When I set out to learn about my mother's bridge club, the Jewish octogenarians behind the matching outfits and accessories, I never expected to fall in love with them. This is the story of the ladies, their game, their gen, and the ragged path that led me back to my mother.
Please be gentle!
When I go around hawking my book, I give a series of workshops and one is on titles. I don’t know if it will be possible to recreate some of that experience here or if anyone will be game, but if you would like to test out your title, leave it as a comment. What we do in the workshop is use everyone as market research. Writers float their titles and we get a show of hands who likes it, who doesn’t, why? And then a deeper conversation ensues about the importance of titles and why we like some, not others, how useful they are for marketing, what they need to accomplish given the genre, how well they capture the essence of the book, how they can attract and galvanize, or get lost in the crowd.
What makes you pick up a book in the store? You have a title, jacket art, an author’s name, some descriptive copy. What grabs you? Some combination no doubt. But when you are pitching to agents (and agents in turn to publishers), it is even more critical to get the title right. I pitched a book today and the title and sub-title said it all. And when I pitched it, the editors said things like: that’s a brilliant title, that title gave me chills, I feel like I’m going to cry, etc. This is called a bulls-eye. It doesn’t guarantee a sale, but you’ve got the door open and editors will look at it more quickly.
I’ve heard too many writers say that the title is a place holder because they know it will change. Or they say they’re not good at thinking up titles. Or the title is good enough. I beg you to find a great title. A truly great title. You cannot underestimate how much it helps your cause.
So, if you are working on your title and want some feedback (and please post anonymously if you like), show us what you got. And we’ll tell you if we like it and why, or send you back to the drawing board. Or just tell us what some of your favorite titles are and why. I will send a FREE AUTOGRAPHED copy of The Forest for the Trees (Revised and Updated for the 21st Century) to the best loved title submitted. No joke.
Betsy Lerner 
I am weighing two for my Science Fiction WIP:
Apotheosis
or
Forever Girl
I guess I should chip in with some titles I’ve liked, too. “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” – I didn’t particularly enjoy the book, but the title has a nice rhythm to it, and feels poetic without being too horribly pretentious. Maybe it’s getting through my ‘literary-title-cliche’ radar because of it’s age.
I also like “The Kitchen God’s Wife” because it’s intriguing – it raises questions, and “The Speed of Dark” because it’s a thought-provoking twist on a familiar concept.
Oh! And “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”. Ok, I’ll stop 🙂
Infinitely prefer Forever Girl to Apotheosis.
Apotheosis doesn’t tell me much, seems almost impersonal. Apotheosis of what?
Forever Girl however is much more intriguing.
I like Forever Girl too. It sounds vaguely familiar which could be good or not good, I suppose.
Apotheosis makes me think I need a dictionary, though I like the sound of it (if my brain is pronouncing it right)
i agree.
Forever Girl has me expecting a young adult romance. I wonder if it’s the strongest choice for your genre.
Hmm. I don’t read YA or romance much so that’s good to think about! Thanks to all who have responded so far.
I know Apotheosis is kinda pretentious, but it works for the plot. Forever Girl sounds better but is slightly misleading in the context of the story. Maybe I should go back to the drawing board altogether (or finish the manuscript then see what jumps out!).
Forever girl struck me as a different genre also. Apotheosis is more sci fi.
I like Forever Girl.
Forever Girl reminds me of The Goodbye Girl, which I loved. Maybe a tiny bit too sweet for science fiction? I don’t know what I’m talking about when it comes to science fiction, though, so maybe it’s perfect.
I had to look up “apotheosis.” Not a bad thing. If (when) the book takes off , everybody’s vocabulary will grow.
Apotheosis makes me curious. A good thing.
Forever Girl makes me think of a middle school book for girls?
Yes for FOREVER GIRL.
I hate Forever Girl, but I am rather old, when I was young, I loved Georgy Girl. I second your choices: The Unbearable Lightness of Being and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, and I would add, Love in the Time of Cholera.
