

I promise you that you’ll come away with a great title to go along with your great story. Now, let’s get into the nuts and bolts of coming up with a great title for your story. That’s the type of insight that you should try to give your readers. It made the story more bearable and provided a much-needed lens for the reader to see the story more clearly. I was stung because the story was so exquisitely sad, but after reflection, I understood why and what the author was suggesting with the title of his story. Speaking from personal experience, I came away with a new appreciation for the title.

However, as the reader sits with the characters, the title becomes more important and necessary (for the reader’s sanity). The title is not particularly poetic or substantial aside from reading the story. Take for example Rohinton Mistry’s A Fine Balance. You can chew on it for weeks, or even years after reading. An insightful title is almost like a philosophical question. Give a glimpse of what the reader can expect from your novel. People need to be able to remember the title of your novel when they’re searching for it on Amazon or at their local bookstore. And just like that, the opportunity to gain a new reader is lost.Ĭhoose a title that your readers will instantly and forever remember. He promises to text the friend the title when he gets home, but he forgets. His friend asks for the title, but your dear reader cannot remember the title of your book. Picture this: Your reader loves your book and tells his friend, I just read this amazing book. Make every attempt to avoid popular titles and choose a title that’s personal and unique to your story. You could name your book The Grapes of Wrath if you’d like, but should you? I think you know the answer to that. It’s true that you can’t copyright titles. This is the best way to stand out from the crowd. It’s getting increasingly more difficult to come up with a title that hasn’t been done before, but you must. So, let’s talk about the three elements that every book title should have. Every Good Book Title Should Do the Following That’s not a knock against the story but instead an argument for a strong title- one that gives your readers an incentive to open your book in the first place. I’m not sure if these novels would have gone on to be as successful and well-known had they kept their original titles. The Mute → The Heart is a Lonely Hunter (Carson McCullers) They Don’t Build Statues to Businessmen → Valley of the Dolls (Jacqueline Susann) Twilight → The Sound and the Fury (William Faulkner)Īll’s Well that Ends Well → War and Peace (Leo Tolstoy) Stranger From Within → Lord of the Flies (William Golding) Tomorrow is Another Day → Gone with the Wind (Margaret Mitchell) Something That Happened → Of Mice and Men (John Steinbeck)Ītticus → To Kill a Mockingbird (Harper Lee)įiesta → The Sun Also Rises (Ernest Hemingway) Which one would you pick up? Do you think it was the right call to retitle?įirst Impressions → Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen) Here’s a list of original titles from well-known books before they were revamped. I get the feeling that some of you aren’t truly convinced that the title of your novel matters.
#Romantic photo album titles how to#
Here’s how to come up a title that draws a crowd.

So, if you’ve struggled in this area and you need some guidance, keep reading (and take some notes). I can’t overemphasize how important it is to get the title right. Dick) or Pretend You Don’t See Her (Mary Higgins Clark)? These are titles that immediately grab you.Įven if it’s not in the genre that you typically enjoy, the right title will make you wonder, What is this story about? And the right title will also cause you to pick up the book, open to the first page, and give the story a chance to bloom. How can you not be drawn to a title like Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep (Philip K. Most readers decide whether or not to pick up a book by title alone. Despite the price tag and despite the fact that you’re an unknown author, readers will flock to your book because you’ve taken the time to craft the perfect title. Your novel’s title is your siren call, luring readers to your story despite any obstacle in their way. What matters- at first- is that you’ve nailed the title of your novel.
