Want to write a best seller?

by Drew McLellan

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April 18th, 2007 · 5 Comments · Books, Copywriting

Then start with a title that rocks. If you’re looking for a little help with that killer title, check out this tool:

LuLu.com’s Titlescorer will predict whether your title will help you sell millions of copies or end up on the 50% off rack. Developed by number-crunchers, this tool compares your title with attributes of the most successful books of the last 50 years.

Let’s have a contest…come up with a title (can’t cheat and use Gone with the Wind) and let’s see who can get the highest score.

Whip me, beat me, make me write bad checks…

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5 Comments so far ↓

Gavin Heaton // Apr 18, 2007 at 6:17 pm

How does The Conversation Age shape-up?

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Dan // Apr 20, 2007 at 2:05 pm

The title “Barfing Giants” has a 83.1% chance of being a bestselling title!

That’s sad. All my “serious” efforts landed between 14 and 44%.

I get frustrated and type in “Barfing Giants” and ta-da! Bestseller.

I believe this explains Robert James Waller.

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Drew McLellan // Apr 21, 2007 at 1:51 am

Gavin,

We didn’t do as well as Barfing Giant, I’ll tell you that! We’re going to have to rely on incredible content I think.

I’ll bet most non-fiction titles wouldn’t fare as well.

You think?

Drew

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Drew McLellan // Apr 21, 2007 at 1:53 am

Dan,

How does one just randomly come up woth “Barfing Giant?” I’d love to see what your mind creates when you are actually trying!

Congrats on the high score. So far, you are clearly leading the pack.

Drew

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Dan // Apr 23, 2007 at 2:04 pm

It was really off the wall: I got irritated with the generator when titles like “Strange Weather” and “True Love Always Dies” and other potboilerish titles couldn’t score above 50%.

Seriously, I just took a mildly offensive verb (Barfing) and jammed it onto something big and strong enough to crack open the thick skull of the publishing empire (Giants).

The sad thing is that if I saw Strange Weather, True Love Always Dies and Barfing Giants on the bookshelf…I’d instantly go for Barfing Giants.

Which I guess brings up the question: is inspiration the result of genius, hard work, random chance, or boredom?

Fortunately for me, I’m stupid and lazy, but I always have random chance and boredom in my favor.

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