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How to Write Subtitles

A subtitle is a phrase or sentence that generally follows the main title of a book. The subtitle is popular in nonfiction writing and gives the reader some additional information on what the book is about, information that might not be detectable from just the main title alone. Choosing a subtitle for your book can help you make your concept clear for readers and editors, and it can be a simple process when you use a few strategies.

Instructions

    • 1

      Think about the main point of your book. For example, some books have a certain moral or are marketed for a certain group.

    • 2

      Compare your book's title to the focus of your book. Determine if there is an aspect of the book that the title doesn't get across.

    • 3

      Think about keywords that might describe your book. Adding these to the subtitle will help the title to show up on Internet searches.

    • 4

      Write a first draft of what you think a good subtitle might be. For example, if your book is written to help teens handle divorce and is titled "Divorce Drama," the subtitle might be: "How Teens Can Cope With Divorce."

    • 5

      Put the subtitle out of your mind for about a week so you can look at it with fresh eyes. Reread the subtitle to make sure it still "pops" for you.

    • 6

      Have a writing partner look over the title and subtitle. Getting a second opinion can help you see where you might be missing something.

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