After You Have a Book Title

   I've decided to continue from my post last week and share a bit more information about book titles.

 After coming up with your title, you might want to Google it to make sure no one else has it, if that's important to you. If you come up with a one-word title, it is less likely to be original. There might be many books that have similar one-worded titles like yours, so don't fret if you (for example) want to name your book, "Torn" as there are multiple books with this title.

   Publishers sometimes change titles to make the book seem more intriguing to readers. What are the first two things that catches the eyes of a book browser? The cover (or spine, depending on how it is set on the shelf) and the title. That phrase, "Don't judge a book by it's cover" doesn't apply to a lot of people (myself included, as far as books go). You should always be sure about your title, even at the risk of it being changed.

 Authors can’t copyright their titles in America, although they can be trademarked in certain situations. "Harry Potter" is trademarked and so is the "For Dummies" book franchise.

 This is when your book can be trademarked:

"Trademark law protects literary work titles in two main situations. The first is where a series of works is developed from the title. The very popular “For Dummies” book series is a familiar illustration of this principle. The title “For Dummies” has become associated with publications on a variety of topics and is entitled to trademark protection as the brand name for “non-fiction books, guides, manuals, catalogs and brochures on a wide variety of topics” as stated in trademark registration records.

The second instance where protection is available arises when the title is applied to related products or services. We are all familiar with toys developed around movie titles. The title of the work becomes a protectable trademark when it applied to toys or other products associated with the movie. Other, less recognized situations when protectable brands are created arise when the title of the work is used in providing services - such as business consulting services, newsletters, educational services and blogs - that relate to the published work. In these situations, the title of the work becomes associated with both the original work and the related or ancillary service, and becomes entitled to trademark protection." - Monroe Moxness Berg

 Titles can be tricky. Only certain words should be capitalized

These are words you shouldn't capitalize:

Articles: a, an, the

Coordinating Conjunctions: and, but, or, for, nor, etc.

Prepositions (fewer than five letters): on, at, to, from, by, etc.

 This also comes in handy if you title the chapters of your book.

 You should have a title page in the beginning of your manuscript. It's one blank page with only the title of your book and name/pen name on it. The title should be in a larger font than your name, and it should be above your name.

 Pick any font that suites your book! If you're going to send your book out to agents and publishers, you'll want to look professional and show that you've put some detail into your book. Although, if they request that your book be in a certain font and/or format before sending it to them, follow the guidelines.  

Happy writing! <3
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