Picking A Title
When it comes to publishing, there's no truth in "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."
The truth is that our titles are powerful. They bring all sorts of images and feelings to a reader's mind, which is why choosing a title is super important.
I have a title I love. When I was submitting to an inspirational publisher, the editor told me my title sounded like a Harlequin Presents. Uh-oh.
Recently I was told by an agent that my contemporary romance title made the story sound historical.
Lesson learned? Choose your title carefully and be prepared to change it. If you need ideas on how to create a pertinent, eye-catching title, check out agent Rachelle Gardner's recent post.
Ever had a title catch your attention in a bookstore? What's the title of your WIP and do you think it's effective? Would you change it?
The truth is that our titles are powerful. They bring all sorts of images and feelings to a reader's mind, which is why choosing a title is super important.
I have a title I love. When I was submitting to an inspirational publisher, the editor told me my title sounded like a Harlequin Presents. Uh-oh.
Recently I was told by an agent that my contemporary romance title made the story sound historical.
Lesson learned? Choose your title carefully and be prepared to change it. If you need ideas on how to create a pertinent, eye-catching title, check out agent Rachelle Gardner's recent post.
Ever had a title catch your attention in a bookstore? What's the title of your WIP and do you think it's effective? Would you change it?
Comments
I'm sorry you have to change your title but am sure you're going to have something even more awesome to love! :-)
smooches,
Larie
smooches,
Larie
Perfect -- just like Katie's titles. I loved them.
bye bye title . . .
I guess when you snooze, you lose. So I'll just wait for the next perfect title to come to mind.
Never Judge a Girl by Her Cover
and
Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy
They're cute, clever, and fit the story. :)
Jennifer, I think those titles are awesome too! They're a twist on a used saying and they're humorous, which is what I'm guessing the books are?
Oh man Debra! That STINKS! I've googled my titles before and it not be fun to see my title used. LOL (as if I owned the words, heh)
I hope you come up with a great new title! Maybe you could just tweak yours a little?
My current WIP's title (historical romance with subtle parnormal elements) is "A Lovelier Shade of Gloom."
As much as I love it, yes, I would be willing to change it while shedding some surreptitious tears. Heh. I've already been through it before with my first historical romance / paranormal elements. It was called: "Forgotten Silences," which I loved and thought fit the storyline perfectly since the romance was about a deaf heroine who discovers a ghost that she can see and hear.
But, when my agent signed me with that book, the first thing we did after the revisions was change the title. I was not happy. But I bit the bullet and did it anyway. She said the title sounded too much like a contemporary suspense novel, and we had to find one that screamed romance.
So we went with "Where Love Waits," taking it from a poem which is at the very beginning of the book. It actually works out good since she meets the two heroes (one a ghost, the other a human) through a flower she stumbles upon in a cemetery. So that's where love was waiting for her to find it.
Awesome post, Jessie! But you didn't give examples of some of your fave published titles! shame shame. ;-)
My current title is Noble Efforts to Engulf the Moon, but I have one I like just as well that would work just as well. I have more than one, but there is another I like with the same intensity.
~ Wendy
Have a great weekend!
Thanks and blessings,
Karen
Doesn't hurt to dream, right? :D
Thanks for the post and the links.
I've already changed the title of my first book from, "Echoes of the Past," to "The Moses Conspiracy." Someone told me Echoes sounded like a romance novel.
My second book is still untitled. I'm struggling with that one. The third manuscript is called, "Lost and Found."
I have no illusions about titles. Publishers usually change them.
Blessings,
Susan :)
I keep hoping my title ideas get better! Like Jody, I need all the help I can get!!1
Thanks for all you do to make us think and dream and laugh!!1
Patti
I say let the experts decide.
Tamika, I'm with you! LOL
Kristen...heehee, the way you wrote that using marriage and finding something better... just cracks me up.
LOL Emily. As long as you know you're dreaming it doesn't hurt.
:-)
Hi Susan,
hmmm, that's true. Echoes does have a romantic ring to it. Moses Conspiracy is definitely more suspenseful.
Patti,
I feel so bad! I should've put up a link to you. Your posts have been fabulous and SO informative. I'm loving them.
Probably one of my favorite titles for one of my WIPs is Pam on Rye. :)
The titles of my two WIP's are "God is Bigger: Custom Made Grace for Hope Starved Hearts" and "the Secret Life of a Preacher's Wife."
I think the first is a bit long, and could be changed to "God's Not the Wimp You Thought He Was." Just kidding; any ideas?
The second could be changed to "Not All Preacher's Wives are This Nutty," but I like my title because everyone loves secrets.
One of the harshest bigs of advice I received from an editor was over the issue of picking a title. It was a very beneficial and helpful rebuke, b/c he gave me some great advice on how to generate ideas for a title. Good post.
My current title is Elemental Hunger, and I really like it.
Good luck with yours!
♥
And the story in the post below was true. Of course I would have never done that (like not in a million years). Have a great weekend!!!
Anissa, I'm the same way. I just keep the same one until I'm told I shoudl change it. But now I realize I should be a little more deliberate. LOL
Wish I had more time to respond to every single one of these awesome comments! Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts. :-)
She called me one day and said she didn't think the title was right. Thought we should use the sub-title instead. I panicked at first - thought I would have to go back and re-write half the book. But she said, No. Just change the title.
I am so glad we did. So much more relatable and "catchy."
So thankful for people with wisdom! *grin*
From a Mountain Rising(and five or six other titles I had *laugh*) to "Tender Graces" - The Unexpected Places to "Secret Graces" and The Affliction of Sweetie to, simply, "Sweetie" ....
I've learned not to worry about the title because chances are, the publishers will change it anyway! :)
;-) From now on I'll be trying to pick titles that convey the right mood and genre while at the same time knowing it'll probably change.
And I changed my other WiP title again to The Scarlet Daughter which is tied to the aspect of my MC's connection to that famous Hawthorne tale. That one may change again, but I like it better than some of the other titles that book has had.
I love my working title (Daughter: A Memoir) because it helps me stay focused on what's important in the story, but I won't have any trouble letting go of that if an editor asks me to. :-)