Writing a book is a passionate journey filled with creative humps, innovative plateaus, and yes, the dreaded writer's block. But what if I told you that there’s a trick that can turn your book’s title into a beacon - guiding you through this challenging journey? Your title, believe it or not, could be the way to keep your creativity on track, while also advertising the problem-solving potential of your book.
In this blog post, I'll share with you how to align the title of your book with the problem you're attempting to solve, and why it is a game-changer for authors like you and me.
The Issue with Eccentric Titles
As authors, we often fall in love with elaborate titles; they seem to express our creativity. Yet, such titles may not resonate with our intended content, and could even contribute to writer's block.
When you’re just starting to write and you hit the inevitable writer's block wall, you tend to focus on the parts of your manuscript that are completed which is usually the title. If your title lacks synergy with your content, it can lead you to a creative dead-end. But, if it encapsulates the core problem you’re addressing, it can act as a guiding light, keeping your thoughts aligned and focused. I stumbled on this strategy when I was struggling to get clarity with my content for my first book Think up to get up. Don't laugh but my first title was called understanding yourself. The idea was as you grow and understand who God created you to be you will begin to understand yourself. But as I began learning about the victim mentality and self-limiting beliefs my focus began to shift toward thinking above your circumstance instead of understanding your individuality. For a couple of years, I struggled to write because I was committed to keeping the original title and my creativity was limited because I was trying to make my new ideas make sense with my old vision. As I worked with many aspiring authors that tends to be their primary roadblock also. It wasn't until I changed the title to "Think up to get up: how to Break free from destructive ways of thinking" that everything fell into place. The title not only reflected the main problem my book was addressing, but also acted as a guiding force, keeping me on track with my content and ideas.
How to Align Your Title with Your Content
To create a title that aligns perfectly with your content, you need to understand the core problem your book is solving. Ask yourself, what are readers struggling with that my book can help them overcome? This will give you clarity on what your title should focus on. Next, brainstorm different variations of titles that captures the core problem your book is solving and the outcome your book teaches.
Identify the Problem You Want to Solve
The first step in creating an effective book title is identifying the problem you want to solve for your readers. What do they struggle with? What keeps them up at night? What solution does your book offer? Once you have a clear understanding of the problem you want to solve, it becomes easier to come up with a title that accurately represents your book's content.
Use Keywords and Phrases
Think about the words and phrases that best describe the problem your book addresses. These keywords and phrases can be used in your title to grab the attention of potential readers who are searching for solutions to that specific problem. This not only makes your title more effective, but it also helps with search engine optimization (SEO) when potential readers are searching blog post on particular topics.
Solution-Oriented Titles & Problem-Oriented Subtitles
For example, if you want to write a book about the broad subject of fear, break it down and identify the specific problem you're tackling. Then, make it your title - and let your subtitle be the solution.
For example, if you want to inspire people not to let fear halt their dreams, your book title could be "Fear: The Dream Killer", with a subtitle like "Overcoming Mental Barriers to Achieve Your Desires". This approach reminds you, especially during tough times, of your book's purpose - to solve a specific problem.
Evolution is the Catalyst of Clarity
Keep in mind, your book title can evolve as you progress with your writing. Your initial clarity can morph, giving you a deeper vision about what you want to convey, and that's okay. Titles should be fluid, adapting as your insights deepen and your narrative scope broadens.
In conclusion, your title should represent the problem your book tackles, and your subtitle should depict the solution your book offers. This way, you maintain focus, reduce writer's block, and effectively convey your message to your audience. Your book’s title should be more than just a fancy header on the cover, let it be a guide, steering you on course and resonating with your readers' problems.
If you are struggling to identify the problem your story solves or the solution you offer, click the link below
to book a free strategy session. Your story may hold the transformation, needed for someone to go to their next level but to help them you must first go to your next level!
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