Book Title Ideas in 12 Steps: Generate Better Selling Titles

Posted on Dec 26, 2023

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Written by Chandler Bolt

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I get how frustrating it can be. Writing the book might seem like the most difficult part…and then you have to actually title the darn thing! You may be someone with a hundred book title ideas or you might have none.

Okay, coming up with book title ideas might not be the hardest part, but it is one of the most important and impacts your ability to position, and therefore sell, your book.

It’s an important process because titles are essentially short hooks that advertise your book using the fewest words possible. And nowadays, with people using Amazon to buy most of their books, the search-ability of your book is also crucial.

It’s also what readers look for first when they discover new books, and can take less than 5 seconds to make a decision (because yes, even before they can judge the book by its cover, they have to first decide to click into it based on the title).

This is why it’s so crucial to craft a perfect one—one that isn’t already taken by someone else while also depicting your book in a way that draws in your ideal audience.

There are a lot of ways to go about titling your book and they’ll differ depending on if you write nonfiction or fiction but the overall process is the same:

Here’s how to come up with book title ideas:

  1. Examples
  2. Subtitle vs Title
  3. Nonfiction
  4. Fiction
  5. Use a book title generator tool
  6. Write down the problem you’re solving
  7. Create a subtitle to clarify
  8. Make it memorable
  9. Make sure it’s genre-appropriate
  10. Create it to stir intrigue
  11. Include your character in the title
  12. Get feedback from your target audience

Let’s create your bestselling title!

Examples of Strong Book Title Ideas

A book’s title isn’t just for telling people what your book is about. It can help brand your book, set the tone of your writing, stand out in your book’s category, and much more.

But for things like this, examples often serve as a better teacher. You can learn from these examples of good book title ideas and get a feel for why they work so well.

Nonfiction book title idea examples:

  • I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy: The polarity alone can sell this book, but even more so given who authored the book—a famous actress. We don’t often think about a person being happy their mom died, and that’s why this is one of the stronger book title ideas.
  • The Detourist by Matthew Emmorey: Given this title is a made-up word, you’d think it wouldn’t work well, but it actually perfectly demonstrates the book’s concept, and though it’s not a real word, it looks real enough that a potential reader would understand.
  • Skip the Flip by Hayden Crabtree: The category makes this one of the stronger book title ideas. It’s about real estate, but is telling the reader to skip the advice they get most often, which is both compelling and a bit polarizing.
  • Broken Like Me by Joseph Reid: A potential reader will find a lot of comfort in this book title, especially given its topic of depression and struggle. It’s one of the better book title ideas simply because it gives the target audience something they need most in the title itself; they’re not alone.
  • American Sherlock by Kate Winkler Dawson: People are familiar with Sherlock Holmes and the stories that go with it. Those who like those fictitious tales are certain to like a nonfiction story of a true Sherlock-like person but in America.

Notice that book title ideas described as strong are often clear but also clever and topical to their intended audience. Who your book is for is crucial for determining a quality title.

And nonfiction book title ideas do differ from nonfiction, so let’s take a look at some of those examples next.

Fiction book title idea examples:

  • A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
  • The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
  • The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
  • The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
  • The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Most of these are considered good book title ideas simply because of the intrigue they bring based on the genre they’re in. Sometimes, fiction titles can be easier because they’re almost inevitable given the story.

Fiction book title ideas can also be much more difficult to come up with because they’re so subjective. What makes a good title in one genre would make a terrible title in another. For that reason, I recommend paying close attention to the fiction section for generating book title ideas below.

Subtitle Ideas VS Book Title Ideas

There is a difference in what your book title idea means and what your subtitle is. Oftentimes, authors don’t think their subtitle is very important, and this makes them take what should be the subtitle and use it as a title. Doing this usually produces a title that’s too long and not memorable.

But knowing the purpose of both types of titles will help you generate more book title ideas to choose from and poll your audience (or a Facebook group of readers, which we’ll cover the process on below) on.

Here’s the basic difference in a subtitle vs a book title:

The main title is the what.

The subtitle is the how and/or why.

Of course there is more to it than this amount of simplicity, but for those struggling to come up with good subtitles that don’t sound like a mouthful when paired with your main title, the problem may lie in what the actual title of the book is.

Take the example of The Detourist by Matthew Emmorey above:

Book Title Ideas The Detourist Example

Here, this book follows the use of “what” and in this case, a “why” for the reader to buy and read the book. Because the title has a made-up word that’s still recognizable, it can give the potential buyer a sample of what the book is about, and clarify why they would want to read it with the subtitle.

WHAT:
The Detourist – a concept that combines tourist and detour.

WHY:
To aid the reader to “get out of your own way, find purpose in unexpected places, and traverse the path to effortless authenticity.”

You can see the example play out in many of the titles given above. Keep in mind that there are exceptions to this framework and it’s only intended to be just that: a framework you can use to start generating book title ideas that will speak to your intended audience.

