Comments on: What to title your book

By: Author Guy

Author Guy — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 11:01:28 +0000

I got the idea for my latest novel from the title of another book, called Blood Moon. I got tired of this as a working title and googled a replacement, St. Martin's Moon. Not only was I able to get some additional and unusual background for the story, but I also googled Blood Moon and found a few hundred books with that title! My wife wanted 'Werewolves on the Moon' but my publisher prefers St. Martin's Moon.

By: Becky Wilson aka Valkyrie1008

Becky Wilson aka Valkyrie1008 — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 09:41:59 +0000

Choosing a novel title is really like naming a baby as both novel and baby had lots of effort put into them and parents/publishers want to see them flourish.
When I first started writing my WIP novel I had a basic title which at the time I thought was cool but as my writing went on I began to think more like a reader and the title although it fitted the story also had a strong sense of vaguness about it as the words used would be fairly unfamiliar to modern readers.
The original title was 'Valkyrian Ventures' - the reason being Valkyries feature in my WIP so I adjusted it to a collective noun and Ventures suggesting danger, risks and adventure.
But as I host my first few chapters on my blog and as I finally managed to write a draft blurb and plot briefing of my overall WIP to help give me focus I decided to hold a voting poll for my blog followers and readers to help me choose the new title.
It was actually quite productive as I gave them five options and it actually became quite a close race with 3 options drawing and the new title only one by one vote.
The new title was Soul Chaser which is a bit more modern, catchy, quick and intriguing instead of vague.
I am more happy with my WIP and my writing now I have a decent title to attach to it. I can only hope that come the lucky day I get the attention of an agent/publisher they agree with the final choice. I was suprised by how nice it was to actually get potential reader feedback on my WIP title and why they chose what they did.

By: Travis Erwin

Travis Erwin — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:35:56 +0000

Interesting stuff. Thanks for sharing.

By: Jan Markley

Jan Markley — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 04:01:32 +0000

I've always heard that a book title should tell and sell i.e., give you a sense about what the book is about and be snappy!

By: CFD Trade

CFD Trade — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 02:41:44 +0000

Will a shorter title be better than a longer one?

By: GhostFolk.com

GhostFolk.com — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 00:01:22 +0000

It's easier to listen to a publisher when a publisher has a reason to change a title. They usually do.

By: Izzy G.

Izzy G. — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 22:21:09 +0000

Ugh. Titling books is the hardest thing for me. I absolutely can't leave a WIP untitled because even if I change it later, a title seems to give me a sense of direction, somewhere that I'm going to take the story. It's like in "The Last Days" by Scott Westerfeld where (it's been a while) one of the characters said it was important to get a band name as soon as they could to give themselves a sense of definition or something like that.

I like to use the rule of twenty, though.

By: Kathryn Packer Roberts

Kathryn Packer Roberts — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 20:47:01 +0000

I would like to hear your take (if you haven't done so already) on what names you think have been overused. I know that Nathan Bransford did a post on too many books starting with 'Confessions of a…' Are their titles that YOU come across as old or overused, cliche or otherwise?

By: Noelle Pierce

Noelle Pierce — Mon, 28 Jun 2010 20:01:07 +0000

Oh, this is an issue I will likely have (optimism at its best!)My books are historical romances inspired by constellations, so their titles are the constellations' names. They don't fit in with the "Seduced by a Dashing Duke" titles I've seen the most. I know they're probably going to change, but I'll be sad when they do.