Ask the Editor: How to Choose the Right Title for Your Book
Writers, does the following dilemma strick a chord? You sweat blood polishing your manuscript, only to choke at the finish line agonizing over the title.
Don’t despair, help is here. Let’s take a fresh look at this perennial problem from an editor’s perspective.
Your title does more heavy lifting than any description or line of dialogue you’ll write. Pick the right one, and you’ll grab your ideal readership before they even notice your blurb or first line. Choose wrong, and you send them scrolling by.
So how do you make sure your book’s name speaks directly to the readers you want?
Let’s break it down.
1. Forget Clever. Choose Clear
The rookie mistake is thinking your book’s title has to show off. Smart is fine. Witty is great. But cleverness too often comes at the expense of clarity.
When readers see your title, the question in their minds is simple: Is this book for me?
If your title doesn’t give them a “yes” within three seconds, you’ve lost them.
A good title tells readers what kind of story they’re in for. The Hunger Games instantly conveys conflict, survival, and stakes. Jurassic Park promises not just dinosaurs, but a cautionary tale of technological hubris. Both are straightforward. And both work.
Related: Beating Revision Paralysis: How to Stop Editing and Start Publishing
2. Genre Signals Aren’t Optional
Your title is a beacon. It either sends the right signal to the right people, or it leaves your book invisible.
For fantasy, readers expect a certain cadence: The Lord of the Rings, A Game of Thrones, The Way of Kings.
Science fiction, on the other hand, often uses sharper, techier titles: Neuromancer, Snow Crash, Hyperion.
But those examples are just a snapshot of effective titles. To find your title, do the homework. Study the top 20 books in your genre right now. You’ll see patterns in the titles. Don’t copy them outright; do learn the vocabulary your audience trusts.
Related: Pacing for Today’s Readers: How Editors Cut the Fat Without Killing Your Voice
3. Avoid the Common Pitfalls
Here are the most frequent mistakes I see as an editor when it comes to authors naming books …
Overstuffing: The Chronicles of the Dark Brotherhood and Their Hidden Quest to Reclaim the Eternal Crown is not a title. It’s a synopsis. Convey your book’s mood and genre in as few words as possible
Generic Vagueness: Resist the urge to use one-word titles that tell readers nothing. Eclipse works if you’re Stephenie Meyer. Otherwise, it sounds like a late 90s software manual
Title Twins: Giving your book the same name ten other writers used is a great way to get it ignored. Search Amazon before you commit. If multiple other Blood Moons already exist, yours will be eclipsed.
4. Titles Are Promises
Here’s the key principle to remember: A title is a promise to the reader.
If you call your book Steelfist, readers expect action. If you call it The Magic Playground, they expect whimsy. Breaking that promise is the best way to make readers put the book down and never read it—or any other book of yours—again.
Think of your title as the opening clause of a contract between you and your readers. It tells them what they’re signing up for. Your job is to deliver.
Related: The Editor’s Guide to Tightening Up Wordy Writing
5. Embrace the Power of Subtitles
Newpub authors often forget they can give their books subtitles. Used strategically, they can be your secret weapon.
Example:
Main title: The Burned Book
Subtitle: Arkwright Cycle Book 1
That second line lets readers know the book is part of a series. It also gives you an extra keyword boost. Use that power or lose it.
6. Test Before You Commit
Here’s one step that will give you an advantage over 90 percent of authors: Test your title.
Let me show you how.
Post two or three options where your target audience will see them. Your mailing list, a fiction Discord, or a Facebook writing group. Then just watch the clickthrough rates. The data won’t lie.
If you’re shy about asking, remember this: Readers aren’t thinking about you. They’re thinking about whether your book sounds like their next favorite read.
7. A Checklist for Choosing Your Title
Before you finalize your book’s name, ask yourself:
Does it signal the right genre?
Is it clear, not clever?
Does it stand out from competitors?
Does it make a deliverable promise?
Is it pre-tested by readers?
If you answer “yes” across the board, you’re in good shape.
Final Word
The hard truth is that even a brilliant story with prose that sings won’t get read if the title doesn’t pull its weight. The title is the spearhead of your book’s marketing campaign. So don’t treat it as an afterthought; make it the first and most important line of your pitch. Because readers will.
If you like the gritty action of Berserk and the deep lore of Elden Ring, you’ll love the first epic book in my dark fantasy saga!
Brian Niemeier is a best-selling novelist, editor, and Dragon Award winner with over a decade in newpub. For direct, in-person writing and editing insights, join his Patreon.