7 Questions to Ask About Your Title Fight 1. Is it unique? Although titles aren’t copyrighted, you always want to think twice about choosing a title already in use. If nothing else, your title will have to compete for search engine rankings and could confuse readers. 2. How many words is it? The number of words in a title often depends on the genre. Thrillers and suspense novels often have titles of a single word. Literary and humorous novels might have titles that consist of half a dozen or more words. Shorter titles are often more memorable and more convenient for cover design; longer titles are often more unique and descriptive. 3. Is it specific instead of vague? Which book are you more likely to pick up—Lunar Colony or The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress? Loving a Scoundrel or Gone With the Wind? Trouble in a Small Town or What’s Eating Gilbert Grape? 4. Is it memorable? Readers probably aren’t going to snap up your book the first time they see or hear your title. But if that title is an earworm that sticks in the backs of their brains, they’re much more likely to pay attention the next time they run across your book. 5. Is it consistent with your brand? Remember: titles are marketing. Particularly if you’re writing a series, but even if you’re not, you ideally want to choose a title that fits in with your previous books and overall brand. Consider Janet Evanovich’s use of a number in every title in her Stephanie Plum series or Sue Grafton’s use of letters in the titles of her Alphabet Mysteries. 6. Does it spawn any good cover image ideas? Your cover image (which may be totally out of your control anyway) may end up having no obvious connection to your title. Indeed, sometimes that very contrast is a good hook. But as you’re brainstorming titles, consider how each one would look on the book cover. What images would you envision seeing beneath or behind each title? 7. Is it cool? As marketing expert Rob Eager puts it, “Would a reader feel cool if someone saw them reading a book with that title? Readers have egos, and titles that people deem offensive or out-of-date can hinder sales.” #writing #writers #quotes #grammar #books #tips #cartoon #saying #famous #motivation #words #inspiration #message #positivity #art #script #typo #typing #art #saying #print #motivationalquotes #reading #blogger #author #inspirationalquotes
Posted on: Tue, 08 Oct 2013 14:28:07 +0000