Choosing the Perfect Title for Your Book

You did it! You completed what many writers would consider the hardest task of publishing: you finished your book! Now, about that title . . .

Whether it comes to you immediately or well after THE END is written on the final page of the story, choosing a title is a great responsibility. You want it to instantly grab people’s attention, alluring curious readers and making a good first impression. You also want it to be easy to remember while being representative of the book’s contents.

In theory, it sounds simple enough, but choosing a title for your book can often be a challenging process for even the most seasoned writers. There are many aspects to consider, like how long it should be or what elements of the story you want to highlight, and the choices can feel quite overwhelming. But what options should you be weighing if you are starting from ground zero? Where do you look for inspiration?

The answer is simple: your own story. Your book will provide every answer to any question that arises during brainstorming titles no matter the route you choose to take. Whether it’s paying homage to a main character or plot line, representing a theme, or just a clever play on words, organic creativity exists in the very pages of your book–the same book that is a direct product of your own ideas.

If you still find yourself scratching your head over a title, the important thing to remember is not to overthink it. As surprising as it may seem, your book’s title should come to you naturally and not feel forced or unauthentic to your story. A potential title that has to be mulled over repeatedly is probably not the title for your book–just ask a friend or family member or anyone in your life who you trust. Their input and feedback can actually be helpful in gauging reaction and interest to your title choices.

Choosing a book title can be and often is daunting for writers, but it should be an exciting part of your publishing journey. Most of all, it should truly be yours as much as your story is. Change your perspective and have fun with naming your ‘book baby.’ With a few easy tips to remember, we’re here to encourage you to take on the honor with enthusiasm.

1. Make it original: Your story is unique, so, too should be your title. If it fits your mold and is relevant to the story, what else matters? You should aim to keep it relatively short, between three to five words, as some studies suggest that shorter titles “stick” better with readers, but ultimately, there are no hard rules when it comes to naming your book. To that point, if you are devoted to a title that you like regardless of how similar it might be to other titles, stick with it! You truly have the reins!

2. Consider your audience: After all, they are your readers and will be sharing this ride with you. Think about what may be attractive to them and if any wordplay is involved, make sure your title is easily detectable. If no one else gets it, they will (and will appreciate the originality).

3. Don’t mull, test: If you have to think too much about your title, we’ve already established that you should probably scrap it. However, you do want to give it adequate consideration and read it aloud to test how it sounds for yourself. Does it flow easily and sound “right” for the story? There’s only one way to find out.

4. You got this! You just crafted thousands of words to create your brand new book. What’s a couple more? Trust and believe in you. We can’t wait to see what you come up with! 

Happy naming! DG