Titles should be the attention grabber for your story. Meaning, they need to be able to make someone want to read your book. They need to make someone want to look at your book among the many others alongside it.
[1] Nonfiction
An easy method to use for a great nonfiction title would be PINC (pronounced pink.) A good title is either making a promise, creating intrigue, identifying the need, or just stating the content.
[a] Promise
A title that is promising something is as basic as this title, Barefoot Contessa How Easy is That?: Fabulous Recipes & Easy Tips.
[b] Intrigue
Intrigue includes titles like:
•Heaven is for Real
•The Seven Wonders that Will Change Your Life
•Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know
[c] Need
Titles that identify a need would be:
•Fearless: Imagine Your Life Without Fear
• The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness
•How to Write a Sentence: And How to Read One
[d] Content
Titles that simply state content include:
•Why We Get Fat
•Autobiography of Mark Twain, Vol. 1
•Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy
[2] Fiction
But then again, those are for nonfiction. So now we'll continue onto fiction.
[a] Maximize Your Choices
Ok, approach titling your story as you approach finding a partner. A few of us might find the right person early in the teenage years while most of us take several lovers to find who's right. The same goes for titles. I think what's best to do is to make a list of maybe 5 titles and decide your favorite. Approaching those you trust with the question of which they like better is also wise.
[b] Don't Forget Point of View and Voice
Fiction writers know that you need a distinct voice with a consistent point of view. Although, a lot of us forget that titles should be the same. If you narrate a story in third person, don't call it My Trip Around the World. Now, if you have a really funny story, your title should be the same way. Wacky and memorable.
[c] Include Precise Nouns and Active Verbs
This one is a simple technique that should be easy to master. Select precise nouns and strong, active verbs. For example, Eugene O'Neill's Desire Under the Elms is far catchier and more compelling to read than Love Under the Trees would have been, agreed?
[d] Craft Two Meanings
Readers will consider your title when they first pick it up and when they're finished with your book. So if you make your title gain another meaning as the story progresses then they pack an extra punch when the reader considers it the second time.
[e] Avoid Sabotaging Your Plot With Your Title
A.K.A. if you're writing a mystery or a suspense novel don't give away the ending literally right there on the cover. Try to refrain from using the title as your first or last line, it takes away the big bang from the opening hook or the dramatic conclusion.
[f] Make Your Title Match Your Story
Wow. I'm really disappointed that I actually have to mention this, but I do. If it helps look back on a draft or the outline of your book, that way you get a feel for what it should be called.
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A Guide to Writing
Non-FictionOk, so I know that there are a lot of these books out there on Wattpad. The reason I decided to write this book was because I found it hard to find actual guidelines on the internet for this kind of stuff. So I put together what I learned from many...
