives and be inspired to become better, more matured men.
The story is split into three main parts: Strawberry (Part 1), Herbivore (Part 2) and Snowflake (Part 3). All three are colloquial terms that have surfaced recently in popular culture, and used to describe millennials, also known as Generation Y, which Harry is a member of.
‘Strawberry Generation’ (or 草莓族): Young people of Generation Y who bruise easily like strawberries; spoiled and delicate, they do not have the ability to withstand difficulties. Originated from Taiwan.
‘Herbivore Men’ (or 草食性男子): A new generation of shy young men who are not interested in sex and are too timid to make a move on women. Preyed on by a new generation of women called ‘Carnivore Girls’. Originated from Japan.
‘Snowflake’: First used in the 19th Century to refer to pro-slavery whites. Today, echoing Chuck Palahniuk’s Fight Club, it refers to liberal millennials who are too obsessed with being special and unique. Originated from America.
The characteristics described in these labels will form the backdrop to discuss the issues Harry faced as he transitioned between phases of his early life. Strawberry deals with questions of emotion and vulnerability; Herbivore deals with confidence and self-esteem; Snowflake deals with identity. Each part will feature its own narrative, or collection of narratives, that will reflect the difficulties Harry encounters in his everyday life.
Strawberry, Herbivore, Snowflake: How to Make a Man is available on Amazon, Kindle and BookDepository!
