Title Wars
by Denise Weimer @denise_weimer
Your
book, your story – you’ve put your heart and soul into it. You’ve agonized and
edited and even produced the nutshell summary that should snag publishers and
readers alike. But one thing evades you. Maybe just one word, in fact! But oh,
what a word. The title.
The
other day a reader asked me for the first time how I go about choosing titles
for my books, which got me thinking. You know, titles, like writing styles,
have really changed in the last quarter century. There was actually a time
sweeping sagas dripping myriad adjectives, adverbs and descriptive details –
accompanied by a dramatic title – were prized. If it wasn’t grand, it wasn’t
worth picking off the shelf. Now, after the title of our book grabs the reader
with succinct cleverness, we’re supposed to introduce both hero and heroine on
page one, while simultaneously plunging them into hair-raising action.
That
said, there are still several ways to go about selecting a title that both
draws attention and encapsulates the heart of your story.
·
The
descriptive, one-word title. Think of all the popular YA reads with titles
like Shattered, Hunted or Erased. It’s
powerful, arousing curiosity and creating immediate kinship, if you can find
just one word that says so much.
·
Two-word,
action-name or action-noun title. Examples: Redeeming Grace (the title of my first novella, which also
reflected theme) or Finding Fairies.
Couples your clever character name or subject with what happens to them.
·
Location
title. Consider this option if your story encompasses a region or exudes a
strong sense of place. Granted, titles like a state or city name can sound
Michener-esque, so you might want to go with something less grandiose by adding
another word, like the movie, Mississippi
Burning.
·
If an item figures prominently in your story, the item title may be your way to go,
especially if you are going for either foreboding or sentimental. Example: The Heirloom.
·
The
play-off-a-similar title title. Be careful that you’re not infringing or
offending, but there are times it’s appropriate and even humorous to play off
the words of a well-known title, especially if your story is tongue-in-cheek or
spoofy.
·
The
character-possessive title. Example: Sarah’s
Revenge.
·
The theme
title. If your book possesses an underlying lesson for the reader, or if a
thread runs through your story or series, you can reinforce that in the title.
I did this in both of my series. The Restoration Trilogy titles of White, Widow, and Witch offer
punch and puzzlement while representing the historic back stories at the heart
of the novels. In The Georgia Gold Series, each title (Sautee Shadows, The Gray
Divide, The Crimson Bloom and Bright as Gold) reflect the light, shadow
and color of turbulent times and the mystery of missing gold throughout.
I’ve just
scratched the surface, but hopefully I’ve got you started thinking if you’re
stuck. Choosing a title doesn’t have to be the point where you bang your head
against the wall!
What about you? Do you have a tried and true formula for
selecting your title, or as a reader, does a particular type of title really
capture your interest?
Be sure to share your thoughts in the comment section below. Join the conversation!
Author bio: Denise Weimer holds a journalism degree with
a minor in history from Asbury University. A former magazine writer, she is the
author of romantic novella REDEEMING GRACE, The Georgia Gold Series (SAUTEE
SHADOWS, THE GRAY DIVIDE, THE CRIMSON BLOOM, and BRIGHT AS GOLD - winner of the
2015 John Esten Cooke Award for outstanding Southern literature) and The
Restoration Trilogy (WHITE, WIDOW and WITCH). Denise is a wife and swim mom of
two daughters who always pauses for old houses, coffee and chocolate!
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