Unlock reader interest with these 5 title picking tools

Your book title is important. It’s the first thing editors and readers see. For a lot of years I knocked around a lot of publishing houses and learned how to ask targeted questions. So, instead of trying to tell you what to do, I’m sharing a smattering of questions I recall from my on-the-job training. I put them in checklist form to help you explore various options for the best title for your next book. 

___ 1. Target your title. Send readers a message that says: this novel is for you.

     – Does it reflect your genre so it attracts your specific audience?

     – Does your title convey the mood of your book? (Light-hearted or suspense?)

     – Does your title match your cover art?

     – Will your title appeal to the age and education level of your audience?

 ___ 2. Impress readers. What kind of first impression will your title make? 

     – Will your title stand out as memorable, original, creative?

     – Does it say something specific and meaningful, not just general and boring?

     – Did you run a search to see if your title is already taken by a well-known book?

     – Have you tried using alliteration, or a clever play on words?

     – Can you think of contradictory phrases and provocation to add interest?

     – What about a funny twist, if it’s appropriate, to make your title memorable?

     – Is there a unique or repeating phrase in your novel that works as a title?

     – Did you try pairing a few words that don’t usually go together to stir curiosity?

 ___ 3. Terse works here too. Don’t try to dump your whole book into the title. 

     – Are you trying to keep your title down to two to five words?

     – You can’t fit everything in, so can you try sticking with one or two concepts?

     – Will it fit easily in URLs, tweets, small display spaces on e-books covers?

     – Are you avoiding punctuation in your title that isn’t allowed in URLs?

     – If you can’t stay under five words, did you consider adding a subtitle?

     – If you add a subtitle, does it add new information, not reiterate the title?

     – Have you considered a subtitle that cites a series name or volume?

     – Did you avoid the one-word title that increases the risk of a duplicate title?

 ___ 4. Link with readers.

     – Does your title provoke questions without confusing or misleading readers?

     – Did you avoid using words that are easy to misspell or mispronounce?

     – Is your title easy to enunciate, does it roll off your tongue if you say it aloud?

     – Did you avoid unintended connotations or controversy that alienates readers?

 ___ 5. Elucidate your story. Focus attention on your story without giving it away.

     – Did you include key words that describe a major book theme, person, or idea?

     – Have you considered what jumps out at you most about your book?

     – Does a phrase come to mind that sums up your novel or article?

     – Is there a main character trait that runs though the storyline that fits in a title?

     – How can you hint at the plot line without giving everything away?

     – How can you insert a question that makes readers want to investigate further?

     – Does your title make readers curious about a main problem, dilemma, or theme?