If you can’t judge a book by its cover, then can you judge it by its title?
I am terrible at coming up with titles for my books. I usually don’t. My editor is the one who has titled all but a few of my books.
The other day I was looking at a bestseller list and it got me thinking about the kind of titles that would make me buy the book without even knowing what was inside it.
I love titles that evoke a feeling like:
The Fault in Our Stars
Own the Wind
A Week in Winter
Light in the Shadows
I have no idea what these books are about but they sound like something I wouldn’t mind curling up with on a rainy day.
Other titles are instantly ominous like:
You Don’t Want to Know
No Way Back
To Die For
Now You See Her
And Then She Fell
One-word titles are really popular right now apparently since all five books in my Beartooth, Montana series will have a single-word title. Unforgiven, Redemption, Forsaken, Atonement, Mercy.
They won’t be alone. On the bestseller list there was:
Fever
Light
Rush
Divergent
Wild
Shred
Twisted
Usually it takes two words though to come up with a title:
Six Years
The Host
Safe Haven
Starting Now
Gone Girl
I wondered if there was a word that hasn’t been used for a title so I went to Amazon and began experimenting by trying to find all one-word titles that began with “For”:
Forgiven
Forsaken
Forever
Foreboding
Forgiveness
Forgotten
Forged
Fortune
Foretold
Fortitude
I finally had to quit.
I know some writers who spend hours coming up with their titles. I know others who are like me 
and few of their choices ever make the cover. I admire writers who are good at great titles. It gives me a headache.
They say there are only so many plots so they get used over and over again. Apparently the same can be said of book titles. If you’ve thought of a word, there is a good chance it’s been used as a book title – often many times.
My very first book was titled Odd Man Out. I even had the heroine on the cover with both men. The title really fit the book, which I think is fairly rare. I’ve had some I’ve liked a lot less since. My most genetic was A Woman With a Mystery, though that did pretty well cover it.
So how important is a title? Would you still buy a book with a bad title? Or does a cheesy, bad title ruin it for you?
USA Today Bestselling author B.J. Daniels lives in Montana with her husband, Parker, and three Springer Spaniels, Spot, Jem and Ace. She writes for both Harlequin Intrigue and HQN. When she isn’t writing, she snowboards, waterskis, camps, fishes, quilts and plays tennis.
Good morning B. J., love today’s post. I buy books based on titles. If it grabs me, I’m sold. The combination of the words evoke a feeling in me that just won’t let to. I bout many books because of that, and as a result I found some really great reads. The title evokes a feeling if wonder or cuses me to stop and think as I wonder why, makes me curious to see what is going on. Sometimes it evokes an image of what could possibly be going on in them, or even flashes a picture of where it could be taking place. Titles have a way of grabbing me. The books I enjoyed the most are the ones with titles that elicit a deep reaction before I even open the book.
Peace and love,
Paula R.
Thanks Paula. Readers like you are why so many authors slave over finding the perfect title!
But I know what you mean. Some titles as well as some covers just make me want to read the book without even knowing what it’s about. Roxanne’s covers yesterday did that!! I just wanted to curl up with her books!
Peace and love to you,
BJ
Dare I admit it? I frequently judge books on their covers. Granted if I’ve found an author I love not so much, but when discovering new ones I’m usually that shallow. But I have to say, I’ve never given a title that much thought. The cover lures me in, then I read the blurb to see if a buy it. In the past I’ve even lost track of which book has which storyline because I didn’t pay attention to the title. Opps. Sorry. I guess I should hang my head in shame……
LOL Tanya! I had to laugh because I’m like you! I just finished a great book and I was talking about it to a friend and she asked the title and I couldn’t remember it!!!
To me it is all about the story inside. I also don’t pay much attention to the back cover copy because I’ve learned that it often doesn’t fit the book. 🙂
So it is nice to find out I’m not alone. 🙂
I never ever read the back of the book and/or description. So I go entirely off the title and the book cover. If I am drawn in by those I read it!!!
I read at least a book a day and find that if I read the back of the book I find myself judging the book and thinking it’s the same as some other book I have read in the past and then won’t spend the money on it. This way I don’t know what happens until the very end!!
I will say that the title of a book has kept me from even looking at the back of the book to consider buying it. The title does have to capture my attention more then the cover most of the time. Every once in a blue moon I check out a book because of cover but it really is more about the title.
Then once I am reading an author I tend not to worry about either one.
Linda, that is good to hear. I know authors worry over their titles. I have a friend who got a really bad title. I was hoping it was so bad that readers would find it funny. That didn’t happen unfortunately.
Thanks for sharing.
Yes. I actually have a process. I read the title then the back. If the back doesn’t catch me then I may not read it all.
Summer, I like your process!!
