Friday, September 27, 2019

Tips on Choosing Titles: What’s in a Name?

According to Gertrude Stein a rose is a rose is a rose. Then again, some roses might be more perfectly formed than others. I believe a well-chosen title helps sell a writer’s work. The first impression a book or story creates depends on several factors, one of them being the title. The title will set a certain tone or expectation. Whether an author writes literary work, genre fiction, nonfiction, short stories, poetry, etc., the title should fit the work. If it’s not appropriate, the reader may rightfully feel cheated and misled.

I have a few suggestions for fellow writers that I believe might prove useful:

First suggestion is to do some initial research. For instance, visit Amazon and Google. Check out titles for the kind of work you’re writing to get a sense of what is appropriate.

Second suggestion, go to World Cataloging and type in your title under the keyword heading. See what pops up. If your title is used by many authors many times, you might want to try for something different. Ecclesiastes states that there is nothing new under the sun; however, you can do some variations that are unique. Also, keep in mind that titles are not copyrighted unless there’s a trade mark involved. You can, in fact, have the same title as another author, although if possible, it’s best to distinguish it in some way.

Next suggestion: consider if the chosen title can properly characterizes a theme of your book, story, poem, article via your word choice. Maybe it represents a reoccurring symbol in your book.

Another suggestion: keep your title short if possible. Modern titles are generally brief unless you’re writing an academic dissertation. Otherwise, a few words will suffice.

Last suggestion: Try for a clever use of words which will make your title in some way memorable, interesting, intriguing, and/or provoke curiosity. A whimsical bit of rhyming hopefully also makes a title stand out.

December 1st is the publication date of my new historical romance SINFUL SEDUCTION which has a pre-publication sale. I began with the title THE DEMON LOVER. An editor who read the novel did not like that title for the novel and suggested I rethink it. Although I didn’t contract with her publishing house, I did take the advice to heart and rethink the title. In many ways, my new title fits the novel much better. Kate Miles, my editor at Luminosity, greatly liked both the book and the title which is encouraging.


Take a few moments if you will and look at the novel. See if you think the title suits the book. Your input much appreciated.

Book Links: 


Goodreads


Amazon


B&N

Nook

Kobo

Are there any titles that stand out for you? If so, which ones? Why? Comments welcome!


28 comments:

  1. Hi Jacqueline,
    All good points. Titles, covers, beginnings, and endings are important elements to consider when trying to make one's book attractive to readers.
    Because I'm a pantser, I usually have a working title, keep a list of possibilities as I write, and then make a final selection when the novel is done. That works for me...and is a record of my agonizing path to a final title. Other writers will have other selection methods...but everyone needs to think about their titles.
    I really agonize over titles, and they cover a whole range from two or three words to long, catchy titles. Rogue Planet and The Midas Bomb both summarize the content in a short title, for example; Pasodobles in a Quantum Stringscape is quirky and, along with the cover, says the book is a collection of stories.
    r/Steve

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    1. Steven,

      I also agonize over titles. Some do work better than others. Worth analyzing.

      Delete
  2. Jacqueline, I'm at a point with my wip where I would like to have a title (Not just Crow book #4) so coming up with the right one is important to me. Thanks for your suggestions.

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    1. Hi Maris,

      I think your Crow titles are memorable. They catch my attention.

      Delete
  3. As usual, good advice, Jacquie. Titles are a challenge for me. I agonize over them, but finally hit on the right formula for the Anita Ray series, set in India, by using the name of a Hindu deity whose character is reflected in the story themes. I wish I could say it was that easy for other books and stories.

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    1. Susan,

      That was a clever way to give your Indian mystery novels continuity.

      Delete
  4. I think "Sinful Seduction" is a good choice and a great title, Jacquie. Personally, I love alliteration and, whenever it works, I make use of it in my titles.

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    1. Hi Pat,

      I think my desire to use alliteration reflects on the years I've loved writing and reading poetry.

      Delete
  5. It is difficult to find the correct title to make it resonate with the average reader. I usually select s title before I start writing, but never keep it as I continue to write. Sooner or later, something will pop out of the text that I like much better. A book is often judged by its cover, and equally by the title. Hope your novel does well. Looking forward to seeing it climb up the charts.

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    1. I agree about cover art and titles both being important. Cover art draws the eye of the reader.

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  6. Wow! Congrats on another release! You are so prolific and it's wonderful.
    Love the cover and title.
    Great advice too.
    Good luck and God's blessings
    PamT

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  7. Great advice. I stink at titles. Once an editor told me my title needed work, and I said, "Any title you choose is fine with me." He chose mine.

    Once in a while, when I come up with a title I think is great, I'm ecstatic. Doesn't happen to often.

    SINFUL SEDUCTION is a great title.

    Bob

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    1. Bob,

      Glad you like the title of my new novel. I've had editors suggest title changes for stories and novels, but usually they go with what I've written.

      Delete
  8. Thank you for some good advice, and I love your title. I generally take something from the story to use for a title. And I appreciate when I choose a book to read and the title gives a hint of what's to come.

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    1. Hi Marja,

      I try to work with the theme in my title as well as I did with Sinful Seduction.

      Delete
  9. Wish I'd read this before I titled my first novel, "Mustard's Last Stand." Yuk. No one has a clue what it's about. I like Sinful Seduction, but when I searched Amazon I did discover several of the same title. Nothing wrong with that, and it's certainly legal. I like your cover with the title.

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    1. Hi Kathy,

      I like Mustard's Last Stand for a title. It's unique and plays on Custer's Land Stand. As for Sinful Seduction, it really did fit the overriding theme of the novel. But I guess it's not all that unique.

      Delete
  10. Excellent points, though I might argue that the cover is what catches one's attention first. I have been blessed in sticking with the draft titles of Justi the Gifted and The Clown Forest Murders. But my critique group drove me to change the title of the fantasy follow up book.

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  11. R.R.,

    I agree with you that cover art is crucial. I'll be discussing that soon.

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  12. All good points, Jacqueline. When my book White Heat came out there weren't a lot of titles with that name. Now it seems there are several. So even checking doesn't always help in the long run.

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    1. As the Bible says, there is nothing new under the sun. We can only do our best.

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  13. I agree, Jacqueline! SINFUL SEDUCTION is more alluring than THE DEMON LOVER. In fact, your title is magnetic. Best wishes to you on its release!

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  14. Great post. I always have the hardest time selecting titles. I usually have the book completed before I even have a working one. My computer is full of novel one, novel two..etc because they are still title less.

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    1. I think it makes a lot of sense to choose the title after you've written the book.

      Delete