The Pitfalls of book Titles
My god, has it been a week already since my last post? I feel like the bear in the picture sometimes. Far too much to do and no time to do it all in.So, todays topic is book titles. You either love them or hate them. How many of you have written a book and then sat wracking your brain for days for a title that fits it? Firstly, it needs to fit the story, and in an ideal world, be catchy and easy to remember. I’m envious when I see a good, eye catching title. Last year I read a book by Debbie Macomber called The trouble with angels. It grabbed my attention straight away because you never see the word ‘trouble’ before the word angel. I got it soley on that title and thoroughly enjoyed it.
You thought it was hard writing that book, didn't you? Well let me tell you, that was the easy part. I've had so many sleepless night when I need a good title to fit my book, and do you know when it pops in to my head? When I’m not particularly thinking about anything special. A random thought will suddenly just meander across my mind and the title is usually somewhere in it.Typical!
I have two new books out at the moment. Abigail Cottage, which was an easy title to find as the story revolves around a cottage and Spirit Intervention The second one had me crying into my chicken soup whillst eating a fruit and nut chocolate bar. Which was quite apt considering!
So to the authors out there, do titles draw you to buy a book, or is it just the covers? Have you got any tips as to how you come up with your titles? Help us out here. I'm one of the authors who struggle to find a title that the world will enjoy.
Here'sa bonus, for the best idea/comment I am offering a bonus pressie from me and it WON’T be book related!
Your comment will then be added to my writers blog 'Authors helpful tips' page. Julie Belfield won last week prize for the best comment. Who will be next?
Before I go, here is a shameless plug for my new spiritual website. Enjoy!
See you all next week .
Book titles are either easy or hard. I wrote a book I called 'Nephilim's Child' and loved the title until I discovered my beta reader couldn't pronounce it. Changed to 'Sons of Angels'
ReplyDeleteConversly the last book I finished ' A State of Madder' was originally title 'Blue Murder' until I reached it on google and found out how many books with that title there were.
I don't think there's a shortcut to finding a title that fits, other than wordclouding your central theme
If I'd seen the title The Trouble with Angels, I'd have thought straightaway of the movie, actually, and been expecting a comedy.
ReplyDeleteSometimes I know my title when I start, other times I struggle, trying to figure out what the central concept or theme was. I try to have a working title so I don't call it Book # something or Hey You. Sometimes the working title sticks. My co-author Steph and I called our WIP My Fair Vampire as a joke, it became the title. On the other hand, Kyrie Eleison became Revelations at a friend's suggestion - and probably a good one too, much as I love the original, most people couldn't pronounce it.
Sometimes I like to use quotes, that's how I got Here May We Reign Secure. To The Max was a play on the main character's name and became a signature line.
Titles are important because a bad title can turn us off but a good one can intrigue us and make us wonder. And want to know more. And a too common title can get us lost with their same name brethren.
My philosophy is to let is happen organically and don't be afraid to ask your friends. Sometimes they can be the source of great titles.
Great blog, as usual, Mags!
Hi Margaret - enjoyed your post. Title are very important to me, as a reader and writer. I often pick up books and sometimes choose to read them based on the title.
ReplyDeleteIn my own writing, I can't get on with a short story or novel until I know its title - exactly the same as with my characters who must have a name!
Morning. I once brought a book called Loves a joy, because it had on the cover a beautiful picture of a victorian lady. I thought it was a romance, but it was like a karma sutra sex book. I still can't work out why they put such a random picture on a sex book.
ReplyDeleteSometimes the title is as easy as breathing - and then there's the times when agony sets in - what to call the story. I was fortunate with my latest, Absolution, because the story is about absolving of sins - in a vampirish sort of way. As to covers, that is the first thing that draws me and I have a tendency to go for the ones with red on them. Why, I have no idea!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure there is something that a colour therapist would say about being attracted to red.lol
ReplyDeleteRosemary, you are very organised. I wrote a whole book with no title. I had to call it w'work in progress' for so long, it neary became its title lol
Julie, the book wasa comedy lol A relly good one too.
Titles you can't pronounce would turn me off to. Good choice to change it.
I go by the author and not titles or covers. Strange, but true.
ReplyDeleteTitles, titles, titles. They make me crazy. Sometimes they pop into my head before I even write the story.
ReplyDeleteAt the moment I am agonizing over my WIP for a perfect, catchy title.
I have asked friends, critters, and all they come up with doesn't capture the essence of the story.
It's a western/humor/romance/with rustling and a strange little funny varmint. Arrrgh!
Working title is Heap of Trouble.
I don't think it's a very catchy title, so I'm hoping something will slide into my mind when I'm not looking.
Thanks Mags for the great post again.
Titles can indeed by tricky. I always check out my ideas on Amazon and Google to ensure they are original. If there was another book with the same title, I'd probably change it.
ReplyDeleteOf course, sometimes a catchy title comes into your head and you struggle to shape a story around it. I was looking at our cabinet of collectibles the other day and the words "To my Daughter I Leave the Dodo" popped into my head. I think I'd have a bit of trouble with that one, particularly as I write erotic romance!
Maggi
I often find that titles don't match the books, or covers never represent the books essence. It must be very hard to get the covers and titles right. What a headache for you authors.
ReplyDeleteTitles for me are easy.Believe it or not, I have my title before I even have set one word to print. My mind will come up with an idea for a plot and I'll mull it around for a few days,fleshing it out,once I feel that I have the basis for a good thriller then I'll name it something that defines the story. I try to stay with two to three words max.."Honorable Revenge", The Body Broker", Dirty Money, Jungle Rules...etc. The name is to conjure up in a readers mind a mental pictureof what the story is about. This is mndatory for the E-book author. In most cases the reader only sees the title, no graphics except for a postage stamp sized jpeg. For Paper authors the most important thing to catch a reader's eye is the book cover graphics. When A potential reader walks down the book isle , you have less than a nano-second to catch his eye. Color, graphics layout, all play a roe in grabbing the person, The seconde thing he sees is the name. So I think a title is the key to grabbing a reader , if you are an e-author, a mainstreet paper-author is the cover, in this scribes humble opinion.
ReplyDeleteI've bought several books just recently where the title has caught my eye, but after the first couple of pages it goes into my RSPCA charity box.But it's not always the title that makes me buy a book, sometimes it's the blurb on the back cover that can be the decider for me
ReplyDeleteTimes run out for me folks, I'm off to bed. But I'll check by tomorrow to see if anyone else has added an idea. See you all next week in Food for Thought xx
ReplyDelete