How To Create A Standout Book Title Page: 5 FAQs and Answers

POSTED ON Apr 20, 2022

Sarah Rexford

Written by Sarah Rexford

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Knowing how to create a title page is one of the first needs you have as an aspiring author. Yes, you have your book idea. Yes, you can write. But if you hope to get your book out into the world, it’s important to format your project in the appropriate way.

If you traditionally publish, you’ll want to have a general idea of title pages, and if you self-publish, it’s crucial to know how to format your title page to industry standards. After all, your eyes are some of the last ones that will be on your book and you are the one who will click PRINT.

Thankfully, we’ve done the research so you don’t have to.

What is a Title Page?

According to Merriam-Webster, a title page is “a page of a book bearing the title and usually the names of the author and publisher and the place and sometimes date of publication.”

Seems pretty straightforward, right? Yes, except those small words like title and author and publisher all need to be credible. 

A title page helps readers know what they’re getting into. They open your book and want to know the title of what they’ll be reading. They want to know who wrote this book. When was this book released? Who published it? 

Especially for academic books or other types of nonfiction books, knowing the author is a credible writer on the topic and that it’s not outdated news is helpful for readers.

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Are Title Pages Necessary?

Lib Guides says, “The title page and reverse title page are necessary for every book. All other elements of the front matter are used only if they are relevant to your book.”

What Should The Title Page Of A Book Include?

Your title page should include important facts such as your name, publisher, and the year your book was published. Lib Guides explains exactly what your title page should be made up of:

  • The full book title (main title and subtitle)
  • Edition statement, if this is a second or later edition
  • Author’s name
  • Publisher’s name and city (city and state if not a major city)
  • Year of publication

They also say if there are major acknowledgments or contributions to be made, do so: 

  • With an introduction by…
  • Color illustrations by…
  • Translated by…

It takes a village to create a book, and it’s important to give credit to whom credit is due. This is not only polite, but appropriate acknowledgments go a long way in showing your appreciation for those who have helped you. 

How Do I Make A Good Title Page?

You can create a successful title page for your readers by following industry-standard guidelines. If you are pitching your book to an agent or publisher for traditional publishing, or formatting it for a professional editor before you self-publish, it’s critical to follow these steps.

Remember, even though your reader is an agent, acquisitions editor, or publisher, it’s still vital to let them know what they’re reading and a few other key aspects. 

When crafting your title page, be sure to include:

  • Contact information: Legal name, address, phone number, email address, and possibly your website.
    • Where? The upper lefthand corner of the title page
    • Format? Single-spaced, Left-justified alignment 
  • Your Manuscript’s Title
    • Where? One-third to one-half way down the page (this includes subtitle if you have one)
    • Format? Center-justified alignment 
  • Your Name
    • Where? One double-spaced line below the title (and subtitle)
    • Format? Center-justified alignment
  • Word Count
    • Where? One double-spaced line below the author-name
    • Format? Rounded to the nearest thousand
  • If you have an agent…
    • Their contact information (not yours) goes in the upper lefthand corner
    • Move yours to the lower righthand corner.

Crafting an industry-standard title page may take a little time as you explore the different tools on your word processing program. This is worth the effort as it heightens your credibility and makes a great first impression on your reader.

If you are confused about a specific aspect of how to format, browse YouTube for step-by-step tutorials on how to do so. 

How Do I Write A Fancy Title?

Create a compelling title by brainstorming, researching, and staying true to your author’s voice. Also, be sure to have a good understanding of the importance of keywords and categories as it relates to your project.

For instance, keywords help search engines understand your book’s topic and separate it from others. Keeping your keyword as part of your book’s title can also set your book apart and boost search engine optimization. 

Let’s talk about specific steps for creating a book title:

  1. Use a book title generator tool: Try Selpublishing.com’ Title Generator for ideas.
  2. Write down the problem you’re solving (this mostly applies to nonfiction)
  3. Create a subtitle to clarify (more nonfiction-specific) 
  4. Make it memorable: Donald Miller’s title Blue Like Jazz is memorable because, without context, the title doesn’t make sense. 
  5. Make sure it’s genre-appropriate: Focus on keywords that pertain to your specific genre to boost SEO and raise intrigue. 
  6. Create it to stir intrigue: What do you want your readers to think about, feel, remember, or desire when they read your title?
  7. Include your character in the title: Consider Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White and Doctor Sleep by Stephen King. Both are very different genres and evoke extremely different emotions. 
  8. Get feedback from your target audience: Use your social media platform to garner feedback from potential readers. Take note of what resonates most.

Your title is extremely important to the success of your book, so take this part of your title page seriously. 

As You Move Forward

Now you know what a title page is, why title pages are necessary, what they should include, how to make a good title page, and what goes into a good title.

It’s time to get to the drawing board. 

Remember, title pages aren’t full of words, but the words that are included are very important. As you write your title page, make sure everything is error-free and looks professional. This is your chance to make a great first impression with a potential agent, publisher, or editor. 

While it’s virtually impossible to avoid every typo in a 100k word book, there should be zero errors on your title page. Get fresh eyes on it, comb through it yourself many times, and then celebrate your hard work. 

Creating a title page is an important part of your writing journey and something to be proud of. Do a final check through the above lists and then be satisfied with your work. 

You’re one very important page closer to being done with your book. This is something worth being proud of. Well done! 

Sarah Rexford

Written by
Sarah Rexford

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