A good title is a must. As the primary fiction selector for a large library system, I read dozens of book reviews from a variety of reviewing sources–Publisher’s Weekly, Booklist, Kirkus–to name a few. When I see books with banal, cliché, or trendy titles, I am less excited to read the review than when I see titles that are original, clever or catchy. Similarly, customers are also more likely to read on when they see a title that captures their attention. Try not to go for a super long title, as such titles can be difficult to remember. You want your title to stick in a potential customer’s head; one that’s easy to remember and easy to communicate to other potential buyers. This is especially true with fiction books which rarely have subtitles. A good title should not only sound good; it should also capture the theme, central conflict, genre and essence of your book. In that way, it provides important information to readers and becomes an integral part of your story.
Grace Mattioli is the author of the Greco Family Trilogy books, including Olive Branches Don’t Grow on Trees, Discovery of an Eagle, and The Bird that Sang in Color. These books are available from all major online book sellers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books.
