How to Choose a Title for Your Book

Choosing a title for your new manuscript can be a daunting task. Some authors may come up with a title they love at a moment’s notice, while others may take weeks, or even months trying to come up with the words that adequately sums up the gist of your book. Despite the difficulties, giving your project the right title can help bring it to life.

One of the first things you should consider when trying to choose a book title is the main idea of your story. What is the main message that you are trying to convey? It helps to think about the feelings your story conveys. Is it fiction or nonfiction? Fiction titles are meant to tell the story you’ve written, but in a few chosen words. Tying it to a specific emotion can help you brainstorm words that convey that emotion. Sad stories will evoke melancholy while love stories may bring wistfulness, nostalgia, or passion. Nonfiction titles are meant to be informative, a summary of what the information will be about. Keep it simple and to the point.

Other details to keep in mind are any motifs or symbols that may be prevalent in your story. For example, if you wrote an epilogue in which a nightingale consistently appeared as an omen of death, you might choose to continue the nightingale motif throughout the rest of the project, which could make for a powerful image to use as a title. Keep important symbols like this in mind when choosing a book title.

Another great way to brainstorm title ideas is to research what other best-selling authors in your genre are doing. It might help you get your creative juices flowing and unlock ideas you hadn’t thought of. However, be careful with this, as it is possible to research too much. Look at a few titles, but don’t feel too discouraged. Your title will come to you, and you’ll finally be able to give your project a name.

We hope these tips will give you a place to start with in your search for the best title for your work. Remember, there is no such thing as perfect. Go with what you feel best represents your book and your work as an author, and most importantly, what feels right.

Have any other tips? Let us know in the comments!

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By Florencia Cáceres, Intern

Florencia Cáceres is a recent graduate of the University of Houston with degrees in Creative Writing and Public Relations. She is passionate about world-building, high fantasy and sappy love poems. In the future, she hopes to finish her own novel and continue working with what she loves most: books.