Forever Girl!!! Definitely. The other one seems too impersonal & I think Forever Girl would draw more readers.
The title of my novel is “The Second Intelligent Species”, and I’m still not ready to let you know what that is.
And I already have an autographed copy. Thanks.
This is interesting, but I’m getting stuck on the word ‘Second’ because it implies there has only been one known intelligent species (presumably humans), yet aren’t elephants, parrots, and dolphins widely regarded as ‘intelligent’ ?
“The Second Intelligent Species” is intriguing but clunky. No offense, but it doesn’t scan as smoothly as I’d like.
Maybe just Intelligent Species? I’m guessing, obviously, this is about a non-human species…but it would be obvious it’s a “second” intelligent species from the context of the books, so you don’t need it in the title. My two cents.
It grabs me and I wonder what the species is. This totally depends on the genre though. If it were literary, I’d probably not like it as much.
For those of you who were wondering, the genre is Speculative science fiction.
It does not work for me.
I’m not big into this title… it’s kind of cumbersome and honestly doesn’t draw me in.
My paranormal romance title is The Stranger in the Mirror.
I like this. But perhaps because I’m a Michael Jackson fan it makes me think of that of his 😉
There might be a ‘song’ missing in that reply of mine somewhere 😛
or a Freuduian slip
This feels as though I’ve heard it before. Can you stretch a bit further, maybe? Try something unexpected?
It doesn’t do it for me. The only thing that comes to mind is Suspence, and even that isn’t right.
My YA novel on submission is called The Wrong Daughter.
Tiny part of why I chose it: The narrator’s perfect sister was skating on Lake Champlain, fell through the ice, and drowned. “Mama and I were home, making apple pies. I was sitting at the kitchen table, peeling a basket of Granny Smiths and she was cutting Grisco into a bowl of flour when my father came in the door with the collapsed body and empty eyes he’d have for the rest of his life. After he told us what had happened, he just kept staring at my plain, moon-shaped face with the port wine birthmark that travels down my cheek like an ambling purple river, and I knew what he was thinking–the wrong daughter was dead.”
Crisco — time to go to bed.
love it
I like The Wrong Daughter. I only hesitate because there seemed to be such a huge trend of “Daughter” titles that it felt overplayed. Not sure if that’s really an issue, though.
I think the best titles tell their own story, or set a promise to the reader about what to expect from the premise. This title does both, so I think it succeeds.
i agree. i liked it right away. definitely a title that would make me pick up the book regardless of genre.
agree with amy and lauren
i agree. very direct and complete.
I really like this one. It made me think, Yeah, me too. That can’t be a bad thing.
This one gets my vote. Very nice—even without the explanation.
I would pull that book off the shelf to find out more.
This is almost awesome. Something is holding me back from awesome though, and I don’t know what it is.
The Birth Marked Daughter
Ouch. Yes, the right title.
Love the story description. Maybe Purple River?
My title is Gardening in Belvoir. It is a paranormal suspense novel.
I also like this. Makes me ask: where’s Belvoir? Why are we gardening over there? Is it nice?
I like this. It’s the odd name, Belvoir. Intriguing. Takes me out of the normal. Juxtaposed against the very traditional gardening.
I like it except the name for me conjures up Marines. Which may be your intent.
I would pick this up in the store and want to see “Where is this Belvoir?” Is it French? And what kind of garden, literal or figurative? Yes. I’m liking it.
Also find it intriguing.
I like it, very evocative, but doesn’t smack of paranormal suspense on first glance – feels more like a travel book
I agree. It’s a lovely title, but I’m not sure I’d be expecting paranormal suspense.
I like this one a lot. The gardening part makes me think someone’s burying bodies, and Belvoir is so Frenchy and fun to say. It’s excellent!!
I would pick this title off the shelf.
Is there prize for the worst?
