Monday’s book planning tip for authors

The title of Joe McNally’s Hot Shoe Diaries: Big Light from Small Flashes is short, but it tells the full story, accurately positioning the book and previewing its contents. It’s a title that teaches many lessons about choosing the right book title.

The title represents exacting word choice. Let’s start with Diaries which accurately describes the book’s contents. Like the classic Eye of Eisentstadt, the Hot Shoe Diaries uses a case study format to show the author created dozens of high-impact photographs. No other word would work as well communicating the book’s contents.

Balancing the Diaries is Hot Shoe that refers to the clip where electronic flash units are connected to modern cameras. In just 2 words that will be familiar to any photographer, Hot Shoe tells a complete story, communicating the author’s approach to the topic.

Hot Shoe clearly targets prospective readers who recognize the term and are looking for lighting suggestions for on-location, as opposed to studio photography.

The 5-word subtitle, Big Light from Small Flashes, completes the story. In addition, the plural s in Flashes provides more content information, implying that success involves more than a single electronic flash.

Questions to ask yourself about your book title

Before commiting to a book title, ask yourself questions like:

1. Type of content. Does my title accurately preview my approach to the topic? In this case, the Diary title indicates the book is a series of experience-based impressions and lessons learned over time.
2. Language. Does my title speak the language of my prospective readers? Is the title easy-to-say and memorable? Consider how much less appeal the same book would have if it was titled  The Electronic Flash Diaries. Somehow, it’s far less friendly and engaging.
3. Brevity and design. Note how the few, short words in the title create a big impact on the cover, allowing more space for the photograph. Even though the title is set in a relatively small type size, the title clearly emerges from the background.

I consider Joe McNally’s Hot Shoe Diaries one of the best-positioned photography books I’ve ever seen, and I own hundreds of photography books. What do you think ? What are your favorite book titles? More important, Does the book topic you’re considering lend itself to a “diary” approach? Share your comments and opinions as comments, below.