Choosing a title for your story is a big responsibility. It's the first thing most people will notice about your book, and, let's face it, when was the last time you picked up a book with a terrible title? It's hard to sell a thriller novel if it's called "The Wacky Fantastic Journey of Silly Sam and his Funtime Weasels," or a children's novel entitled, "KILLZONE SEVEN: THE RE-MURDERINATING."
Titling isn't just as simple as choosing something that sounds nice, either. You can have a really nice title, and it may not be right for your work, and you can have a very accurately descriptive title, and it might be too clunky--even when you think you've got it all figured out, you might still have some work to do. It never hurts to take another look! Here's some of the many, many methods that exist for choosing a title. (I call it: *Dramatic announcer voice* LISTICLE 3: A LIST TO THE LEFT)
I. Compiling a List
1. Isolate the main themes of your story
What is your story about? The struggle between good and evil? The appalling nature of America's treatment of minorities? The difference between looking both ways before crossing the street and sweet, juicy, death?
Whatever it is, hunker down and write a list of all the words you can think of that pertain to your theme, even if they're only related tangentially. Also, write down any symbols that might occur--sometimes great titles can be made of symbolism. Make the list as long or as short as you want. Do any words jump out at you? Any combinations of words? Write down whatever combinations seem to best describe the story. Keep those around. If you're still not sure you like what you have...
2. Consider your characters
If your story is pretty character-driven, you may want to consider using your characters to name it. You could use a character's name (or several), or you could make another list (it's a list-heavy article. Strap in, kids, it's gonna be a bullety ride) of words related to your character--traits, triumphs, defeats, arcs, character changes, colors--anything goes! Then, again, pair things together. Experiment! Write your favorites down on your To Seriously Consider List (TSCL).
3. Are there any recurring gags or sayings/events that could be used?
Especially in a humor novel, naming your book after a recurring joke can be a big hit--if you name it after the right one, everyone is going to be associating the line with your book anyway, so why not capitalize on it? In a more dramatic novel, a particularly striking line from the book, or a common phrase--twisted or played straight (Live and Let Die vs. Catch 22), a certain level of familiarity can catch both the eye and the imagination. Make another list, then pick your favorites and add them to your TSCL.
4. Are there any poems or songs that fit your book?
I often name my books after fitting song lines or titles--if it fits the book, then most people won't realize, and the ones who do will get a total kick out of it. Plus sometimes music is the best way to describe a thing. Throw a few on your TSCL and prepare to examine their worth!
II. Refining your list
1. Take a look at your TSCL.
You probably have a lot of options left over; first thing's first, go through and divide your titles into the four categories above. Go down each list and mark them S (strong) M (moderate) and W (weak). Can you strengthen or save the weaks or moderates? Get rid of the ones you can't; fix the ones you can.
Check each list and decide if any of the above methods don't, for whatever reason, fit your story. Does a song title seem too gimmicky? Are you adverse to naming a book after a character? Eliminate categories as you see fit.
The rest you can eliminate using these criteria:
2. Does it fit the tone/genre of your novel?
I don't go too much off genre conventions myself, but it IS important that you don't confuse your reader--BIG FANTASY NOVEL XXX isn't a title that would grab the attention of a chaste group of sci-fi nerds.
You also don't want a title that doesn't fit the tone of your novel, and I think this is the big one. The Grapes of Wrath doesn't sound like a comedy, and Love Story doesn't sound like a book discussing a revolution; if that's what the authors were going for, they would not, by any means, have been as well received as they were. You may not want the audience to know absolutely everything about your story just from looking at the title, but it's the first step in deciding you want to buy a book, and as such, it should never be a liar. Rule out anything that doesn't fit.