Daughter of
And yes, that’s the whole title of my first completed novel. It seemed like a good idea at the time . . .
My current WIP is called The Pigeon Drop. It may not be much better, but it makes more sense.
Definitely like “The Pigeon Drop” more than “Daughter of…[whatever]” 🙂 Although it kind of makes me think of this girl I knew who always wanted to gently kick pigeons in the butt, from the behind, to send them soaring a little. Yeah, never got that either….
Is ‘The Pigeon Drop’ referencing that drop that pigeons make when launching into flight?
Given that I’m not sure, I’m thinking of like a drop made by a pigeon. Sounds vaguely military to me?
Nope. It’s a classic congame. You drop your wallet in front of the two-legged pigeon, and you walk away with his. Or hers.
I actually like this. Makes me curious enough to want to see more… which is the whole point of a title.
I meant “Daughter of.”
The Pigeon Drop has a playful quality. Doesn’t give me a clue what it is so I’d look forward to the blurbs and cover art.
“Pigeon drop” is the name of a common scam, where people pretend to have found money and they show it to you and ask for your help and you end up giving them money to secure your “share,” etc. Good title, if it’s about a scam.
Hooray! And it is.
Pigeon Drop makes me think of Pigeon Droppings. Can you say a line or two of what the book is about?
Sure. Um . . .
In order to save the life of their boss and mentor—a legendary reformed huckster who needs a bone marrow transplant—a team of ex-cons must dig past his aliases, identities, secrets, and crimes to track down the family he betrayed and abandoned–and convince them that he deserves a second chance.
No sweat . . . except leads are disappearing right and left and the odds against finding a viable donor are rising. And they realize there’s someone out there who doesn’t believe in second chances.
Yeah, I know. But this isn’t the ‘best query’ thread . . .
I’m liking it better now. If I read this description on the book, I’d pick it up.
I like Daughter of. Pigeon Drop is great, though it reminds me a-of a Patrick Neate novel I can’t quite place… probably just because it uses the word Pigeon.
Honest And For True. Women’s fiction.
The novel I’m working on? Hah. It has seven working titles on the first page and I’m sure I won’t be going with any of them. :-b
I kept reading this as simply “Honest and True.” Hmm. I’m not sure about this, kind of on the fence. (At least it doesn’t shove me off the other side, right? Or make me want to impale myself.) 🙂
‘Honest And For True’ – I’m with Laura on this one. Makes me go ‘hmm’.
Honest, But Not True
obviously this probably doesn’t work at all with the story line, but it’s what my head did with the words after reading it.
I didn’t like it instantly because it looked like it would sound awkward but after I repeated it, it was intriguing. I like it!
is it ironic?
This also makes me go ‘huh’. Where did this title come from? Is there an epigraph?
It’s the “For” that gets me here… it disrupts the “flow” of the title and I thing Honest and True would work better, of course, depending on the title.
My titles:
1. Opal (novel, literary fiction. Previously titled Finding Opal.)
2. Living Arrangements (story collection)
I originally liked Finding Opal, but some people thought it sounded more like chick lit. And then I thought it sounded too precious or something. And while plain old “Opal” works best for now, I wonder if it’s too plain. Sometimes, though, I wouldn’t mind some simplicity in a title compared to some of the stuff I see.
I really like Living Arrangements. Speaks very clearly about what I imagine the short stories deal with.
However Opal doesn’t do much for me; simply doesn’t convey much beyond the name of a stone. Finding Opal is better – but still doesn’t move me.
agree with phil
I’ve actually always loved the title Opal. It would make a beautiful graphic.
love Living Arrangements
and the word Opal, but would want more to get me to pick it up.
Love Living Arrangments.
I like Living Arrangements. And I prefer Opal to ‘finding’; the later makes me think Nemo, Bobby Fischer etc.
Opal’s too generic, like Living Arrangements though
I like Living Arrangements also; it almost seems like it’s telling me it’s a short story collection.
