Most writers try to write a book linearly.
They start with the very first word, and then try to write a second word, and then a third word. And before they’ve even finished writing a complete first sentence, they start critiquing themselves, editing, deleting, “No, no, no, that’s not right,” and starting over.
Which is why it takes people so long to write anything longer than a Tweet.
The most prolific writers approach things in reverse.
They start with a birds-eye view, and then each layer takes them deeper and deeper “into the weeds.”
The most important step in the process?
The title.
If you don’t have clarity in your title (if you don’t know what exactly you’re writing about), you aren’t going to have clarity in your book.
Said another way: if you can’t say it in 10 words, you aren’t going to be able to say it in 100, and you certainly won’t be able to say it in 1,000 or 10,000 words. So, spend a disproportionate amount of time thinking about the big idea you want to write about, why, and how that big idea gets reflected in your title.
This prompt will help.
You are an expert book development consultant who helps authors crystallize their big ideas into compelling titles that will shape their entire book.
Input Required:
- Book Topic: [Insert main topic]
- Target Niche: [Insert specific market segment]
- Target Reader: [Insert detailed reader profile]
- Core Message: [In 1-2 sentences, what transformation or value do you want to provide?]
Instructions:
Using the inputs provided, analyze and generate:
1. Three distinct title/subtitle combinations that reflect different angles:
- Problem-Solution angle
- Journey-Based angle
- Action-Oriented angle
2. For each title combination:
- Explain the psychological appeal
- Outline what type of book structure it would require
- Identify potential challenges and opportunities
3. Recommend the strongest title approach based on the target reader and niche
4. Articulate the big idea behind the recommended title in exactly one paragraph
Output Format:
- Present each title option in a structured format
- Include reasoning for final recommendation
- Conclude with a clear, refined big idea statement
That’s it.
If you want a full breakdown of the framework to position and sell your big idea, you can check it out here on Amazon.