Does an original title help or hinder finding readers? I don’t know, but I can think of some pros and cons. Pro, your book will come up whenever anyone searches on that title. Con, people may choose one of the others instead of yours!
Personally, I feel an original title implies that your story, too, is original. On the other hand, if it’s deliberately surfing the wake of a best-seller, then it makes sense to show similarities in the title, cheesy though that may be.
Sometimes finding a title for your book is more difficult than writing it; other times you have a title without the story. It never hurts to write down title ideas for use later. Having a “working title” is common, so don’t worry if you don’t have one until you’re ready to publish.
Usually at some point your muse will help you out with a title, which may come out of the blue when you’re in the grocery store or just starting to fall asleep. Other times you have to work at it. If that’s the case, start with keywords related to your story, its theme, or message. If it’s character-centered, focus on who or what your protagonist represents.
Bear in mind that reviews from people you know are likely to be slightly inflated. Those posted by people you don’t know from Adam will give you a better idea of how your story is received. To improve your writing, always try to identify what they liked or didn’t like. Sometimes a bad review teaches you far more than a glowing one!
Comparing your story to an established one can help attract readers who will resonate with it. This can be another book or series, a popular movie, or TV show. This is shorter and more direct than describing your story and expecting potential readers to make the connection.
For example, if your book is about vampires, it could still span a huge variety of styles. Does it compare to “Twilight”, the original “Dracula”, or “The Adams Family”? See the difference?
It’s hard not to respond when you get a bad review, especially when the person is either a troll or obviously didn’t “get” what you were trying to convey. Console yourself with this satisfying thought: A writer can kill you off with a few keystrokes. Don’t make us mad…
However, if the review is bad due to something such as typos, editing, grammar, or formatting, pay attention. Not liking the story is totally subjective, which most people recognize, but reviews that address sloppy writing can turn off potential readers faster than the speed of thought. It’s time to go back to the drawing board or hire an editor.
There are numerous awards you can apply for, which help give your book credibility. However, don’t waste your money if your book is riddled with typos or other problems. Judges are looking for clean copy as well as a good story. On the other hand, remember that everything is subjective and the person who looks at your submission may not be enchanted by it. This is frustrating, but the luck of the draw. If you really believe your story is a worthy one, try another venue.
Many authors are introverts who find it difficult to interact with fans face to face, yet this is usually the most effective connection. One way to help you overcome this is to join your local Toastmasters International club.
Being succinct when talking about your book is not always easy for authors who are used to using thousands of words to tell their story. Toastmasters will teach you to make your point directly and quickly as well as how to initiate conversations and sustain them. Check their website for the club nearest where you live.
If your story has several unfamiliar terms, such as off-world science fiction or a medical thriller, consider including footnotes or a glossary. Always define such words at first use, a standard procedure in technical writing. This can be done drily, i.e., in parenthesis, or through a combination of dialog and narrative. For example, a character could mention the unfamiliar term, which is described in the following paragraph through the viewpoint of the protagonist. The same advice stands for acronyms.
When you switch to a new point of view, make sure the reader knows how the new person fits into the story. If possible, introduce or foreshadow the new character in the preceding chapter. This provides better continuity.
On the other hand, sometimes it works for a story to be pieced together like a mosaic, particularly mysteries. Getting into the characters’ respective heads can show their motivation.
Switching point of view can be risky. I’ve sent a book to the DNF (Did Not Finish) pile for alternating POVs that didn’t mesh or show where the story was heading. Once readers connect with your protagonist, they don’t like to change. It’s also important to establish some semblance of a plot early on. This one comprised two different people seemingly driving around randomly which failed to grab me since there wasn’t sufficient background to add the needed suspense so I’d wonder what was going to happen next. It was as if the author was trying to figure out what was going to happen next herself. BOOOOR-ING!
Marcha's Two-Cents Worth 