FINDING OPAL feels better to me than OPAL. It implies something is wrong.
Crude Sunlight
What genre? I admit it, I’m not a fan of this one. Sorry if that seems brutally honest. But I guess that’s the point of this, right?
No worries – the genre is horror. Not everyone’s cup of tea 😉
‘Everyone’s Cup of Tea’ actually strikes me as a fairly strong horror title.
creative, but doesn’t do it for me, sorry
Not unless it’s a vampire novel. And I don’t really like those anyway.
I think it might help to choose one word or the other and build off that. The word crude seems to suggest something more tangible than sunlight.
Sci-Fi novel-in-progress: FREEMAKER
I’m neutral on this one. Or I think I like it. (This is surprisingly hard.) I can picture it in huge letters across a scifi cover.
Freemaker doesn’t do much for me, sorry. Makes me wonder why you’re not using ‘Liberator’.
for some reason i’ve got lynyrd skynyrd on my mind with this title.
Not quite. Almost, but not quite.
I’m contentedly married to the title of the ms I am (again, and finally?) tweaking: Split Infinities. But the next one in line I am calling, “Diary of an Unfed Mother.” Discuss among yourselves…
I really like Split Infinities 🙂
“Diary of” is used a lot, but I do like the twist on “Unwed”. Piques interest and gives the reader something to latch their expectations onto.
I like Split Infinities. I also like the other title, but agree that “Diary of…” seems pretty common in titles.
Like Split Infinities a lot. I like playful language. Whether or not it works as a title, well, I guess that’s what this exercise is to help us find out.
I love Split Infinities. Diary though feels like I’ve heard it before– I start to tune out at Diary. I do like the Unfed Mothers part though.
i agree with the unfed mothers part of the title. is there another way to introduce it that doesn’t use diary of or confessions of?
Feel like I cheated by mentioning two titles. Sounds like Split Infinities works though? And maybe I need to drop “Diary of,,,” and just go with something like “An Unfed Mother.”
i think you still need something in front of it
Love of an Unfed Mother
Welfare for the Unfed Mother
Story of an Unfed Mother
recipes for an unfed mother
YES!!! Recipes for sure.
Agreed–that’s brilliant!
Recipes for an Unfed Mother! Yes!
Recipes strikes me as confusing for random shelf-plucking if it is not a cookbook. Maybe just pluralize it – ‘Unfed Mothers’ ?
recipes for unfed mothers is excellent.
Another vote for Recipes for An Unfed Mother
I like the Unfed Mother part. Trying to think of another opening word or two …. Or hey, what about just Unfed Mother?
Dream of the Unfed Mother?
Unfed Mother on its own hits me strongest.
Ooooh yes, yes: Recipes for an Unfed Mother!! Great ‘glasseye.’ 🙂
SPLIT INFINITIES, yes.
DIARY OF AN UNFED MOTHER, no.
Split Infinity is a (fabulous) novel by Piers Anthony, so that’s what it makes me think of.
Okay… Deep breath… And… PRIDE, PREJUDICE, AND CURLING ROCKS. It’s a YA that is loosely based on PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, but focused on a curling team rather than sisters. I worry about it because that name scheme may be overdone and because I came across someone who didn’t understand that “curling rocks” is a noun, but have been unable to think of anything else that conveys what it’s about as well.
First of all? A novel about curling? YES. (I am probably in the minority here, though….) Yeah, I could see many people not knowing what a curling rock is (isn’t it called a stone? I’m not an expert, clearly) and it definitely could be confusing. Could it simply be “Curling” in whatever form you choose?
My only hesitation is due to the whole Pride & Prejudice & Zombies thing…
Sometimes they’re called stones, but usually we call them rocks. 🙂
I didn’t get Curling Rocks as a noun either. I like your premise but the P&P part I’m not sure about.
