Know what you want to call your book? Worried about figuring it out? Either way, you’re probably thinking about it too soon.
Lots of people come to me with a book idea they’re passionate about. One of the first things they often ask me is, “What should I call it?” Or they’ll say, “I already know the title!”
I love the enthusiasm. Yet I usually say something that catches them off guard: “Don’t stress about your title. And don’t get too married to your title idea.”
Why do I say that? Because if you’re still writing or revising your book, chances are you’re jumping the gun.
Why You Shouldn’t Lock in Your Title Too Soon
Titles matter a lot. A. Lot.
But not right away. Why?
Here’s what I’ve learned from people in the book world like Yvonne Parks, the cover designer for Rich Dad, Poor Dad and other bestsellers:
👉 A strong title either pulls readers in emotionally or tells them what the book is about.
👉 Whichever one your title does, the subtitle should do the other.
“Okay,” you’re thinking, “that tells me why titles are so important, but what does it have to do with waiting to come up with a title?”
The reason you should probably wait is because your title and subtitle are about your reader – not about you. They need to be crafted with your ideal audience in mind or for that person scanning Amazon or wandering the aisles of a bookstore, looking for something that grabs them.
And if you’re like most people just figuring out what you want to say and how that fits into the shape of a book, you probably don’t know exactly who that audience is yet.
Which makes coming up with a great, useful title difficult.
(We) Do Judge a Book By Its Title
I once heard someone from E! magazine say they received thousands of book submissions and could only spend a few seconds deciding whether to consider each one. The cover (including the title) was a huge deciding factor.
Now, maybe you’re thinking, “I don’t care about being featured in E! magazine.”
Totally fair.
But lots of everyday readers decide whether to pick up a book based on the front cover. There’s a reason George Eliot is attributed with the quote, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
Because we do! It’s a natural human inclination.
A Real-World Reminder from the Bookstore
Confession: I’m one of those people who likes to hang out at Barnes & Noble.
And sometimes (probably more often than my husband would like) I come home with a(nother) book. He doesn’t complain, but I can picture what’s going through his mind: “More? We don’t even have room on the shelves for the ones we already have!”
What he doesn’t know is that I actually leave most of my book finds in the bookstore. I just love browsing. Wandering through a few genres, I’ll pick out a handful of books, then settle into the coffee shop with a tall flat white to skim through them.
What makes me pick them up in the first place? Not the back cover. Not the writing style. It’s the title, the subtitle, and the cover design – the front or the spine, depending on how it’s shelved.
Those are what get me to stop and reach for the book. It’s only then that I flip it over, skim the back, or peek inside to see if I want to check it out further.
What This Means for You
Whether you want your book featured in E! magazine or just hope it resonates with a niche audience, the principle is the same: your cover and title get people to pick your book up or keep scrolling.
And because those elements are so important, they’re worth developing later, in collaboration with your publisher, designer, or marketer. People who know what’s trending, what’s working in your genre, and how to position your book well.
You can absolutely use a working title as you write, but don’t cling to it too tightly. Often, the best title comes out of the writing process itself – or even after you’ve finished.
Bottom Line?
Don’t stress about your title. And don’t get too attached to one idea.
Focus on writing a strong, clear, engaging manuscript.
Then polish it. Get it edited. Let it become what it’s meant to be.
The right title will come when the book is ready for it.
Want to know more about the writing and publishing process? I’m offering a few ways to support you:
💻 My Popular 6-Week Online Course
Want to demystify the book publishing process and learn how you can practice, improve, or just plain START the habit of writing?
You and a group of fellow storytellers will join me once a week for a 60-90 minute Zoom (depending upon how much time we need for questions, etc.). One or two sessions will be purely informational, but for the rest, we’ll cultivate your work through exercises to give you hands-on practice of what we talk about.
The entire 6-week course is $150 and the next one starts on August 21. Learn more here.
🖋️ 1:1 Coaching
Whether you’re just starting out or stuck in the middle, I offer personalized support to help you clarify your book’s purpose, create a writing plan, and understand the publishing process. Options include:
- Coaching calls only (budget-friendly)
- Coaching + feedback on your weekly writing assignments
👉 Click here to book a free call and let’s talk about the best way to get your story into the world.
You’ve got something to say – and I’d love to help you say it well. ✍️
P.S. Still thinking about your title? Write it down. Just hold it loosely – you may surprise yourself with something even better later on.