One of the first things people see when browsing for something to read is the title, and it may entice them to take a closer look at the book, story, or article. But what makes a good title?
An effective title should be interesting, convey the tone or central idea of the story, and be easy to remember. Of course, there are lots of published books with titles that are long, don’t give us a clear idea of what the story is about, and may not be easy to remember. The story is the key, and no title will be good enough to turn it into a best-seller, but it might entice an agent or editor enough to take a look at the rest of the submission.
A working title may end up being changed, either by the author as the project progresses, or by the agent, editor, or marketing department before the book is published. Even so, we should spend some time thinking about a title as it will be what people refer to when talking about our manuscript.
Titles are not copyrighted so you may see several books with the same name. Avoid choosing one that’s already identified with a book in your genre as it may suggest yours is not original, or be confusing to readers. Keep in mind that a controversial title may attract some people but will possibly discourage some from reading the book, and aim for originality without purposely antagonizing your potential audience.
If you are having trouble coming up with a title you like, try brainstorming using some of the following ideas:
1. A key word or phrase that runs through your story.
2. The name of a character or place important to the plot.
3. A word or phrase that may have a hidden meaning revealed in the book.
4. A popular expression related to your subject.
5. A play on words.
6. A word or phrase that not only typifies this book, but will work well as a category in case you write a series. A couple of authors who’ve done that successfully are Sue Grafton, with her mystery titles that follow the alphabet, or J.A. Konrath with titles that refer to popular drinks.
A common length for titles is 3 words; one word titles can also be effective, but longer than 6 is uncommon. The easier it is to remember, the better for marketing via word of mouth, so avoid words that are hard to pronounce or nonsensical until you are so famous that people can simply say, “(insert your name)’s new book.”
What method do you use to come up with a good title?
Update September 18, 2009: Agent Jessica Faust, at Bookends, LLC has a post on this subject today that gives insight into what she looks for in a title. Here’s the link: http://bookendslitagency.blogspot.com/2009/09/choosing-title.html
Good post.
I think writers should give as much thought to the titles of their books and articles as they do to their content.
I’ve put articles aside for days while trying to come up with an interesting title. It takes work.
A compelling title will draw readers in and get them interested in your story or article. A title also reflects on the quality of the material. All too often, you’ll read a title that is dull or boring and the story ends up being dull and boring, too.
As for techniques, I’m a big believer is whatever works. Sometimes a title suggests itself during the process of writing. Somestime a title springs to mind while your mind is on other things.
Writers should know instinctively when a title works or not.
Ross Fattori
http://www.rossfattori.com
Hi, Ross. I hadn’t thought about the title being related to the quality of the material, but I think you’re right. If a title is interesting, the content usually is, too.
I took a quick look at your blog. You’ve got some interesting articles posted.
Carol
Hi, Carol. I love titles – they can be so much fun. My stories almost never have a title until they are done or nearly done (filenames, sure, but not titles). I’ll usually be typing along and suddenly a phrase will emerge that just jumps out to me and I say, “Hey! That’s the title.” When that doesn’t happen then I can agonize over a title for quite a while. But my best titles are “organic” and spring right from the pages.
I also enjoy looking at long impossible to understand titles (theses, dissertations, and technical papers in professional journals are great for this) for a good chuckle. There must be an unwritten rule in academia that says all technical work must have complex and indecipherable titles. 😉
~jon
Jon, nothing jumps out at me except my inner critic, who simply shouts “That’s dumb!” over and over. It’s easier for me to come up with a satisfying title for my nonfiction than fiction, but then, fiction is harder for me to write, too.
Carol
Flight to Insanity.
what do you think? i like it. the story has to do with a trip i took last year. a portion takes place in transportation( airport, airplanes, taxis, cars, even an ambulance) also i considered myself taking flight from dark forces seeking to supress my divine knowledge. did i mention i was unknowingly having a manic psychotic break? anyhow. my wife and i are still chugging away at it. 12 chapters posted on my blog so far, several others that come later chronologically in varying states of doneness.
, steven
Hi, Steven. Flight to Insanity is an intriguing title, and your story sounds interesting. Mania can inspire creative thinking, but it’s a tough way to do it. Good luck with your health and your book.
Carol
Yeah, title is the most important for your story. Thanks a lot.
[…] https://thewritingplace.wordpress.com/2009/05/12/how-to-choose-a-good-title-for-your-story/ […]
Very well written and easy to understand. I always thought the title comes first but after reading this I agree. Maybe my first thought should just be a file name and the title will ‘jump’ out as I write. Thanks for this great information…
Sam, I’m glad it was helpful.
Carol
i need help on a title about a 15 year old being bullied
Without reading the story it’s difficult to suggest an idea for a title. You probably need a serious title rather than a humorous one because of the subject matter. Maybe using the main character’s name, or a reference to the main theme would be possible. Good luck!!
[…] How to Choose a Good Title for Your Story by Carol Benedict […]