Ok. Good to know. It really threw me the first time that happened. I mean, all my friends know what curling rocks are! But my friends are either curlers or friends with at least one curler, so… 🙂
I’m also not wild about the P & P part but I LOVE that you did a YA novel about curling because that just seems so fresh and fun to me. I love the Austen nod but I just think title wise, it would be a shame to not have a title that’s as fresh as the concept. Plus I just know there is some fun curling jargon you could work in.
I agree with Spring. I’ll bet there is some sort of curling maneuver that would better describe the book. I really dig the premise.
I’ve been working on a list… It’s hard though because I don’t want the title to be something that a non-curler wouldn’t understand. I’ve put a lot of effort into making sure you don’t need to know the sport to follow the book and don’t want it to seem like you’d need prior knowledge to pick it up.
as a canadian, i’m digging the curling references (heh).
I don’t like the P&P, frankly (sorry). Curling Rocks on its own is good though, it’s not quite familiar.
Zebra Crossing or Five Fathoms Deep, a book of poems and short essays written on objects and presented as photographs. Each one is based on a word that has more than one meaning as described by Merriam-Webster.
God, does this whole thing sound fucking ridiculous. But it’s just for me, so whatever.
I thought this was “Zebra Crossing Five Fathom Deep” which I found weirdly fascinating, ha. I think I like Zebra Crossing better….but I hope there’s a real zebra(s) in there somewhere, not just the pedestrian crossing.
Yeah, I have an idea for a photograph about that, and there’s a story behind it. Behind both of them, really.
I thought the same thing! I like Zebra Crossing– I see Abbey Road immediately.
Right?! I see a zebra on a crosswalk for the cover – a toy zebra in black and white. Think what fun I could have with the zebra motif.
Yes, that cover would rock. Hard.
My vote is for Zebra Crossings
(but only because just the other day i read an article about james frey and his new company full fathom five, so i immediately went there.)
no, it doesn’t sound ridiculous.
b/c we’ve discussed it before, i’m going to throw some titles at you:
Pictures for Words
or
A Word is Worth a 1,000 Pictures
I really like your second one, Amy. It’s more straightforward than either of mine, and maybe that’s a better direction.
I’m not crazy about either of those Pictures/Words titles, but you may be on to something along those general lines if you dig deeper….
i’m liking a combo of the two: five zebra crossing. i’m thinking i’d remember that title forever.
Love that. It’s more whimsical and a little bit bizarre, which was my original thought.
Yeah, Five Zebra Crossing would stick with me.
Love Zebra Crossing. It moves.
I love Zebra Crossing. And no, doesn’t sound ridiculous. The clips you’ve let out are fascinating.
Thanks, Deb. You guys are such good hand-holders.
No, fans!
I also love Zebra Crossing. I would remember that and tell people to read it.
Love the idea and Five Zebra Crossing I think someone suggested? Sounds good.
Titles I like, just off the top of my head so I might have more later:
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake
The History of Love
A Good Man is Hard to Find
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
To Kill a Mockingbird
Of Human Bondage
The Lives of Girls and Women
Anywhere But Here
Wise Blood
Imaginary Girls
No Country for Old Men
Behind the Attic Wall
Truth and Beauty
I’ve seen so many great titles over the last couple of years that I couldn’t begin to list any here, but “The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake” would be at the top of my list. The title sold me even before I read the great premise.
Didn’t you just love that book?
I loved the title, the story and the writing but I HATED the end
am I the only one thinking The Pretentious Sadness of . . . ?
Chaos, in Theory
I feel like I’ve seen this kind of thing before, not necessary book titles, just in general. What genre?
I’ve used it for awhile on my wip. It’s fiction. Hopefully, good.
It’s like Split Infinities. Rather a play on words.
Oh, and I understand that it’s a play on words…I guess what I’m saying is that this particular play on words still feels familiar to me.
