A book by any other name would sound as sweet . . . right? Part of judging a book by its cover includes judging its title. In just a few words, you’ve got to catch your reader’s eye, give them an idea of what your book is about, and make them want to read past the cover. No pressure!
Choosing a title can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be perfect right away. Like any part of the writing process, it takes a bit of brainstorming, refining, and creativity. Here are six things to consider when coming up with your dream title.
There’s no set rule for how long your book’s title should be, but generally, titles are pretty short because they’re easier for readers to remember. The Author Learning Center recommends that titles should be five words maximum. Many fiction titles tend to be between one and three words long (for example, Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier and Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir).
Subtitles are usually only seen in nonfiction books. Whether or not you should include one depends on how long and/or vague your title is. One-to-three-word nonfiction titles are punchy and attention-grabbing, but you’ll want to add a subtitle to explain what kind of book it is (for example, Roxane Gay’s Hunger: A Memoir of [My] Body). Subtitles are also helpful when the title on its own doesn’t make much sense (for example, Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking).
Note that your subtitle must be longer than your title. Subtitles are usually between three and seven words. Ideally, your title and subtitle combined should be ten words max.
When you walk into a bookstore in 2026, you’ll see plenty of titles that follow these two templates:
These titles and their lengths are completely acceptable; trends and style are sometimes more important than guidelines. Many of today’s best sellers follow these templates! Readers have even created their own acronym system to refer to many of them (for example, A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas is commonly known as ACOTAR). But if you want to stand out from the crowd, you may want your title to break this pattern.
If your reader needs a dictionary to understand your title, they’re not going to read the rest of the words you wrote. Stick to familiar language so your reader can use their brainpower on your content, not your cover.
Actress Jennette McCurdy starred in the Nickelodeon show iCarly from 2007 to 2012 and has maintained a low profile since. Her memoir, released a decade later in 2022, was an unexpected success, spending over eighty weeks on the New York Times Best Seller List. Its title? I’m Glad My Mom Died.
There’s no doubt that such a provocative, controversial title caught people’s attention and contributed to the book’s success. The reason it works is that it matches the tone of the content—dark, funny, guiltless, and honest. However, shock value can quickly come across as insensitive if it’s not used purposefully. The tone of your title should match the tone of your book to give readers a sense of what they’re getting into.
If you’re totally stuck, think of book titles you’re drawn to. Which ones stick out when you’re browsing? Which titles do you remember? Do your eyes skip over subtitles, or do they reel you in every time? Choose a title that would make you pick up your book if you’d never heard of it before.
Ultimately, your book is yours, so what matters most is that you choose a title you love. Ballast Books’s editorial and marketing teams can help you choose a title you’ll be proud to have on your shelf and that others will want on theirs. We’ve got you covered!