Title is easy, right? It is what you called the file on your hard drive. It has always had a name. After all, it is your baby. Are you sure?
Three really distinct groups of authors categorize the majority: Before, during and help me.
Before
These authors know the title of the book before they pen the first word. All words are in pursuit of said title. In these books, the title is the egg.
During
Somewhere along the way, and usually before line edits, these authors realize the characters have decided on the title. The working title either becomes the title or is scrapped in favor of the only moniker which fits the book.
Help me!
These authors have gotten to beta with no concept what to call their books. It is still titled, WIP or story or book. They are willing to take suggestions, put out polls and allow a cover artist to put something on it.
STOP!
Something is missing in all of this: Research. Oh, do not groan. It is a necessary evil. Think not?
Guilt by Association
Image credit Real Size Bride
Ruta Sepetys is in a bit of a PR pickle because her YA book (written a year earlier) is titled Between Shades of Gray. Would you want to be fielding her inbox?
Got a story of best girl friends in a tandem wedding? One turns into bridezilla and demands matching 16-foot train gowns. Women in White is probably a good play on words. It is also is the title of a serialized novel from before the turn of the 20th century, a handful of other books, a movie and a plethora of porn DVDs.
Lost in a Sea
Some themes have a finite number of descriptions. Space transportation a few centuries from now takes a crew on a five-year mission of star charting. Your romance may well fit under the title Starcrossed. Be ready to share your title with more than a dozen books.
Branded
You have crafted the best memoir of bar psychology known to the publishing world. Of course, you want to call it No Crap on Tap. Denver beer drinkers are going to wonder how many brews you had at Falling Rock Tap House.
Enough
Before you get busy visualizing the cover of your book with the title you are certain is the destiny of your story, search for your proposed title. Some conflicts you need to consider are:
- Businesses with similar taglines
- Same title in another genre
- Innuendo
- Similarity to bad books
- Many books (or movies) with the same title
Different
If you are having trouble getting a title which does not come with a loaded history and expectations, become a Help me! author. After all, you can think of at least one book you would have named something far more appropriate, and there is absolutely no shame in asking for help.
Who really wants to compete for a title?
What book would you have named something else? Have you read two books with the same title? Have you ever bought the wrong book because it shared a title?
Hashtags: #AtoZChallenge #titles
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Phil
/ May 14, 2013The title was the first thing which came to mind for my non-fiction book.
I have a clear concept for my fictitious offering but no title. As you mentioned, I envisage a title appearing during the writing process.
In doing my research, I found out that Gail’s title ‘The Girl in the Iron Lung’, was previously used and your title ‘Killing us softly’ was used around the same time as another author.
I wish we could claim exclusive rights to our titles but (after more research) understand why movies, books and other genres of art are usually free to be duplicated.
Phil recently posted..The importance of sharing.
Red of M3
/ May 28, 2013To be frank, I do not envision any good coming from copyrighting a name. Simple because you can think it creatively, does not mean someone else cannot do the same with completely different idea. KUS is a prime example. Other than the book, there is also a large self-help group called KUS. They deal in other matters from the subject of my book, but the words equally fit them as well. I rather look at it like fashion. You can put the shoes on other feet and they will look different. 😉