I like it but the comma stops me (like it’s supposed to0. So I didn’t link the two words together well enough. I like both Chaos and In Theory though (as phrases)
The cheekiness works if it’s YA or light-toned women’s fiction (we can’t say chick lit anymore, right?). Otherwise, not sure.
I once named my friend’s novel Love, in Theory. It worked well for the protagonist, who analyzed everything to death.
I like playing with Is Lightness Bearable? too.
it’s a great question but as a title too much a play on Unbearable Lightness for me
I’m currently working on The Hound of Amaris Bell, The Famous Original Overnight Celebrity Diet, and vnshng.
I don’t believe in great titles for novels: To Kill a Mockingbird, The Grapes of Wrath, Moby Dick, The Great Gatsby, Da Vinci Code, Harry Potter and the Chalice of Mediocrity, Twilight, 2666, Infinite Jest. Suck. If Whatshername called Gone With the Wind ‘Tomorrow Is Another Day,’ we’d all think GWTW is crap and TIAD is gold.
‘I feel like I’m going to cry?’ Seriously? What was the subtitle, ‘That Time I Locked My 3-Year-Old In the Car and She Died to Death?’
i like vnshng. it has a nice ring to it.
although, i’d probably be more likely to pick up ‘that time i locked my 3-year-old in the car and she died to death’
Yes, yes, intriguing. I read about that. It was in all the papers…right?
Yes, it happened in every casino parking lot.
I really need to stop thinking in pictures, but I do love the look of vnshng, with those ghostly vowels. Nice.
The Hound of Amaris Bell rocks. What genre do you write, August?
Anything I suspect might pay. Nonfiction, fantasy, thriller, MG. Screenplays (with unfortunate results). I am a soulless hack.
I think The During Time is fine if the cover is strong. (I really am not a big believer in titles, and only barely restrained myself from mocking the lists of people’s favorites, because of that baby seal.) But I bet it could be stronger. What’s traumatic about the During Time? If I think about traumatic events, I think The Black Plague, the Great Fire, the Holocaust: the During Time doesn’t sound all that bad.
You’re a soulless hack? Nah … The whole baby seal thing gave you away.
The During Time is how the young protagonist sees things … Before, During, After. Strange things happen in the During time, and everything changes afterward.
Back to the drawing board.
I confess to knowing fuck-all about publishing, but if you believe in the power of a cover, August, why not a title?
I believe that titles and covers both have the power to fuck you, but neither has the power to save you. Actually, I guess I believe that about every other aspect of publishing, too.
With ‘The During Time,’ all I’m saying is if the cover screams ‘sci-fi of whatever subgenre,’ I think it’s fine. Perfectly good. I wouldn’t spend another minute on the search for perfection. But if the cover is a girl walking in a field of daisies, you’re screwed. More screwed.
What Betsy said about a ‘truly great’ title is crap. That’s probably why there are 500 comments on this thread. Good enough is good enough. Frankly, good enough is -more- than good enough. Honestly, 2666? The History of Love? What kind of editor is telling Betsy that she’s shivering and moaning over a -title-? If your title makes them cry, they’ve got bigger problems than deciding how much to offer. Telling me to find a truly great title is like telling me to make sure my wife comes first. I’d never get it up again. I don’t even believe Betsy -wrote- that–I think Erin is toying with her again. It’s like saying, ‘I beg you to write great prose.’ Oh, thanks. I’ll do -that-, then, instead of resorting to the same spasmodic tics and flimsy gimmicks I’ve been trotting out for years.
The drive for greatness is the third-worst mistake a writer can make.
dear god, i hope this last august rant was the 500th comment. it would make the (or at least my) world so very perfect. i’d stick all 500 in a hardback book for $24.95 and for sure put a girl running through daisies on the cover.
august, you had me at a ‘truly great’ title is crap.
This post is the collective 500+ cry of, “Please dear god, tell me this title doesn’t suck.”
And now I’ll be wondering about the first and second-worst things. Tease.
I thought you were being your witty self served up with a big side of sardonic. You know I would buy a book authored by you called The.
