Sometimes it seems like the hardest part of writing is picking a title. You spend months, if not years, writing your manuscript and then you must select a handful of words that will attract a reader to your story. Agent Rachelle Gardner has a fantastic post with tips to help you title your book. If you are struggling to find the best title for your work, I suggest you check out the post.
Once you have selected a title Ms. Gardner suggests that you ask yourself the following questions:
- Does the tone of the title match the tone of the book?
- Does it convey the right genre (including time period if applicable)?
- Would it attract attention?
- If the book were spine-out on the shelf (so the cover and sub-title were not visible) would it still attract attention?
- Would a reader have any idea what the book is about just from the title?
Want to know if your title has bestseller potential? Lulu.com has created a scientific program to determine just that.
Simply enter your novel title in the field at the top of the page. Use the drop-down menus to choose the variables which best describe the attributes of your title. Click “Analyze my title!”
Score represents the percentage chance of its being a number one hit. Results are between 9% and 83% chance of bestseller success.
When all is said and done, the publisher is usually responsible for the final decision on title. But if you’ve done your work well, it will be the title you selected on the cover.
Happy Writing,
Suzanne Santillan
Writing on the sidewalk.
Writing on the sidewalk 
ARGH! Titles are So challenging for me! Sometimes the title comes to me first, but most times I struggle with coming up with the perfect one. My writing group has been very helpful with suggesting titles for my WIPs. 🙂
We have two people in our critique group right now who are struggling with titles. It is a painful mind-mushing experience.
Gee, who could you be talking about?
Tee Hee!