Picking a Title

Naming your baby…Or in other words finding a title that suits your book. Obviously it has a lot to do with the genre that you would classify your current novel in as well as the content in said novel. Not all titles are created equally, some will actually deter people from reading them.

The titles to my blog posts, for example, I do try to keep short and sweet. That way you have a basic idea of what you are about to read before you even click on the link. I do tend to ramble slightly of course but most bloggers do to a certain extent, so you end up probably getting more than you expected (hopefully in a good way lol). So I try to do the same with any title that I come up with.

My current novels title is just one word, and the second one will be the same. That way when they are seen somewhere you can tell immediately that they belong together. I thought that was a great way to debut my first two part series (lets hope a future publisher feels the same way). Technically I can’t take all the credit for my titles, my husband is amazing to bounce ideas off of and helping me brainstorm to find the right ones. Even though he is not a writer himself he gives the much needed outside perspective.

So what are some important things to keep in mind while you are trying to come up with that great (hopefully) future bestselling title? Well here is what I keep in mind anyways….

• Don’t over complicate it (You don’t need to tell the whole story in the title, and you have to make sure its something easy enough to remember)
• Try not to make it too long, again it has to be easy to remember.
• Try to make it unique but still following the first two guidelines above. (Try to think outside the box)
• Did this spawn an idea for a title for you? Probably not, but it may help you find the right one out of ideas you’ve already had.
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It’s really as simple as that. I know, I know, that’s easier said than done. Again as writers, we are creators, we make something from nothing. So creating a title takes that creative spark that is just waiting to be lit into the bright flame of an idea that it will grow to be.

Sometimes a title comes after the book is written and that’s alright. But if you are among the lucky few (It’s always 50/50 with me, half the time it’s before, the other half its after I’ve written the story) that has an idea right of the bat, then go with it for now and revisit it to make sure it still fits at the end. The ideas of titles for my novels and this blog usually come easier for me. When it comes to a poem or a short story for some reason that’s the other 50% of the time for me where I can’t figure it out until I write it.

Another big thing to keep in mind is don’t be afraid to change it. That’s right that creative spark can be snuffed out to make a new one. Sometimes that is just what’s best for the story. Just because you came up with the title fast does not mean it has to stick around. I know you may have fallen in love with it, gotten used to it and even used it many times to talk about your story. However, if you feel like your book has grown passed that title, think it over, create a new one and see if it works better.

It’s all about that draw…that pull that makes someone want to read it. You have to have that gripping title (cover artwork and design make a huge difference as well), that title that a potential reader will remember when they go to find your book in the store or online. Not every title will draw everyone in to want to read your book but if you create one that suits it than it will draw in enough to get you started.

So don’t fret over it if you haven’t found it yet. It will come to you. I try to use my title of my novels somewhere in it to connect the name with the story. That’s another great way to see if what you have will work. By inserting it somewhere in your story (if you can, depending on the genre this may not work) then reading it out loud, to see if it sounds right. If it sounds great then there you go, you’ve found a title, if not try another idea and another until you as the Author are happy with it. If you are still having trouble, find someone to help you decide, a spouse, friend, family member, Facebook group, etc. They will be able to give you an outside perspective on the title. Not everyone is great at choosing a name for something, (ie. some people in the world who complain about the name their parents gave them..their parents being the culprit here, or names of companies and slogans that make you scratch your head) but if you can find someone to help bounce some ideas off of than it can spark that idea into a flame.

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Until next time… JUST KEEP WRITING.

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