Some Traits for a Good Story Title
1
Make the title catchy. If you were in a bookstore, what kind of title would make you take the book off the shelf and read it? A title like Mary wouldn't grab as much attention as Leaf Dapple. Make sure the title relates to your story. For a drama-based story, try to come up with something dramatic.
* For example, "Girl Missing" or "Boy Deep Under. In other words, make the title memorable.
2
Use a dynamic phrase in your story. If there is a phrase in your story that sounds especially nice, use it.
* For example, if there's a line saying, "Love is innocence, but somehow spirals into something I don't think innocent people should want", you could use Love is Innocence as your title, or Somehow Spirals. This makes the person analyze or think about the story. It won’t be boring.
3
Alliterate. Alliteration refers to beginning each word with the same letter. This can sound catchy, like: Riding Ridiculous Rainbows or Love Like Lilliana or Shirley Shocks the Sherriff.
4
Rhyme. Rhyming helps to make the words ring in your head. Be careful though; it may sound more like a children's book than something professional. If it's a good rhyme, use it; if not, drop it. If it is a children's book, rhyming can be the perfect way to introduce a curious reader to your story.
* For example, Amelia Bedelia, Deep Creep, The Paper Caper, OR Kate Likes to Skate
5
Be humorous. If your book is funny, the title should reflect the humorous and fanciful journey the reader has ahead. For example: "How to Avoid Smelly Animals", "My Year Mucking Out Pig Stalls" or "The Daily Grind of the Barnyard for City Folk".
6
Try old languages. Take a key aspect of your novel, such as nature, or perhaps words that go with your story, in this case "Malice" and "Striker". Find a language reflecting the tone of your story (Slavic languages for darker stories, Romantic languages for "epics").
* In this case, Old Norse. Translate the word or phrase––Malice Striker in Old Norse becomes, for example, Nidhogg. This is eye-catching and “ear”-catching.
7
Take a commonly used phrase.
* For example, we'll use "happily ever after". Take off a couple words, so the outcome would be Ever After. It has more impact and becomes exciting and thought provoking.
8
Use a simile, let's say, "sings like a bird", if the story is about a singer. Use the word "like" or "as" and the rest of the words after that word, so it would become Like a Bird. Again, we’re going for impact and also novelty.
1
Make the title catchy. If you were in a bookstore, what kind of title would make you take the book off the shelf and read it? A title like Mary wouldn't grab as much attention as Leaf Dapple. Make sure the title relates to your story. For a drama-based story, try to come up with something dramatic.
* For example, "Girl Missing" or "Boy Deep Under. In other words, make the title memorable.
2
Use a dynamic phrase in your story. If there is a phrase in your story that sounds especially nice, use it.
* For example, if there's a line saying, "Love is innocence, but somehow spirals into something I don't think innocent people should want", you could use Love is Innocence as your title, or Somehow Spirals. This makes the person analyze or think about the story. It won’t be boring.
3
Alliterate. Alliteration refers to beginning each word with the same letter. This can sound catchy, like: Riding Ridiculous Rainbows or Love Like Lilliana or Shirley Shocks the Sherriff.
4
Rhyme. Rhyming helps to make the words ring in your head. Be careful though; it may sound more like a children's book than something professional. If it's a good rhyme, use it; if not, drop it. If it is a children's book, rhyming can be the perfect way to introduce a curious reader to your story.
* For example, Amelia Bedelia, Deep Creep, The Paper Caper, OR Kate Likes to Skate
5
Be humorous. If your book is funny, the title should reflect the humorous and fanciful journey the reader has ahead. For example: "How to Avoid Smelly Animals", "My Year Mucking Out Pig Stalls" or "The Daily Grind of the Barnyard for City Folk".
6
Try old languages. Take a key aspect of your novel, such as nature, or perhaps words that go with your story, in this case "Malice" and "Striker". Find a language reflecting the tone of your story (Slavic languages for darker stories, Romantic languages for "epics").
* In this case, Old Norse. Translate the word or phrase––Malice Striker in Old Norse becomes, for example, Nidhogg. This is eye-catching and “ear”-catching.
7
Take a commonly used phrase.
* For example, we'll use "happily ever after". Take off a couple words, so the outcome would be Ever After. It has more impact and becomes exciting and thought provoking.
8
Use a simile, let's say, "sings like a bird", if the story is about a singer. Use the word "like" or "as" and the rest of the words after that word, so it would become Like a Bird. Again, we’re going for impact and also novelty.