3. Does your title mean something?
Titles are often most powerful, and have the most staying power, when they possess a double meaning, and can be viewed one way at the beginning of the novel, and another at the end. It may mean many things, or, as I suggested above, be a literal symbol that appears in your novel. Of Mice and Men, for instance, is named after a line in a poem--"the best laid plans of Mice and Men often go awry," which relates strongly to the recurring theme of the death of dreams and failure of plans in the figurative wasteland depression-era America was (the entire story is about two men who plan to get the money together to start a farm, only for one of them to SPOILER ALERT end up dead, the other with no will left to start the farm on his own). But it can also be seen to refer to the relationship between Lennie and the mice--soft, fragile things, which he loves but always kills--a very important element which foreshadows the death of both a puppy and his employer's wife. These things you realize only as you get deeper and deeper into the novel, but it works.
Your title doesn't have to have two meanings, but it can definitely add some depth. Play around with it, see what you can find!
4. Don't be afraid to go simple
sometimes Simple is Best--capitalized and lowercased for emphasis. Carrie, The Hunger Games, The Hobbit--all very simple, very successful titles. The big flashy titles are great, and can do a lot to capture a reader's attention, but sometimes it's best to allow the story to speak for itself. Name it after a character, an in-world social structure or event, a county, a planet, a species--whatever's best for your book. Sometimes bigger isn't better.
III. Test Your Title
1. Is your title original?
Take this new and exciting title and slam dunk it into Google or Amazon--if another book comes up by the same name, this probably isn't the title for you. While it's perfectly legal to use the same name as another book, it's not a good idea just based on the public aspect of it--if the other book is spectacular and has a large fanbase, you wouldn't want your book to be buried under the avalanche of praise for the other book, and if the other one is terrible you don't want its reputation to bring you down.
It's impossible to be completely original, but you should still do your very best to try.
2. Does it fit your story?
Be honest with yourself; did you choose this because it fits your plot, your characters, your world, or because it sounds cool? If it's just because it sounds cool, go back to the drawing board--pick one that's cool but actually pertains to the story being told. Don't lose hope; your title is out there.
Look again at the tone of your novel. Make sure it fits--or, if it doesn't, that it's purposeful. Sometimes a misleading title can work, but only if it's done with a lot of forethought and not by accident.
3. Sit on it
In writing, we spend a lot of time sitting on things. Literally and figuratively--there's a lot of sitting involved in writing or typing, but you know what I mean.
When you have a refined list of titles (or just the one), let them stew a while. Name files after them, jostle them around in your head, reread the story with that title in mind. After a week or so, you'll probably know whether or not you like it. Maybe you'll grow attached!
Whether you become partial to one or still have it up in the air, don't forget to ask yourself;
4. Does it resonate with people?
Pitch your title to your friends and family members, followers, classmates, even strangers. Ask them their opinions--would they read a book with that title? At least check the back cover? Does it stir up any positive or negative emotions? Do those emotions fit the tone of your book?
Explain the plot and ask them if they think the title fits. Do they have any suggestions? Don't take their critiques to heart, but do take it to mind, especially if they're critique partners or betas--keep a log of what they say, and analyze it to see if you think it holds water.
Ultimately, this is your decision--NO ONE knows your book better than you. But it can definitely help to get a fresh perspective.
Picking titles can be difficult, especially when we think we know what we're doing. If you find that you've made a mistake with your working title, don't feel bad--I once called a superhero novel about a villain named Labrynth (spelling intentional) and a hero named The Extraterrestrial The Extraterrestrial In The Labrynth for a year while I wrote it, because until I had finished it, read through it three different times, and given serious thought to the plot, it seemed like a good idea.
It can take a lot of time and effort, but landing on a good title is worth it--for you, if for no one else. It can help pull a book together, give it a sense of identity--it's no longer that novel I've been working on--It's The Great Capibara Adventure, The Amazing Trimalchio, Escape From Calcutta! A good title can even be the difference between an agent's desk and the slop pile.
If you've already spent ten thousand hours putting your book together word by word and edit by rewrite, don't you think it deserves that extra 5-10? Every story wants to be finished. Let yours live its dream.
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