2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25
If earlier writing seemed to most people an unattainable peak, now even a young and unknown author has a good chance of success. The Internet and social networks are literally overflowing with works of different authors of different genres and different quality. So how do you get the public's attention to your novel? One of the important nuances is the correct, interesting, catchy name.
In this article we will tell you how to name the book so that it will attract readers.
Mistake 1: The title is too difficult
Sometimes aspiring authors, in an attempt to stand out and come up with something more original, go too far. As a result, the title of the book is not something to remember, it is difficult to read it the first time. Who will read a novel called "The Adventures of Proteroctavius II"? No, someone, of course, will, but the majority will put the volume aside forside and choose something with a simpler and more understandable name. Naming a book after a main character is a good idea, but only if it is:
- Not too long and difficult to read.
- Not too boring and typical.
- Not found in titles of other works.
Mistake 2: Not a unique name
"The Beast", "The Wild Beast", "The Beast Man", "My Beast", "The Heart of the Beast"… What will the reader choose from a dozen books with the same title? Your book will be one in ten or one in a hundred, and it is far from certain that it will be the first. And it is quite possible that the reader will brush aside this mass of identical works instead of looking for differences in them. How to name a book so that it is not lost? To get started, take and type the intended name in the Google or Yandex search engine. If, upon request, a dozen works appear on the first page, you should not use this title.
Mistake 3: other associations
You can mean whatever you want with the word "Avengers", but most readers will remember movies about the superhero team. This mistake concerns not only the names of famous films, but also, in principle, words that cause people to clearly associate with something. For example, the name "Ax" or "Axes" is likely to cause the majority to associate with maniacs, butchers, etc., even if the book is actuallyabout a good peaceful lumberjack. But if you write "Bearded man" or "Bearded man in the forest", the reader will have an image of exactly that good-natured bearded man in work clothes in question.
Mistake 4: The title doesn't reflect the content
Never fool readers. Do not write in the title what will not be in the book. You can't call a book about apple pie Pear Picking. Even if the dissonance is not so obvious and the reader does not notice the catch, he will still feel disappointed. How to properly name a book so that the title is not banal, but at the same time reflects the content? Multiple options:
- Think of an interesting metaphor. But keep in mind that if there is a metaphor in the title, it must be mentioned in the work, otherwise the reader may not understand what it is about.
- Name the book after the main character. If the name is too long, not original, or does not reflect the essence of the book enough, you can describe the main character in one or two words. For example, not "Eugene", but "Machinist Eugene" or simply "Machinist". Not "Lucy", but "Pretty Lucy", "Lucy in a Red Hat" or "Pretty Woman in a Red Hat", etc.
- Use the main action of the book in the title. For example, if the story is about a person who got lost in the forest, the book may be called "Searching for an exit", "Finding a way out", "Wandering in the forest".
- If there is some special thing in your work that takes nothe last place in the course of the story is a great idea for a title. Also, if the protagonist has some object that matters to him, with which he does not part, this can also be used. "Medallion", "Porcelain Ballerina", "Plush Bunny", "Picture Flashlight" sounds pretty interesting, doesn't it?
Mistake 5: The title attracts the wrong audience
Let's say a serious adult man is unlikely to open a book called "Plush Bunny", even if it actually refers to a hired hitman. The title of the work should be designed for the same audience as the work itself. Otherwise, you will not attract readers who are able to appreciate your book. What is the name of the children's book? Well, certainly not "Pistol Shot", even if you mean a toy gun and talk about cute children's games. Few people will buy such a book for their child. What is the name of such a book? For example, "Blue Pistol" or "Plastic Bullet". Feel the difference? It's still about the gun, but now the title will appeal to exactly those readers who will be interested in such a book.
Also don't forget that it's better to come up with a title when the book is already written. Of course, you can give the work a working title for convenience and inspiration, but once you've finished the book, you'll be better able to judge which title best describes it. After all, how can you call a book that does not yet exist?Good luck with your work!
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