How much thought do you put into your nonfiction book and article titles? Is choosing a title something you enjoy or is it a real drag? Do you feel confident about the titles you come up with or do you hate most of them? Maybe you don\u2019t even select your own titles\u2014you turn that task over to someone who\u2019s actually good at it.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not an expert when it comes to choosing titles. But sometimes I actually enjoy the process and other times not so much. There are times when the perfect title comes to me immediately. There have been occasions when the title occurred to me before I even outlined the article or book. Have you had that happen\u2014you write a book, story or article around a title? And how many times do you end up changing that title once the piece is written? Sigh!<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not an expert on titles. Some of mine are good and others, not so much. But I do know some of the basics of choosing a good title. <\/p>\n
For nonfiction:
\n\u2022\tWhen contemplating a title for a nonfiction book or article, think about the audience you want to attract. If your book is for people who want to quit stuttering, use a title such as, \u201cStutter No More.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022\tSpell out the subject of the book in the title and, perhaps, the slant you are taking so the reader knows that this book has the information he or she wants. Going with the stuttering theme, how about this: \u201cThe 10-Day Stop Stuttering Plan,\u201d or \u201cStop Stuttering in 10 Days, Guaranteed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022\tUse a subtitle when the brief title doesn\u2019t quite sum up the scope of the book or article. Here\u2019s an example, \u201cSelf-Publishing: Is it for You?\u201d or \u201cStuck: How to Crush Writer\u2019s Block.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022\tUse your title to respond to the questions your audience may have on the subject. In fact, you might even ask an appropriate question in the title. For example, maybe you are addressing issues of dog behavior. An intriguing, inviting title might be, \u201cDoes Your Dog Need an Attitude Adjustment?\u201d <\/p>\n
\u2022\tDescribe the book in the title. \u201cThe Big Book of Easy Family Meals,\u201d is a fairly succinct title, don\u2019t you think? How about, \u201cGo Fishing. Catch Fish! The How-to Book For Neophyte Anglers,\u201d is a title that does not leave any doubt about its content. Well, there actually is one question left unanswered. What type of fishing are we talking about, fly fishing, lake, stream, ocean? If it is one type of fishing, the photo on the cover could respond to that question. If the book covers all fishing styles, show a collage of fishermen on a boat in the ocean, on a pier, standing in the surf, fishing in a river and so forth.<\/p>\n
How many words should go in a title? According to one source, The longest book title belongs to Nigel Tomm, whose book title consists of 3,999 characters (with spaces) or 670 words. I\u2019m not going to repeat it here. You can see it at WikiAnswers, if you want. It\u2019s pretty bizarre. Several authors have used one-word titles. I suggest a title that fits nicely on your cover so that it is large enough to be seen by book browsers and, perhaps, easy to remember. As authors, we rely heavily on word-of-mouth for book sales, so you want a title that is easy to read and memorable.<\/p>\n
If you are having trouble coming up with a title for your book here are some ideas:
\n\u2022\tReview the content\/theme\/purpose of your book and your audience. If it is a book designed to teach or inform the public about the work that homeland security does, for example, consider a title such as, \u201cWhat You Didn\u2019t Know About Homeland Security.\u201d Or make it more provocative, if you like: \u201cHomeland Security: Are They Helping or Hindering?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2022\tGo through your book and highlight some of the interesting or particularly succinct phrases. Perhaps something will jump out at you.<\/p>\n
\u2022\tBrainstorm with friends, family, colleagues about a title.<\/p>\n
\u2022\tStudy titles for books similar to yours.<\/p>\n
How did you come up with your book title? Do you have a particularly good title you\u2019d like to share? I\u2019d love to hear from you.<\/p>\n