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.
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…