Notably, memoirs like that of Jennette McCurdy’s I’m Glad My Mom Died don’t often include a subtitle because she’s a well-known celebrity, and her title is polarizing enough to be intriguing.

Nonfiction: Book Title Ideas to Generate

Before you publish a book, you have to come up with an effective title. For some authors, this is easy and the most fun part. For others…it can be what holds them back from publishing.

As you begin crafting your book title ideas for your non-fiction book, the key is knowing that nonfiction readers are looking for solutions. 

Whether it’s losing weight, becoming a master in sales, or becoming better at fostering relationships, they’re simply looking for a book that will solve their problem. After all, most people who write nonfiction books are looking to help people in some way.

Now, if you want to learn a comprehensive process for coming up with book title ideas, watch the video below. Otherwise, carry on!

If you want more written help, here are various methods for coming up with book title ideas.

#1 – Use a Book Title Generator

There are a ton of book title generators out there. And if you’re someone who lacks even the inspiration for a title, these can help you big time, at least for giving you a place to start.

Book title generators are great tools because they can give you a wide range of different names to choose from.

One thing many authors face when choosing a title is sticking too close to the name they previously thought of. This can blind you to potential other titles in various formats.

However, some of these tools can fall very flat, resulting in names that don’t make sense and should not be used as actual titles. Or they create book title ideas that already exist, so you can’t use them anyway.

Therefore, we didn’t just round up a list of every book title generator we could find. Instead, we tested a huge list and decided that these are truly the only ones worth your time.

Nonfiction Book Title Generator

Nonfiction Book Title Generator 2

Enter your information below to get your customized Book Title recommendation! Need more than 1 title recommendation? Submit again!

Nonfiction Book Title Generator 2

Your Title Ideas:

Don't like it?

Nonfiction Book Title Generator 2

Here’s a list of the best book title generators:

Give these a try, and comment down below your favorite! Also, let us know if you want any book title generators we should add to this list.

#2 – Solve a Problem

Your title should be crystal clear on what your readers will get or do by reading your book. Experts say that a title with a clear promise or a guarantee of results will further intrigue your readers. It’s also more searchable this way.

Here are some questions to consider when creating your title:

  • Are you teaching a desirable skill?
  • Can your personal discoveries impact someone’s life?
  • Can your book solve a very difficult problem?
  • Is there a specific outcome you’re helping people achieve?

Here are our favorite book title ideas that offer a clear solution to a problem with promising results:

  • Asperger’s Rules! How to Make Sense of School and Friendship by Blythe Grossman
  • How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease by Michael Greger
  • The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Tim Ferriss
Book Title Ideas Example The 4-Hour Workweek

ACTION STEP: Write down the best solutions or teachings your book offers and form these into potential book title ideas.

#3 – Use a Subtitle for Clarity

A great nonfiction title employs a subtitle to clarify what the desired outcome will be from reading your book. We covered more details of what to include in a subtitle in that section above, but here are some more prompts to help you expand on some subtitle ideas.

  • How can your subtitle further expand on achieving a desirable outcome?
  • What are the biggest pain points that your subtitle can provide a solution for?
  • How can you further address your innovative solution in the subtitle?

Here are our favorite book subtitles that spell out what their readers can expect from reading their books:

  • The Crossroads of Should and Must: Find and Follow Your Passion by Elle Luna
  • Better Than Before: Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives by Gretchen Rubin
  • Work Rules! Insights from Inside Google That Will Transform How You Live and Lead by Laszlo Bock

ACTION STEP: Make a list of 10 attention-grabbing subtitles that promise big outcomes and other positive benefits.

#4 – Make Your Title Unforgettable

Make an effort to be more creative and fun with your book title! Use alliteration to make it easier to read and remember. A memorable and light-hearted title adds additional character to your book and is also a great way to attract readers.

Catchy titles are memorable, boring titles are not.

But also keep in mind: if your book title ideas are overly clever and not clear, it can cause more confusion than it’s worth. The key is using catchiness in a way that is clear. That’s what will make your book title stand out.

Here are some questions to consider when creating your memorable title:

  • Will a fun title turn a normally boring subject into something more interesting?
  • Will adding humor to your title further entice readers?
  • Will a cleverly written title stand out from other books in this genre?

Here are our favorite books that engaged us with clever titles and subtitles:

  • Me Talk Pretty One Day and Let’s Explore Diabetes With Owls by David Sedaris
  • Trust me, I’m Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator by Ryan Holiday
  • Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything by Steven D. Levitt

No matter which method works best on creating a compelling title for nonfiction books, a good thing to remember is to always test multiple titles with different audiences to determine which book title generates the biggest response.

Getting good feedback is the only way to know for certain which title is perfect for your book.

ACTION STEP: Experiment with different types of styles and poll your audience to determine whether a comedic, shocking, or even bizarre title will be the most appealing to your target audience.