Is it greedy to ask for input on one more? It’s called The During Time – science fiction. I finished a first edit few months ago and set it aside, but it’s on my mind again. The name refers to a traumatic event in the story.
Okay, I’m not sure how that last comment ended up here. Sorry!
vnshng — though I’m talking to a friend and want to recommend a book quickly and I say Yeah it’s called … vnshng. Extend this and might be challenging for people to FIND.
but you probably don’t care about that?
I avoid that problem by writing books that nobody recommends.
bright with lights, moving fast is now the working title of a series of short stories about degenerate expats living in present day Hong Kong. genre is literary fiction.
thanks for all your feedback on the title a couple of weeks back. it really helped me.
Something makes me feel this title is not quite there yet, like it’s the draft you need before you get to the real title. Anyone else? It’s like I can see what you’re going for, but it needs to be less clunky or communicate the idea more smoothly and easily.
No, not quite.
BRIGHT LIGHTS, MOVING FAST is maybe, but not BRIGHT WITH LIGHTS, MOVING FAST.
I can’t picture it moving fast–whatever it is–because you’ve got time to tell us lights are with it.
Disarrangement of Stars, fiction
I like the concept of this title. The word “Disarrangement” keeps making me stumble, though.
i like using stars in the title, but the word Disarrangement caught me too.
Moving Stars?
Stars in New Places?
Rearranging Stars?
Unfortunately, I concur. Disarrangement rubs awkwardly against my brain cells.
good to know– that’s what I wondered. thanks!
How about: Realigning the Stars
i’m wondering what/who your book is about? that could direct the usage of stars in your title. e.g. stars and sons.
The stars themselves aren’t a factor, more how easily random and not-so-random choices can throw the whole universe out of whack. So it’s the disarrangement. It’s a line from a great poem “Another Betrayal” by Deanna Pickard.
Maybe just And the Stars
Me, I like Disarranging. So that’s one.
I also like:
Bright Lights, Big City
The Brief and Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Those last two are my favorites!
Love all those and all good books besides.
The First 365 Days Were the Hardest…How one blog changed everything about me including my weight, my career and my address.
this is a nonfiction book about how i decided to blog every day for 365 days straight to get closer to the life I wanted. The title only really works if I get a book deal from it. Of course, if I don’t, I wouldn’t need a title anyway.
I like it, but I don’t think you should end with “my address.” You want the last thing in a list series, especially in this case, to be the strongest/most interesting. And I would assume the part about changing your life and your career is not dependent on a book deal, right? (Otherwise, what is the book actually about, you know?)
you’re right you’re right you’re right
i’ve been struggling with that string since i came up with the title months ago.
my weight, my work, and my way home?
(and the career thing–for the title at least–does kinda depend on the book deal. not that i’m going to quit my job should an agent reply to an email, but it would change my current work trajectory for sure.)
You’re so witty, Amy. I think your subtitle should reflect it. Maybe you can think of one funny incident and refer to that instead.
“my weight, my work, and my way home? ”
Loads better!
the part that intrigues me is “how one (a?) blog changed my life”
my weight, my work and my world?
I really like the title, but I wonder if you could tighten up the subtitle.
How one blog changed everything from my weight to my road home
this is all good stuff. i’m going to play around with my title page right now it instead of doing work emails.
thank you thank you.
b–this was (is?) a lot of fun and extremely helpful. and generous; it feels a bit like i just ran out the back door with a handful of goodies that i didn’t pay for.
weight, work, world
I want to read it!
I’d just go with “How one blog changed everything about me.” Maybe indicate the weight, career, other change(s) with cover art? Hmm … or maybe keep weight in (big selling point, I’d think).
Holy crap there are a lot of posts in a short amount of time!
My YA contemporary fantasy, about a boy who can disappear and his quest to escape the Faginesque con man who would exploit his ability, is called Vanishing Act.
