I had given it a title but I've been writing long enough to know that publishers frequently change titles, so I did my best to hold it pretty lightly. My publishing contract means that while I get consulted on the title, I don't have veto powers, ultimately it's my publisher's decision.
Over the last few weeks we have churned through a range of possibilities from the potential through to the crazy (it featured glow worms and no, there are no glow worms in the book!). We played with the seasons the story is set in, the locations, and the themes. We wanted something that was romantic but not sappy, contemporary but not complicated. We worked through titles of other recently released and soon-to-be released titles of other contemporary romances to try and avoid anything too similar.
Which got me think about titles in general. What I love (whimsical, easy to remember, identifies the genre) and what I don't (tells you nothing about the genre, too complicated, super sappy). So let's talk. What are your favourite book titles ever? And what kind of title would make you not even interested in reading the back cover?
Hmmm it's hard choosing titles I love out of so many books - I liked 'The Light Between the Oceans' (M L Stedman) - because its intriguing and original, refers to the setting (the Lighthouse situated between the Indian and the Great Southern Ocean) and also hints at the theme (an ethical dilemma). Much the same with 'The Book Thief' (Mark Zusak) or 'A Face Like Glass' (Frances Hardinge) gets you wondering, yet goes to the heart of the story. Any title with the F-bomb in it is likely to turn me off.
ReplyDeleteBeing a huge Tolkien fan - I love the premise of your book. That makes me want to read it though maybe the Tolkien is only a small part of the book? The title Close to You - not so much. Yet perhaps it would appeal more to avid romance readers?
Hi Jeanette, those are all great original titles! Tolkien is definitely a huge component of the book. You'd probably struggle to get through more than a few pages without some there being some kind of connection :) Yup, titles are hard. Ultimately, I had to trust my publisher that they're the expert at this and want my book to succeed as much as I do!
DeleteYes, it's a tricky journey, choosing a title, Kara--and I'm glad you checked other novels currently or about to be out there as that can be confusing. Like Jeanette, I tend to be drawn to titles that intrigue me, such as Anthony Doerr's Pullitzer prizewinner 'All the Light We Cannot See'. It made me ask, 'Why couldn't they see the light? What is this light he is referring to?' etc. I like Kate Morton's titles that hint at some secret or mystery too eg 'The Forgotten Garden' or 'The Secret Keeper'. Why was that garden forgotten? What happened there? What is this secret that is being kept? I used to like using just the first name of my heroine as a title too, as with my earlier novels 'Helena', 'Laura' and 'Jenna', but realised after a while that that could alienate some male readers--hence I chose to call my last novel 'The Inheritance'. But there are other novels called that out there too ... sigh. There are bound to be objections, whichever one you choose, Kara, so I'd say stand firm for the one you really want, if you can!
ReplyDeleteI'm a huge Kate Morton fan too, Jo-Anne! One of the thing that often intrigues me with her books is how they're sometimes retitled for different markets. For example, in New Zealand her first book was titled The Shifting Fog, but in the UK it's the House at Riverton.
DeleteI definitely stood firm on a few ideas that I just couldn't reconcile myself with as a title. Ultimately, I had to trust my publisher that they're the expert at this and want my book to succeed as much as I do!
'Close to You' has me singing the old song by the Carpenters - a good thing, but it shows my age, lol.
ReplyDeleteI really like that title. The short, punchy three-worders seem to be in vogue at the moment and I really like them. Can't wait to read yours!
That was the first thing my agent said too, Andrea! Thanks so much :)
DeleteChoosing titles has always been a problem for me. I've only had one changed by a publisher. I called my fourth Harlequin medical romance Change of Pace but it became Trusting Dr Scott. The third book apparently did not have a good rating. I had called it simply Burnout and the editor told me afterwards that in hind-sight it was too "negative' a title for a medical romance. Guess the Harlequin surveys and knowing their readers is so VERY important. However, the overall sales actually were a little over my other books.
ReplyDeleteHi Mary, that's pretty impressive that you got to keep three out of your four titles. I was told the odds are over 50% that a book's title changes from what an author called it to what it's published as.
DeleteKara, I'm glad you're happy with your title :) My Heartsong title stats were 2 out of 6. It wasn't until book #3 that I started to really understand the marketing hooks they were looking for in their title choices. Plus, they already had over 1000 previously used titles that couldn't be used again. Books #4 and #6 were also my first choice for titles.
DeleteI think it's even more difficult to write the title for the first book in a series. Not only do you have that title, but it is the 'model' for the others that follow, especially if some sort of branding or pattern is a concern. And then there is the name of the series.
ReplyDeleteI cannon say that I have a favorite novel title. Maybe Red Storm Rising.
Of my novels, maybe Relic Tech, although Flank Hawk is a close second, being my first published novel.
Short stories seem to be easier for me to title. "Tethered in Purgatory" is the favorite of mine I've named. Unlike with novels, magazines, ezines and anthologies seem to be less interested in selecting or influencing a story's title.
My favorite short story title?" Either "A Pail of Air" or "To Build a Fire."