Writing Information

Generating Nonfiction Book Titles Without a Hassle


The process of developing a working title for your nonfiction book can be a hassle sometimes. You first have to brainstorm a few titles, and if the results aren't to your liking, you are practically forced to brainstorm more possible titles --- or do you?

One way to shorten this process is to have a book title bank at your fingertips that will include trigger titles, such as the ones listed below:

Techniques for ----

One Way to ----

How to ----

Handbook for -----

Protecting ----

Investing for ----

Saving Your -----

Finding Security in -----

Fixing -----

Getting -----

Each of the sample triggers above has one or more missing words for you to fill in. For example, if you choose the trigger, "Getting ----," you can write, "Getting Richer Your Way," and "Getting Best Results at Work." Of course, a lot will depend on your subject matter and your book's purpose.

But that's not all. You can expand the first title, "Getting Richer Your Way" by adding "Ten Little-Known Techniques That Could Save you a Bundle!" or something like that. Suddenly, brainstorming becomes more productive -- and fun.

In the meantime, keep depositing more trigger titles to your "bank." Browse at the library and bookstore, for example, and take note of the nouns and verbs used in book titles. Remember to browse in the dictionary as well, finding and writing down possible nouns and verbs. Then consider combining one or two of them. For example, one writer turned the word "entreprenuer" into "mompreneur." Playing with words and word combinations may not only give you an interesting title, but may suggest a new angle!

Dorothy Zjawin is the author of "Teaching Ideas for the Come-Alive Classroom" (Parker Pub. Co./Prentice-Hall) and webmaster of http://www.profitable-pen.com, a source of writing ideas that features a free forum.


MORE RESOURCES:

Reuters

Pelosi to automakers: Bring it in writing
MSNBC - 4 hours ago
"We want it in writing. What is it that they want [the federal funds] for? We stand open to be helpful." The Speaker of the House said that she and Senate ...
CQ Transcripts: Speaker Nancy Pelosi Holds a News Conference CQPolitics.com
Pelosi promises major economic stimulus in new Congress Politico
all 48 news articles


E! Online

Jamie-Lynn & Jerry: "The Writing's on the Wall"
E! Online - 2 hours ago
"I cannot speak to that, but listen, look around; the writing's on the wall," Kevin tells E! News. Connolly said at his directorial debut of Blackcowboy's ...


At Putnam, Writing Was on the Wall
TheStreet.com - 4 hours ago
Putnam Investments, rattled by subpar performance, earlier this week announced a broad restructuring that will include the ouster of a dozen fund managers ...


Grant-writing workshop set
Batesville Daily Guard (subscription), AR - 54 minutes ago
LITTLE ROCK—The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program will hold a grant-writing workshop from 10 am to 4 pm Jan. 13 at the Mosaic Templars Cultural Center ...


CBS News

Mike Huckabee, Writing About 'The Right Thing'
NPR - Nov 20, 2008
Mike Huckabee, former Republican presidential candidate and governor of Arkansas, acknowledges the audience during the Republican National Convention 2008 ...
Huckabee caravan coming to Bentonville Benton County Daily Record
Rivalry redux: Huckabee slams Mitt the 'flip-flopper' Salt Lake Tribune
Blogging the Right Thing: "I Love Iowa" Culture11
Arkansas Leader - The Associated Press
all 297 news articles


Binghamton University Pipe Dream

Writing for the masses
Binghamton University Pipe Dream,  USA - 10 hours ago
The number of ENG 117 offerings has been reduced, and could be even more so if Harpur College Council approves an introductory writing class, WRIT 111 — all ...
HCC to discuss course proposal Binghamton University Pipe Dream
all 4 news articles


Writing Initiative course assists first-year students
Inside BU, NY - 1 hour ago
By : Eric Coker A new University program is working to deliver better writing instruction to first-year students. The Writing Initiative, which was launched ...


New York Daily News

New York Rep. Charles Rangel To Remain Chair Of Tax Writing Committee
AHN - 7 hours ago
Washington, DC (AHN) - Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) will remain the nation's top tax-law writer after the House Democratic Caucus voted on Thursday to keep ...
Rangel Re-elected Chairman of House Tax Panel Amid Ethics Probe Bloomberg
all 9 news articles


What Lies Beneath: The Iceberg Theory of Writing
Poynter.org, FL - 42 minutes ago
"If a writer of prose knows enough about what he is writing about he may omit things that he knows and the reader, if the writer is writing truly enough, ...


What Others Are Writing About ETFs: Nov. 21
IndexUniverse.com, NY - 17 hours ago
Editor's Note: The following is a roundup of articles about ETFs, index funds and indexes by sources other than IndexUniverse.com. ...

Writing - Google News

home | site map
© 2006