“To Kill A Mockingbird” is one of the most popular books of all time. 

However, when I purchased this book eleven years ago, I didn’t know it was a Pulitzer award winner.

I didn’t know Harper Lee was a literary legend.

I knew that the title had stirred my interest. It seemed eerily promising. It gave me that aha-moment. And, I couldn’t resist checking out the blurb to read what the book was about.  

That’s the thing about titles. It’s all about wordplay. When a reader recognises something different in a title, it stirs their curiosity. 

So, how do we write a catchy and relevant title? Where do we find it?

Let’s work on it! 

• Consider Song Lyrics & Poems 

Is there a song or a poem that fits with your book’s theme and genre? How about finding inspiration from those lyrics?

 

 Songs and poems always have so much meaning and context that can give your story a different touch and significance. Just be mindful of the copyright issues. The key is to find inspiration and not plagiarise. 

 

• Research Best-Selling Titles In Your Book’s Genre

If you want to pick a best-selling title idea, start researching the popular book titles in your niche. You can do this through a simple Amazon or Google search. Review the best selling titles on Amazon and make a list of titles that sound fascinating to you. 

 

Draw inspiration from your favourite books. See what element they’ve used to create a title – whether they’ve used a metaphor, an aphorism, the protagonist’s name, or an alliteration. Is there a deeper meaning (or double meaning) to the titles?

 

• Add Emotional Trigger Words

There are few words that weigh more than others. They are called power words. The key is adding an emotional trigger word that can evoke emotions in a buyer. It can cause mysticism, intrigue, or urgency. For this step, you’ll need to switch some words of your working title with emotional trigger words. 

 

• Use Parts Of Your Story

This is very common in novels and fictional stories. You can use noteworthy or clever phrases from your book as the book title. It also works well with the non-fiction or short story collection, if you sum up the main theme of the book with one phrase. Few story parts to use: 

 

• A statement that piques curiosity 
• An unusual paradox
• An iconic metaphor
• An alliteration 
• Character’s name
• Location or place name 
• Use Date/time/season 
• Main event or showdown
• Thought-provoking lines

 

• Use Book Title Generators 

If nothing works out, try book title generators to get some inspiration. You don’t have to go at it all alone. A good thing about title generators is that most of them are niche-specific. Instead of using a random title generator, use niche-specific tools to jump-start your creative process.

 

Keep This In Mind

 

A great book title teases and leaves the reader waiting for more. But, don’t forget to set a tone or a vibe similar to the one in your book. Relevancy is important. The title should hint at the genre, so your readers know what to expect. Don’t ever mislead the reader.

 

Also, never get so attached to the title that you neglect the alternatives. If your critique partner, beta reader, or editor questions your title, consider discussing it with them. Do some brainstorming, and find something that is convincing.

 

And hey, if you’re thinking of a better idea that didn’t make this list, feel free to share it in the comments below so everyone can try that too!