The tension hung in the air so thick it felt like you could cut it with a knife. I was one of several editors waiting in the hall for my turn to enter the conference room. Each editor had limited time to present only a few books. The key leaders in the publishing house sat around the table each with a notebook jammed with paper on the book projects under consideration for the day.
I’ve walked into that room with jaded expressions and spoken my author’s title with enthusiasm. The atmosphere shifted and someone piped up, “Well, that’s all we need to hear to accept that one.”
Maybe it was my delivery or the timing but I believe the author included a “gotta have” title with their book proposal. Many new authors don’t pour much energy into their title. Sometimes they send their manuscript or proposal without a title. In the place of a title, these authors write, “working title.” I understand why some authors are reluctant to title their book. They know the publisher can change it during the publishing process.
Here’s what these authors do not understand: While publishers have control of your title, repeatedly I’ve found if you present a great book title, it will survive the editorial process. As the author, you have the greatest passion for your topic and know your subject more intimately than anyone in the publishing house.
I’ve attended title sessions where a whiteboard is filled with possible titles and the group is selecting the book title. In those meetings, one critical person isn’t present: the author. You don’t want your precious book manuscript to be in this precarious situation. It’s one of the reasons numerous authors have told me they hate their title. If you dislike your title, it does not help you sell books.
I strongly encourage every author to work hard at the book title on their proposal.
Your book title should be:
- Easy to remember and three to five words which fit on the book spine. You don’t want to go over five words because most books are spine out in a bookstore.
- Combined with a short yet memorable subtitle which stresses a key benefit (or benefits) for the readers.
After you have created your title, try out your title with your target reader and see if they resonate with it. Titles cannot be copyrighted. But as a writer, you can use these words to hook a literary agent or an editor. A good title takes thoughtful effort and work but is something every author should put into their proposal and submission.
W. Terry Whalin is an acquisitions editor at Morgan James Publishing. Get his free Book Proposal Checklist at: http://terrylinks.com/bookcheck Terry is the author of Book Proposals That Sell, 21 Secrets To Speed Your Success and he has written over 60 books and for more than 50 magazines. He has over 200,000 followers on twitter. http://twitter.com/terrywhalin
