I’ve worked with authors who have their title nailed down before they’ve written the first word, authors who have a ‘sort-of’ title, but aren’t sure it’s right, and authors who are well into the writing process and still haven’t found the right title.
There are no rules about when your title should be finalised. However, there are some rules around titles.
Rule 1: If the title doesn’t tell people what the book is about, the subtitle needs to do that.
The first book I edited was called … and death came third! That was intriguing – and it definitely got people to take a closer look to find out what it was about. The subtitle was The Definitive Guide to Networking and Speaking in Public which explained what it was about quickly.
Lots of books have self-explanatory titles – Chess for Dummies, The Joy of Sex, Body Language – to mention a few. But most need a bit of explanation and that’s where your subtitle needs to do the heavy lifting.
Rule 2: Long titles are less effective
People remember short snappy titles, The e-Myth Revisited, Buy Refurb Refinance, Meeting Your Match, Money. Three words work well, both in fiction and non-fiction.
Does this mean you shouldn’t have a longer title? Six or Seven words is probably the stretch, but there are always exceptions that have worked like Why Men Don’t Listen and Women Can’t Read Maps. This works because it’s provocative and is a formula that the authors – Allan and Barbara Pease – have repeated in subsequent books.
One of the earlier really long titles that became a best seller, not just because of its content, but because of the title, was Everything you wanted to know about sex, but were afraid to ask. Controversial both in content and title – but it worked.
If your proposed title is longer, think carefully before you finalise it. Is it easy to remember so people can recommend it to their friends without having to wrack their brains to bring the title to mind?
Rule 3: Just because you like it doesn’t mean it will work
You may have dreamed up a title that you really like, but will it connect with the reader you want? Quirky doesn’t always work – and sometimes the obvious is the right route.
My advice is to get a piece of paper and a pen and write down any possible title that comes to mind. Why paper and pen and not a keyboard? Because your right creative brain engages more strongly when you’re handwriting, while your left analytical brain is at work when you’re on a keyboard. At this stage you don’t want to start analysing things.
Keep the paper or notebook handy and jot down things that come to mind – even if they don’t feel right yet. Quantity, not quality is the aim.
When you have at least a dozen options, you can start looking at them more analytically and editing them. Sometimes two different titles on your list may come together to create something better, that’s why you don’t edit while you’re creating the list.
If you’re still not sure test your title on a few potential beta readers. I have seen people run a poll on social media, but you need a thick skin as there will always be critics who provide an opinion you didn’t ask for, based on virtually no knowledge.
And finally – giving your book a title is like naming your child. You’ll have to live with it forever, make sure you get it right!
