Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo… Which Book Titles Have to Go?
I’m always amazed at the reader feedback I get when I ask you all for help with something. Thanks for getting creative and offering so many wonderful book title suggestions! What would I do without you? (Well, I’d probably call my book something boring like “Good Frugal Food”. :))
(And if you’re wondering what book I’m talking about, you can read more about my upcoming book here!)
Ryan and I have gone through the names and added in some of our own. We’ve narrowed it down to 7 potential titles. Just so you know, some of these were your suggestions, but slightly tweaked (but if the basic idea was yours, you’ll still get the credit and the prize). Some of the titles don’t have a subtitle yet, but will most likely have one added and we just aren’t sure what works with them right now. We may combine elements from more than one potential title (then there would be two winners!). We may also decide on something completely different in the end, simply because this is ultimately about the right name for the book, and not so much about the contest.
All that said, your feedback really does matter to us, because you are exactly the type of women that I wrote this book for! If the title doesn’t appeal to you, then it’s not the right title!
A few things to consider when you’re voting for your favorite book title: Would you buy a book with this name? Which name would draw you to this book? Which one can you most relate to? Which one seems to meet a need that you have?
Though I want a great sounding name, more than that I want a name that communicates what the book is really about and the value that it offers. I want it to appeal to the people who would most benefit from reading it. Catchy is nice, but connecting with my market is much more important!
I am so appreciative of your feedback! Thanks for taking this simple poll!
And if you have any thoughts or suggestions on how these titles could be improved, I’d love to hear those in the comments!
FYI – and most people probably wouldn’t know or care – the correct term is “healthful” food, not “healthy” food. If you are talking about eating an apple for its health benefits (referring to the health of the person eating it); then you should say it is a healthful apple. If you are talking about the apple itself being ripe, not bruised, etc. (referring to the health of the apple); then it is a healthy apple. I know, healthful doesn’t make for a catchy title. If it were me, I’d avoid the titles with that word.
@Nicole Handfield, That makes sense about how to use the terms. But, most people use the term healthy instead, so I probably need to go with what people understand. And yes, reconsidering the word “healthy” at all…
I tried to vote in the poll and it told me that I had already voted. I’m quite certain I haven’t….so I thought I’d let you know. If able, I’d choose “Eating a Real-Food Diet on a Real-Life Budget.”
I really like the title “Real Food, Real Budget: How to Eat Healthy for Less” but…
I think it would sound better as “Real Food, Real Budget: Eating Healthy For Less”.
Just seems a little more simple & easier to read.
Now that I have read all the suggestions, I also don’t really like the ones containing the word “healthy” because I know that the word healthy means so many different things. Words like real food and whole food and things like that can only mean what they say. I hope that makes sense. I know that people tell me they “eat healthy” when what they mean is that they make sure they get their food guide 5-10 servings of fruit and veggies, occasionally eat 50/50 whole wheat bread, make sure they eat from the food groups but daily consume lots of white sugars etc…..there are lots of ideas out there on how to “eat healthy” but your book is about eating according to whole and real foods, the closest to the way God designed them as possible, for the best price possible…or at least that is the way I understand it! Just some thoughts. 🙂 I hope that you find the perfect title for what you want to convey, no matter what the end result is! 🙂
@Nola, Ryan and I were just talking about the same thing last night after I put up the poll. Healthy means so many things to so many different people. It’s overused, and often misunderstood. The only challenge of choosing something that more accurately describes the way of eating that I recommend is that the terms are often not understood by many people who are desiring to improve their diet but haven’t read the books or been around the blogs long enough to understand what “real food” or “nourishing” or whatever really mean. It’s definitely tough to find the right words to allow the book to make sense and appeal to the broadest spectrum of people possible, without losing what the book is really about! So thanks for the input! 🙂
@Stephanie @ Keeper of the Home,
I agree that there can be confusion with healthy, but I think if it is paired with “Real Food” or “Whole Foods” then people who do know a bit more about true healthy eating will know what it is about. You end up with the best of both worlds.
