What’s in a Book Title?

ByValerie Comer

How much does a book’s title (not in conjunction with its cover) influence you to buy or read it? At the library, at the bookstore, what makes you look at a book’s spine and go, hmmm, that looks interesting, and pull it out for a second look?

Agent Rachelle Gardner blogged about titling a book Wednesday on her blog. Her post focused on the author’s process of finding a catchy title to use while querying and trying to sell the book, and it’s an excellent post with practical suggestions.

In glancing through the comments, however, someone mentioned Lulu Titlescorer and I got lost over there for awhile. Even the good folks who wrote the program know that the results aren’t foolproof–The DaVinci Code scores low as a title, but high on the NYT lists, for example.

Immediately I plugged in my variousnovel titles (some of these stories are in no danger of ever coming out, don’t worry!) for evaluation. The score is what percent chance this title has of becoming a bestseller.
Joy Comes in the Morning: 22.9%
Of Mice and Men: 10.2% (Ouch! I might need an intervention here!)
Whiter Than Ivories: 26.3%
Majai’s Fury: 51.4%
Tempest: 45.6%
Off Beat: 83.1% (maybe I should get back to this one!)
Quest to Be Queen: 35.9%
Connect the Dot: 44.2%
False Perceptions: 69.0% (okay, that’s funny, as it seem really weak to me!)
Heaven Can Wait: 26.3%

What do you think? Do you think Titlescorer did right by my titles? How about yours? Share your results!

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6 Comments

  2. As far as False Perceptions go, think about that Dean Koontz book False Memories…. (which I haven't read yet, for reasons I cannot explain lol)

    1. False Memories would rate the same, I think, being as the TitleScorer doesn't rate the actual words, merely the layout of them. Hmm! How did some of your titles fare?

      1. Forgotten Star 69%

        Tides of Kondera 26%

        Winter Warrior 35%

        Shadow of Blood 69%

        Beware the Dragon (on literal it was 20% but on figurative it was 55% – did both since it is both… hehe)

        So not bad I guess.

        1. Oooh, didn't see how huge a difference literal and figurative made. Some of mine I was undecided for the same reason you cited–the title was both.

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