Writing and Storytelling | 05 December 2023

How To Title Your New Book [Ultimate Guide]

Michael Adams

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“What makes a good book title?” is probably one of the first things you have searched online, once done writing. That’s because readers do see your title first and then decide whether they want to purchase the book or not. Yet, coming up with a unique title is one area where writers do often struggle.

No wonder, publishing companies stress on elements like the main title or book cover, to be perfect for instance. It’s necessary if you want positive visibility and book sales to skyrocket. After all, every author wants their book to remain memorable and good book sales.

How to Title A Book – Hook Readers & Boosts Sales, All in One!

One of the hallmarks of a good book is its main title. Pick any book and you will find that the title reveals snippets of the story to the audience or an expert ghostwriting service can help you out in this. Thus, generating the reader’s interest and intriguing them, without giving much away. So, if you have ever thought that titles didn’t hold much value – think again.

Plus, titles also help books to stay in the spotlight for long. After all, some of the bestsellers in the publishing world have some of the most spectacular titles. Let’s find out what makes a good title for your story:

• Book Titles Should be Short & Snappy

Some unforgettable book titles in the market today, are characteristically short. That’s because shorter book titles are easier to remember. And can often prove to be more significant than lengthy titles. You can even give your book a cool one-word title like Jane Austen did with Emma, for instance.

One-word titles are often used to increase the searchability aspect of books on the web and are specific to the new book as well. This is why one-word book titles easily pull many results online.

• Book Titles Need to be Unique & Dynamic

Some of the best-sellers in the world today come with catchy titles that stay on the reader’s mind for a long time. Why is that so? Your creativity shines when you make captivating wordplay and stunning cover-page images. That’s why writers need to be careful when it comes to book titles.

Make sure your title doesn’t mention anything controversial that targets a group or a sensitive topic. That’s why it is better to cross-check all info before finalizing your content with the editor.

• Book Titles Need to be Relevant

Relevance is another aspect that you need to keep in mind when brainstorming the title of your book. Your book title should align with the subject matter of your book. And also be successful in evoking the target reader’s expectations and emotions as well. Check with your editor, if you can be a bit adventurous in your title selection or not.

Make sure that you are not reusing previously used book titles from the same genre. Or even titles from a different one. After all, that’s a major reason why a well-crafted book title is so important. It is a factor that will tickle the interest of the reader. That they eventually purchase it.

Different Aspects to Consider For Your Next Book Title

Want to come up with a cool name? Unsure about how to come up with the perfect book title? Or, are you just short of ideas? Well, don’t worry because we got some tips for you:

• Use Names of the Important Character(s)

Some writers and authors often find it difficult to generate a title for their book. But that doesn’t mean that this will always be the case. You can base your book title on your main character. Or on a certain theme, for instance. Take, for example, Harry Potter, Heidi, and Matilda. These characters were not only protagonists but served as the main title of the books as well. Make your book titles short yet simple. and strong enough as well, so that they grab the reader’s attention.

• Spice Up Your Main Title

Besides main characters, you can also base your title on plenty other things. Like the landscape of your book, for instance. Wuthering Heights is a great example. Or Pride and Prejudice, where the title reflects on the theme of the book. If this seems confusing, ask questions like where or when to help and guide you here. As reiterated earlier, the idea is to interest as many readers as you can.

For instance, Love in the Time of Cholera’ is well-known for its characteristic main title. That’s because it immediately establishes a specific period in history. Along with the tone of the book. Some of the best titles grabbed the reader’s attention via literary devices. Such as alliteration as used in the literary fiction novel, Gone Girl. These devices immediately help to spice up the title. While helping to raise book sales because of the catchy element.

• The Originality Factor

Amongst all the factors that you need to consider, the originality of your title should always come first. The main title should intrigue the reader so that they buy your book to read it. That’s why not only should your title be something exclusive, it should be something wholly special to the reader. And incentivize him to buy it.

Hence, this aspect should always be kept in mind – both by the author and the publisher – if thy want their end product to stand apart from other books in the market.

Crafting the Right Title for Your Book

You may have googled “how do you properly write a book title?” and interesting results may have popped up. But know this – crafting the perfect book title is anything but simple. Here’s what you can do:

• Brainstorm & Gather Title Ideas in One Place

Every writer has their individual process for producing content. Some writers hold preconceived ideas about the book title. While plenty of others are more easygoing with the process, applying a relatively freestyle approach to their art.

Therefore, no matter what kind of writing methodology you follow, always list down all the titles for the book, so that it becomes easier to finalize any one of them for the book. At the end of the day, whether you have one good idea or several of them, as long as you are jotting them down, you are good to go!

• Thoroughly Research Everything

Irrespective of what you are planning to write, research is crucial to your story. After all, both fiction and non-fiction require extensive research, so it is always better to get your facts right. The same rule applies when deciding on a title for the book. Study the various connotations of your title and check that your selected book title is rightly able to justify the content of the book.

If you are still unable to finalize any one of the options, you can always turn to people you trust. Like your family and close friends. And let them help you make the decision. If you are still unsure, you can always turn to your fans and followers online. Simply, post a poll on your socials and let your followers decide the title for your new book!

Picking A Book Title: Here’s What You Need to Avoid

Your entire book is ready. Except that you are still confused about the title. Don’t worry, we got you! Here are a few pointers that you need to avoid when choosing a title for a new book:

• Ensure that your book title has not been used in the past nor does it resemble existing ones by other authors either.

• Be careful of using terminologies that might offend minorities or people in general from the community. Because if this is not taken care of, it can often affect your popularity negatively.
• Just remember that if you have chosen non-fiction then your basic aim is to offer solutions.
• The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie Kondo is one example.

• If you have written a fiction book, then make the book title as catchy as possible. The Undomestic Goddess by Sophie Kinsella, for instance.

Wrapping It Up,

As we come to the end of this article, we hope that this article helps you come up with a decent book title. Because it can easily get frustrating. Especially if your results are not coming as you expected them. During the writing part of your book, it may have occurred to you that this part was supposedly difficult.

Then you came to giving the title. Nothing is more trickier than titling your new book! The title of your book is nothing less than a hook, so make it a good one. After all, your new book is nothing less than a labor of love. And like the rest of your book, deserves a good name too.

In the words of Shakespeare: “What’s in a name? …. we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet…”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q. What makes a good book title?
A good book title is characterized by three distinct features:

• – It is short
• – It is unique
• – It is unforgettable

Q. What can I name my book?
Your potential title should firstly be easy to remember. It can be:

• – a character’s name (e.g. Harry Potter)
• – a favorite one-liner (e.g. The Road Less Travelled)
• – the setting (e.g. Wuthering Heights)
• – the theme (e.g. The Hunger Games)

Q. How do I find a suitable title?
Read through your book and look out for quotes, lines, dialogues or any aspect that can later be used as a title. You can also take help from family and friends if you are unable to come up with a unique and creative title.