Entitled 2: Giving your book a title to remember by donalee Moulton
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Last month we talked about giving your
story a title. Unlike article titles, book titles are usually the domain of the
writer. This may be because the writer has a closer connection to the topic,
the editor wants the writer to do the work, the writer and editor see it as the
author’s prerogative. But just because the book writer usually develops the
title doesn’t mean the editor will accept it. They will tell you if they don’t
like it – and why. They will tell you if it won’t work – and why.
Let’s look at what constitutes – usually –
a good book title, and then I will use my recent BWL book as an example.
Because book titles are one of the first
things a potential reader sees, they need to hook that reader. It’s recommended
the title give away a little something about the plot and the nature of your
book. It is going to be action-packed, romantic, whimsical.
Here are the three main ingredients in a
strong title:
Ingredient#1
Length.
Shorter is better. Shorter needs to be more memorable, more powerful. Some
experts advocate for the one-word title, but one-word titles are more limiting
for search engines. Fewer examples are found. The recommendation: three or four
words.
Ingredient #2.
Impact. The title should draw the reader in because
it is evocative, it speaks to what lies within the pages of the book. It sets
the stage for what they can expect.
Ingredient #3
Uniqueness.
Titles that we can remember, titles that stand out from the crowd are winners.
This may be a play on words, a pun, a jab, a literary reference, a phrase that
speaks to mind, heart and spirit.
In short, titles are essential to the sale
of a book. And they are not easy. Let’s look at one title I’m very familiar
with.
My newest book is Hung Out to Die.
It’s a murder mystery. The main character is CEO of a cannabis-production
company in Elmsdale, Nova Scotia. As I was writing this book, a funny aside
started to take place involving a word the main character had never heard
before: Chunderfuck. In my mind, that became the title of the book with
asterisks replacing two of the letters in the last syllable. I then built on
this concept. Future books would have similar fun but profane titles: Numb
Nuts, Dick Wad…. You get the idea.
It was not meant to be. As I was starting
to shop around my book, I realized the title might lead agents and publishers
to conclude the book would be darker, edgier, grittier than it is. Indeed, it’s
actually funny. I also didn’t want to turn off publishers before they even read
the book. I went with a working title instead: So, A psychopath walked into
a bar. In my mind, the book would still be called Chunderf**k, an issue I
would raise with my publisher as soon as I had one. Which I did. My publisher –
BWL – was more than open to changing the title. But not Chunder, and not for
the reason you might think. Search engines don’t pick up asterisks.
Dammit.
So the book is called Hung Out to Die.
It’s a play on words, drying plants is linked to cannabis, and the victim dies
by hanging. It’s short, it’s got some oomph, but let’s face it. It’s no
Chunderf**k.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on titles.
And asterisks.