Comments on: What makes a good book title?

By: Daddy Take My Kidney, Lover Take My Heart « The View From Here

Daddy Take My Kidney, Lover Take My Heart « The View From Here — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 03:29:16 +0000

[...] process That’s the working title of The You I Never Knew, in case you’re wondering. Finding the right title for a book is always tricky, and sometimes the results are just downright odd. The Bookseller Magazine awards [...]

By: Four legged houseguest « The View From Here

Four legged houseguest « The View From Here — Wed, 07 Mar 2007 07:52:29 +0000

[...] starting something new (the novel formerly known as Untitled), had a wacky brainstorming meeting with my writers’ group (aka the Brain Trust) and [...]

By: Wendy Roberts

Wendy Roberts — Mon, 26 Feb 2007 02:21:45 +0000

I’m truly title challenged. The ones I manage to come up with on my own are quite awful so I usually throw some ideas out there and hope my writing friends can help.

Good luck with your hunt for the perfect title!

By: susanwiggs

susanwiggs — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 16:13:22 +0000

I often start without a title, but I fill in something in the ms. header. Sometimes, the placeholder title sticks. Examples - SUMMER BY THE SEA, LAKESIDE COTTAGE. The header of this book says “LAKE EFFECT” which I love but my publisher doesn’t. Dither, dither.

By: miladyinsanity

miladyinsanity — Sun, 25 Feb 2007 14:37:44 +0000

I start without title. I have a bad feeling I’m going to end without title too.

By: Patricia Wood

Patricia Wood — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 18:34:55 +0000

Hey I love that! “Woefully untitled!” Thanks so much for commenting on my blog and thanks for the props re: my book.
I want you to know I am NOT organized…I just have no choice as I live on a boat.
Yeah titles are interesting animals.
I usually start with a working title and in the process of writing — a better one will emerge. Ironically Lottery was the working title that I initially didn’t much care for — until I noticed that every time someone saw a bound titled copy of my draft they were compelled to pick it up and glance at it. hmmm, I thought. Maybe there’s something there.
(I too love Ithaca — one of my earlier novels uses it as inspiration– we have seen more than one sailboat named Ithaca… NOTE TO SELF: must stop using ellipses as copyeditor hates them and takes them out every time!

By: susanwiggs

susanwiggs — Sat, 24 Feb 2007 17:48:32 +0000

Dave, this is the key question, isn’t it? (”What are you trying to say?” Most market studies of commercial fiction (which is what I write) indicate that you have about a second to capture the attention of someone browsing the book racks. This seems shockingly inadequate, except that the human eye and brain can take in a lot of info in a single second. If the book has the right package - cover art, title, overall “look” - the right reader will “recognize” it. She’ll say, “Oh! My kind of book!” Look at Patricia Wood’s first novel - see http://pkwood.blogspot.com/ and notice how you can instantly grasp the essence of this book. (I can, anyway). That’s a great title/cover combination. That’s what I’m trying to find for WOEFULLY UNTITLED which is today’s name for the book.

I like your titles, too. “Ithaca” is one of those words that is just fun to pronounce. Or maybe it’s just me.

By: Dave

Dave — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 19:07:21 +0000

So.. what’s the motivation behind titling your book? You’ve got Catskills, and Avalon as a place… and a feeling of escape… beyond something like Escape from Avalon.. what are you trying to say? I usually books and poems based on a small detail of what might be in the book.. also, something that catches attention.

Examples:

Soggy Tuna on Rye (a title of a coming to age story… remembering soggy tuna sandwiches is part of the plot)

Dreamweaver (chapters consisted of dreams)

Mysteries of Ithaca (another coming of age taking place in Ithaca, NY)

I don’t think I’m being much help… Titles can draw reader’s to the book.. so I almost like the ambiguity of them… just my opinion

By: Rahul

Rahul — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 18:27:41 +0000

‘Footsteps past the oblivian……..’ ??

By: susanwiggs

susanwiggs — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 18:20:25 +0000

Curtis, I would classify this as a strong title. It has a rhythm and concrete images. It piques my interest. This gets a thumbs up from me. Go for it!