https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/publishing/preparation/w/choosing-a-title/2217/book-titles-when-are-subtitles-necessary---articleen-USTelligent Community 10https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/publishing/preparation/w/choosing-a-title/2217/book-titles-when-are-subtitles-necessary---articleSat, 04 Mar 2017 09:36:39 GMT809ccca5-04d2-44bf-8f5c-ff0a6d33c80b:9fd48fc2-090e-4911-b04e-4b8a2187df90Molly Blaisdellhttps://www.authorlearningcenter.com/publishing/preparation/w/choosing-a-title/2217/book-titles-when-are-subtitles-necessary---article#commentsCurrent Revision posted to Choosing a Title by Molly Blaisdell on 3/4/2017 9:36:39 AM<br /> <p>Sometimes a title isn&#39;t enough to draw in readers. A subtitle will help you position your book in the marketplace. This example driven article will help you decide if you need a subtitle.</p> <p>Have you ever picked up a book and had no clue what it is about? Subtitles clarify, expand on and define titles. They are a tool of the non-fiction writer and are rarely used in fiction. The following three examples will help you decide if your book needs a subtitle.</p> <p>&nbsp;Some non-fiction books have unusual titles that don&#39;t reveal much about the book&#39;s subject matter. For example in <em>Outliers: The Story of Success, </em>Malcolm Gladwell reveals the uncommon term &quot;outliers&quot; with a simple subtitle. Readers are tantalized with the unfamiliar term but are drawn in with clarity of the subtitle. Is your title unusual too? Clarify it with a simplistic subtitle. You interest the reader with your oblique title and hook them with the subtitle.</p> <p>Other non-fiction titles may misdirect some readers, and subtitles helps position them in the marketplace. Consider the title and subtitle: <em>Hyperspace: A Scientific Odyssey Through Parallel Universes, Time Warps and the 10th Dimension</em> by Michio Kaku. Author Kaku offers direction to hungry readers by expanding on the one word title. Readers immediately know this is no sci-fi book but a read for those interested in theoretical physics. A carefully chosen subtitle will help the right readers snap up your book.</p> <p>Some non-fiction titles are provocative in nature but don&#39;t really reveal the subject matter of a book at all. A subtitle is absolutely necessary to connect these books with readers. Think about this title:<em> Some Assembly Required - A Journal of a Son&#39;s First Son</em> by Anne Lamott and Sam Lamott. The title could cover a myriad of subjects. It&#39;s interesting but broad in scope. Without a subtitle, this book might be manual on how to make homemade beer to a book on parenting. The title evokes a feeling in the reader, but the subtitle is the hook. Your provocative title might need a subtitle to target your readers. Consider adding one to more effectively market your book.</p> <p>Tip - Create the best subtitles through collaboration. Survey supportive individuals with a list of possible subtitles. Ask them which one they like best. This not only helps you chose a great title but you&#39;ve also begun to engage others in the creation of your book. A good thing when it comes time to market it.</p><div style="clear:both;"></div> <div style="font-size: 90%;">Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction</div> https://www.authorlearningcenter.com/publishing/preparation/w/choosing-a-title/2217/book-titles-when-are-subtitles-necessary---article/revision/1Wed, 14 Dec 2016 00:00:00 GMT809ccca5-04d2-44bf-8f5c-ff0a6d33c80b:9fd48fc2-090e-4911-b04e-4b8a2187df90Molly Blaisdellhttps://www.authorlearningcenter.com/publishing/preparation/w/choosing-a-title/2217/book-titles-when-are-subtitles-necessary---article#commentsRevision 1 posted to Choosing a Title by Molly Blaisdell on 12/14/2016 12:00:00 AM<br /> <p>Sometimes a title isn't enough to draw in readers. A subtitle will help you position your book in the marketplace. This example driven article will help you decide if you need a subtitle. </p> <p>Have you ever picked up a book and had no clue what it is about? Subtitles clarify, expand on and define titles. They are a tool of the non-fiction writer and are rarely used in fiction. The following three examples will help you decide if your book needs a subtitle.</p> <p>&#160;Some non-fiction books have unusual titles that don't reveal much about the book's subject matter. For example in <em>Outliers: The Story of Success, </em>Malcolm Gladwell reveals the uncommon term "outliers" with a simple subtitle. Readers are tantalized with the unfamiliar term but are drawn in with clarity of the subtitle. Is your title unusual too? Clarify it with a simplistic subtitle. You interest the reader with your oblique title and hook them with the subtitle. </p> <p>Other non-fiction titles may misdirect some readers, and subtitles helps position them in the marketplace. Consider the title and subtitle: <em>Hyperspace: A Scientific Odyssey Through Parallel Universes, Time Warps and the 10th Dimension</em> by Michio Kaku. Author Kaku offers direction to hungry readers by expanding on the one word title. Readers immediately know this is no sci-fi book but a read for those interested in theoretical physics. A carefully chosen subtitle will help the right readers snap up your book. </p> <p>Some non-fiction titles are provocative in nature but don't really reveal the subject matter of a book at all. A subtitle is absolutely necessary to connect these books with readers. Think about this title:<em> Some Assembly Required - A Journal of a Son's First Son</em> by Anne Lamott and Sam Lamott. The title could cover a myriad of subjects. It's interesting but broad in scope. Without a subtitle, this book might be manual on how to make homemade beer to a book on parenting. The title evokes a feeling in the reader, but the subtitle is the hook. Your provocative title might need a subtitle to target your readers. Consider adding one to more effectively market your book. </p> <p>Tip - Create the best subtitles through collaboration. Survey supportive individuals with a list of possible subtitles. Ask them which one they like best. This not only helps you chose a great title but you've also begun to engage others in the creation of your book. A good thing when it comes time to market it. </p><div style="clear:both;"></div> <div style="font-size: 90%;">Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction</div>