While sorting out my book administration the other day, I discovered that I had actually sold more of my second book Fire Engines than I thought. Here I was thinking I had sold no more than 250 copies, but it turned out that in the three years since it came out, more than 400 copies were sold.
But I can hear you think, ‘What has this to do with the importance of a good book title’? A lot actually, as I have since realised that the Fire Engines book has a crappy title and if the title had been a bit catchier, I possibly would have sold more books.
Finding a title for a book is a weird thing. Sometimes it pops right into your head, and sometimes coming up with one is a real struggle.
I know all about it being a struggle, as for three of my five books, finding the title was a long and frustrating process. Even so, these three titles turned out great in the end. People always remark on how much they like the title of my first book, Romans, Vikings, Churches and Chocolate. Little do they know it took me months to settle on this title, but I am sure that the catchiness of it was partly responsible for all 3000 copies selling in less than four years.
Funny enough, I had already come up with the title for the Fire Engines book even before I started writing it. From very early on I had settled on From Dissenters to Fire Engines. At the time it seemed like the perfect title, but I do now realise that this was a clear case of ‘being too close to your subject’. To me the title was perfect, because I knew what Dissenters were and didn’t realise that most people do not. Therefore, to most people the title is confusing and boring and doesn’t invite to read.
I should have gone for a more intriguing title like ‘The hidden churches of York’ or something like that. This would probably have triggered people’s curiosity and make them at least give the book a second glance. Instead, they see a book with a boring title, which they can easily walk past.
From Dissenters to Fire Engines is a nice little book, with lots of very accessible information, specially for the non-academic person who just wants to learn something about the history and architecture of York’s lesser-known churches. However, the title doesn’t reflect this at all, with the result that my target audience isn’t reached. Unfortunately, I can’t change the title of this book anymore, as 1000 copies were printed.
Luckily, mistakes are made to learn. I now know how important a title is for a book and in the future will do my best to come up with catchy and intriguing titles!
2 Responses to “How Important Is A Book Title?”
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Sometimes a bad title can be salvaged by adding a few words below the title or at the bottom of the cover page. For example, From Dissenters to Fire Engines add a line below the title The Hidden Churches of York. This can be done easily with an ebook because it is easy to change the book cover. Less easy with a POD book, because the POD publisher will charge for a change, but not impossible. Even less easy for large print runs because you are stuck with the original cover until all of the print run is sold out.
You are right, Earl. Unfortunately this particular book has only come out traditionally printed, so changing the title is not an option until all 1000 copies are sold. And to be honest, I am not expecting to have another print run of this book, so I am stuck with the title.
Any how, it is still selling, although maybe not as fast as it might have done with a better title.