@MacKenzie, Thanks for the reply…while I was preparing lunch I thought of something upstairs. LOL I find it funny since that exact wording on the one name thing was my combination and now I am commenting on it…sorry! I agree with MacKenzie…that is exactly what I was going to say that paired with real food or whole food or similar wording, the words “healthy” are put into context. Not meaning to support my own title choice, but just some thoughts.
I also like Real Food, Real Bugdet…but maybe change it to How To Eat Healthily For Less. That way you are telling people a method of how to eat in a healthy way, rather than just suggesting “healthy” foods. Isn’t grammar fun!?!
From your grammar lovin’ friend 🙂
Stephanie:
A shorter title will catch the eye of a reader. If you are uncomfortable with the word Healthy perhaps you could substitute the word Healthy in “How to eat Healthy on a Budget” with the word “Nutritious”, “Wholesome”, “Beneficial”, or “Natural”.
It’s just your old Nana making a suggestion.
Nana
I also had trouble voting (it said I had already voted in this poll). My vote also goes for “Real Food, Real Budget”!
Voted for Real Food, Real Budget- said I already voted, too, but I did not! Excited about your book!
Whole Food Living For The Family On A Budget…..
You can’t afford not to!
I know this is not a choice for a vote….but the other choices did not jump out at me….sorry.
I know this book will be good….it deserves a good title…..one that is differnt from the other books out there!
I will keep checking back~
I can’t wait to see how it goes….what YOU end up liking! So hard I bet!
Blessings,
Georgiann
I just left a comment I hope you got it?
Blessings,
Georgiann
I never knew about healthy v.s healthful. Learned something. thanks
@Fruitful Harvest, That’s ok, new names are still welcome! It’s good, I like it! And yes, it’s sooo hard to choose a name that really conveys the idea of the book and that I truly like. I want it to be good, and I’m still not totally inspired. But we’ll come up with something!
I may not be the “norm” but I’m a little burned out hearing “budget” when it comes to this sort of book (it seems like there are lots of books like that). Of course, although the budget part is still very important, what I really enjoy about reading YOUR blog and advice is how you do it all!
You are able to manage your children, education, budgeting, planning, prepping, cooking, and storing… I have no idea how you really do that…and would probably actually be interested in buying the book if it played up the practical and homemade with the simple, nourishing, and tasty foods you make. I like the “made from scratch” part the best.
How about “Scratch Meals Made Easy.” 🙂
I vote for Real Food Real Budget. The poll said I’d already voted as well.
I tried to vote but couldn’t so I’ll throw in that I like the 4th title best, and the 2nd one second best. 🙂
None of these sound like the final winner to me, but I might like:
You Can Afford to Eat Right: The Guide to Serving Wholesome Food on a Budget
or something more in that zone. I’m not very fond of “how To’s” in a title, and I also am more drawn to the world “wholesome” over any of those other ‘healthy’ words 🙂
Just a thought (I can see how this would be difficult!)
Real Food, Real Budget: Eating Whole Foods For Less or the same with instead a subtitle “eating whole foods for a whole lot less” (although the second option is fairly long…
I voted for…
Real Food, Real Budget: How to Eat Healthy for Less
But I think it could be tweaked a bit, perhaps…
Real Food, Real Economics: You Can Eat Healthy for Less
I don’t love “How To”s either, and using the word budget seems a little bit common.
Just wanted to comment and say that I myself when looking at nutrition reading material definitely look for titles that describe the book as pertaining to a “real food” or a “whole food” diet. The word “healthy” in a title kind of seems like it doesn’t tell enough about the book because to a lot of people “healthy” is defined as a low-fat vegetarian or vegan diet. But then again, this book might be more geared towards those who aren’t already eating a “real food” diet, so they won’t be looking for that specifically. Hope this helps somewhat, just my two cents! Thanks for all you do Stephanie!
i just stumbled onto your blog, but am totally looking for information along those lines! what a great book. i’ll be subscribing to you blog.