Author: Lesley Donaldson

Author, narrative game designer, and creative powerhouse. http://writerlesleydonaldson.com/about-lesley-donaldson/
What Makes a Good Book Title? And Bored Panda’s 40 Worst Book Covers and Titles Ever

What Makes a Good Book Title? And Bored Panda’s 40 Worst Book Covers and Titles Ever

Approaches to a good book title are a recurring theme in conversations I’ve had over the last week. Although the expression goes, “Don’t judge a book by a cover,” authors damn well know that it’s going to be judged by cover and title.

What purpose does a good book title serve?

A title is real estate on a bookshelf or online. Titles that grab attention sell better. Non-fiction titles work best when they explain the problem they’ll solve for readers. Fiction titles work best when they hook readers with meaning.

How does an author decide on a good book title?

I love brainstorming! Honestly, I can do it for hours. I run my fave titles through a Google search (sorry Cortana) seeking potential conflicts. I want my book to rank high in the search engine. Next, I run my potential title through the online retailers. To help with that, I try to craft titles that are easy to remember but not too generic.

Is it OK to change a title?

Titles carry emotional resonance for an author. Sometimes, that’s hard to let go. However, if an editor or publisher says to me, consider this change, I have to open my mind. The story is for my audience, not for me. Also, if your title isn’t selling to the audience you want, then adapt the title. Add a sub-title or by-line on the cover that makes the meaning clearer.

Is it possible to copyright a book title?

Copyright protection doesn’t extend to titles. Yay! That means I can make my next book title “The Two Towers.” Right? Wrong. I don’t want my title to be the same as a famous book or movie. That will make it harder for people to find my real estate online, and likely lead to fewer sales – as good as my story may be.

How does one craft a good book title?

Take your time! Consider the theme of your story. If the story is uplifting, a scary or downer title won’t fit. Plus, it will attract the wrong audience. If your character or place setting has a unique name, consider incorporating that into the title. If you’re going for a humourous title, run it by your ideal audience. Not everyone has the same taste in jokes. Look for a title that is memorable and be flexible if your editor or publishing company makes suggestions to change it.

https://www.boredpanda.com/funny-book-titles-covers/

What about my book titles?

I won’t pat myself on the back to say that The Queen’s Viper is a good or bad title. Let’s take a look at its marketing purpose instead. There are heaps and heaps of books that use the word Queen and Viper, but few put them together. The title raises questions: Which Queen? Which Viper? Who is the Queen’s Viper? and so on. And have you ever noticed my artistic input to the cover design?

The word “The” acts as a crown on the Q, just as the two “E’s” crown the “V” of Viper – the letter “E” representing both Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Elizabeth II. Nifty, huh?

I didn’t have a working title for my creative non-fiction until the last minute: Growing a Rainbow. Rainbows are beautiful, perfect creations, desirable and loved. However, we can’t force Mother Nature to make these out of reach gifts when we want them. That’s the feeling I had during my time in the NICU regarding the premature birth of my son. I added the sub-title The Premature Journey of a Two Pound Hero to clarify the content of my book and narrow down my marketing audience for this fundraising project.

 

Growing A Rainbow. A touching and realistic NICU memoir.

 

Random title generators might help with brainstorming, or you can reach out to your target audience / beta readers and get their input if you’re stuck.

What are your fave best and worst titles, and why?

I hope to have a Travel Tuesday blog out for you tomorrow…

Until then…

via GIPHY