Good Morning B.J.,
I don’t judge a book by its cover..actually if the story grabs me I’m sold. I don’t care about the cover. Sometimes I like the name of the book and that by itself sells me. Since being on Facebook I take suggestions from other readers of books they have read and glad I have..this has introduced me to some new authors…that’s another thing..all the authors I’m reading currently I love there titles. I always wonder where they got the titles. Some I can see the name with the book, and some not but it never ever turns me away from buying books from that other. I find it a challenge to see why that name was picked. Lol
LOL Mona, I often find it a challenge too to find why that name was picked — when I wasn’t the one who picked it!! 🙂
Seriously my editor is much better at titles than me.
But I agree, the best way to pick a book is by word of mouth. I love hearing what everyone is reading. I always want to go out and buy the books!
Hi ..B.J.
I just downloaded your book The New Deputy in Town, I love the title…and I love small town books with sheriffs…and I like the cover with the nice hot looking sheriff on it. Your book has it all….Mona
Oh, titles are key! And I spend a great deal of energy on trying to find the right one for each book. And, to be honest, I have yet to have a signing where at least one person didn’t come up to me and say how much they loved the titles…and they bought the books. so, that’s good enough anecdotal evidence to the importance of title for me:)
Deborah, thanks for weighing in. Picking the right title is the hard part. But it sounds like you’ve got it figured out!
As a reader, titles can and do catch my attention, as does the cover. But it’s the blurb or word of mouth that gets me to hit the buy button for an author that’s new or I don’t normally read.
As a writer, titles and blurbs are the bane of my existence. I often have a WIP that is titled something like this “UF book #2 -Something with Devil in it.” If I’m lucky, the title will come to me from something I’ve written in the story. Sometimes, I get the title and then figure out characters and plot to match.
Silver, I used to write short stories where all I had was the title. It can inspire you!
But I’m the same way. I could spend the whole day trying to come up with a title that probably won’t be on the book. So I tend to just call my books by the hero’s name until I can at least suggest a title.
A good title is like a good cover — they make the reader look. Then the cover copy and first pages sell the book.
I’ve titled more than half my books. Usually it’s a collaboration, where my editor, agent and I bandy about a list until one of the titles we all say YES. I’ve only had one title I didn’t like (and didn’t title) because my publisher thought it fit with the trilogy title rhythm.
For my first Max book, I wanted to call it MAXIMUM EXPOSURE. That got axed. Then I came up with a list of titles, but one of them I loved above all others. Fortunately, so did my editor, agent and the publisher. I just can’t share it yet! But it’s a one-word title. 🙂
LOL Allison. A secret title!! We can’t wait.
I love your process. That is kind of way mine have worked as well. I just never come up with many that I love. I think that is because the title gets chosen BEFORE I’ve written the book and you know how us organic writers are. 🙂
Hi Allison,
All of your books have been wonderful. I’m looking forward to reading Stolen. I have loved each of the titles of your books. I’m glad Patrick is going to get his story too….if I remember correctly its called Cold Snapped and the Kincaid family is coming home for Christmas? I like the title.
All my best…Mona
Hi Mona — Thank you! And yes, COLD SNAP is Patrick’s book … though there is a lot going on, and only the first part is dedicated to him and his love interest, Elle Santana. Elle is a totally different character than I’ve written; should be interesting!
I don’t necessarily judge a book by it’s title, but I most certainly judge it by it’s cover. In fact the basic way I judge books and decide if I want to read them is I’ll pick it up if I like the cover image, become more intrigued or slightly put off by the title and then seal the deal of whether I will buy//read it based upon the synopsis. It may not be the best way to choose books to read but this method has rarely steered me in the wrong direction. I am trying to break myself of this habit but it’s a hard thing to give up after years of picking books by this method.
Hey Sarah, if it works for you, stick with it!
I have covers I love and some that I am ho hum about. The ho hums you hope will sell in spite of the cover. 🙂
It’s so hard for me to come up with titles! I had really liked Forsaken for my next release, but my editor voted it down. I was glad when you mentioned that was your next title! The title is often the last step of the book for me. Some people have it before they start writing. I’m lucky in that my editor always wants me happy with the title. I voted down several of hers, too.
Titles always catch my eye. They’re the important first clue as to what is going on inside the book.
Kendra, that is why we need to fight for covers that reflect what is inside.
I had some back cover copy a few years ago that seriously did just the opposite. Whoever wrote it didn’t read the book. 🙂
Play on word titles get me every time like Gluten for Punishment, For the Halibut or Beef Stolen-Off.
Anne, I love the mysteries and food series. They come up with such great titles!!
I’ve never really paid a lot of attention to titles. I pick books based on if the synopsis on the back of the book sounds like something I would like. An intresting title makes a book more memorable but I’ve never not bought a book because of the title.
Erin, that’s what I do, especially now that I know that titles often are chosen by the publisher, editor and author — and the author doesn’t always have the last say.
A title (and the cover) might cause me to pick up a book but I’ll usually do a bit more investigating before I buy. Of course, if a bad title causes my not to pick it up – end of story.
Yep LD. That’s the reason everyone strives to come up with something original. But what a chore since it has been done and done.
Thanks for stopping by.