Fiction: Book Title Ideas for Stories

Generally, fiction titles are allowed more creative wiggle room than their non-fiction counterparts. That being said, an effective fiction title must still pique your readers’ attention.

And while it’s true that you can title your fiction book with random names, it still must catch the reader’s attention.

Here are some key guidelines to keep in mind:

#1 – Make it Genre-Specific

Your novel title should use language that resonates with both your book genre and target audience. Genre expectations are real and important, and it’s why some book titles that do well in one genre would be awful for another.

For example, a romantic book can call for dreamy language whereas an action book can warrant strong and powerful words.

This means that you must know your book’s genre that best fits the style of title.

Here are some questions to consider for appropriate genre titles:

  • What genre best fits this story?
  • What are three words to describe your story?
  • What are three elements within your story?
  • What are three main settings or locations for your story?
  • What is the main type of conflict in your story?
  • What specific element is unique and unknown to the fiction world?
    • specifically with fantasy fiction, you can title your story based on the magic system, like with Brandon Sanderson’s Stormlight Archive
  • Is there a common or tried-and-true title format for your genre?*
    • * note: be careful with using common formats for titling fiction books, as they can be overused and a reader may mistake the book for something else or be tired of the overused titles and think your story will be overused too

ACTION STEP: Based on the genre of your book, pick out a few keywords that best suit its category and evoke strong emotions in your readers. Play around with various combinations based on how you answered the questions above.

#2 – Make it Intriguing

Create fictional titles intriguing enough to capture the imaginations of your readers, and get to them to read your story. Because the reader will likely know and be familiar with your genre, you can use that to your advantage.

By creating book title ideas that bring about a question or curiosity within the genre itself, you can hook readers before they’ve even read your book description to learn the details of your story.

For example, if you wrote a love story that takes place inside a prison, you can title it Jail Break and it would be farm more intriguing when found in the romance category. Normal romance readers may find book title ideas like this appealing simply because it seems odd.

A great fiction title teases and leaves your audience wanting more. You want your audience to read your title and think, “I must read what’s behind that great book cover!”

Here are some questions to consider on how to pique interest with your title:

  • Which key components of your story best captivates your readers?
  • What emotions do you want your readers to have once they read your title?
  • Are there elements contrary to your book’s genre?
  • What’s an uncommon element found in your story but not in many others?

Here are our favorite fictional titles that drew our attention:

  • Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
  • The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
  • Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson

ACTION STEP: Choose a theme that will best draw your reader’s attention. Come up with 5 book title ideas that will catch your reader’s attention and pique their curiosity based on the genre itself.

#3 – Use Your Characters

A great book title captures the spirit of the protagonist. Some authors simply use the hero’s name for their title while others put the name into the title along with other intriguing elements like in the case of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.

Others have combined the names of their hero along with their special qualities to inform the audience about their protagonist’s accomplishments like Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White.

On the flip side, a formidable antagonist can also make for strong book title ideas.

A sinister name can convey a sense of dread and expectation for what’s to come like Doctor Sleep by Stephen King. Both choices are great title ideas and should be seriously considered for your fictional book.

Here are some questions to consider when including a character as a title:

  • Between the hero and villain, who impacts the story more?
  • Are there any stunning qualities from your characters that will draw a reader’s emotion?
  • Can the plot of the story be summed up as a title?
  • Will you write a series based on a single character?
  • Is the character’s name simple and memorable enough to use for the title?
  • Does the character have a special skill or talent you can include in the title?

Here are our favorite fictional books that use characters for its title:

  • Harry Potter (Literary Series) by J. K. Rowling
  • Bridget Jones’ Diary by Helen Fielding
  • Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card
  • The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab

ACTION STEP: Determine which character best conveys what the story will tell in your book title ideas. You may also include creative words or themes to further showcase the character’s unique qualities or the journey itself. Make sure to list a number of your character’s weaknesses, along with their strengths, because that can often times be even more compelling.

#4 – Get Feedback From Your Target Audience

The people who will know if your book title ideas are a good fit are the people who would pick your book out of a lineup. This is why it’s so important to know the target audience for your book from the start. Your mom or dad or Aunty Sue aren’t good people to help with your title unless they also read that genre.

This can be difficult if you’re not a part of a writing group or aren’t active on social media, so we do recommend putting yourself out there. And if you’re a little shy about it, Facebook now has “anonymous” posting available for inside some writing or fiction groups so you can share your book title ideas without sharing yourself. Notably, this feature isn’t available for all Facebook groups, so you’ll have to search around and find one where it is.

This example is from the group Writers Helping Writers, so you can start there.

Here’s how you can use that inside a Facebook group – just make sure this “post anonymously” toggle is on:

Book Title Ideas Feedback Example

However, here are some tips for getting other book title ideas feedback:

  • Create a poll in a Facebook writing group
  • Reach out to some friends or family you know read in your genre and ask for their feedback
  • Post a poll on Twitter with your various options
  • Do all of these in order to get a wide variety of input

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