One awesome YA title, in my opinion, is How to Ditch Your Fairy, by Justine Larbalestier. Another is Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist.
‘Vanishing Act’ strikes me as slightly generic, considering the strength of your description. Both the titles you like are much more specific, and longer.
Any ideas for five-word titles? Joseph Gregor’s Some-Fascinating-Adjective Vanishing Act, that sorta thing?
I cautiously agree. Vanishing Act works, but it alone wouldn’t make me pick up the book. It’d depend heavily on the cover art.
Yeah, I was painfully aware of the contrast as i typed that post. I’ll see what I can think of.
I tend to associate longer titles with books that have a more ironic voice, so I think I need to rack my brain for good titles of books that are more like mine in tone.
How about
If you see me getting smaller I’m leaving
He should just use your original suggestion: Vnshng.
there are a number of vanishing titles, books and movies, so i’d be careful of usage unless you pair it with something unexpected?
titles are hard.
Vanishing Act is nice but I agree — it doesn’t stand out, feels generic.
agree with the others – like the word Faginesque though
The book’s written in tight third. Do you think that precludes a first person title, like “You Can’t See Me”?
Then again, that might suggest an unhappy ending, which it does not have.
How about “There’s Nobody Here”?
Same problem wrt the ending, but maybe that’s not really an issue?
what about, “Now You See Me…”
I really like “Now You See Me.” I’m seriously kicking it around.
I’m Not Here
SHAKEN, NOT STIRRED… A CHEMO COCKTAIL
Yes, this works nicely for me.
BTW, lots of decent titles here tonight. I’m only commenting on my very favorites. Doesn’t mean some of the others aren’t worthy. Nearly none of them sucks. If this is truly a contest, it will be a tough one. I think we all rock.
Mixed reaction. Shaken Not Stirred sounds familiar but then followed up by chemo cocktail makes it very cool.
love it.
Grabbed me right away. The title says it all. It also tells me you will probably tell your story with flair.
Sounds like a winner to me. Got my attention
ditto
this is a win
Yep!
It’s the Chemo Cocktail part that grabs me. Love it.
I’m having a crisis over my title, Eddie’s War. It’s middle-grade (possibly YA) historical fiction, coming-of-age, about a farm boy whose older brother is a bomber pilot in WWII. My editor likes it because he thinks it will appeal to boys.
Hm. It’s not bad but it doesn’t jump out at me, either, to be honest.
I like it. Simple. The only suggestion is if it could somehow refer to Eddie being a boy. But the art could do that easily enough.
i love the name eddie!
there’s a mystery series called ‘Foyle’s War’ so that’s similar. that may not be what you’re looking for, though.
You’re right—in fact there are quite a few books titled “Someone’s War.” It’s one of the reasons I find it unremarkable. I do feel it perfectly captures what the book is about: Eddie’s own personal war, during the actual war. It’s not a splashy book–very quiet, rather. Prose-poemy. I love My Brother the Bomber Pilot! Kids would grab that one. But it’s not about the brother, so I think it would mislead.
My Brother the Bomber Piot
Sorry
My Brother the Bomber PILOT
My Brother the Bomber Pilot is good.
How about just The Bomber Pilot.
I like it. With the right cover that could be pretty eye-catching.
Try:
“The Flyboy’s Brother”
The Education of a Missouri White Girl
Like “Daughter” and “Diary of” in titles, “The Education of” feels a little overplayed. I don’t know if that’s necessarily bad, though. Something about the arrangement of the words “Missouri White Girl” kind of stuck out as being awkward. Like I feel there must be a more specific/precise way to title this?
But I’m being picky and overall I think it’s fine.
Reminds me of Education of Little Tree. The “white” bothers me but at the same time intrigues me. I’d pick it up in the store.
Missouri Made
Or maybe Where in Missouri?
Thanks. Agreed on all counts. It’s a memoir about how racism is taught – and either embraced or unlearned – and the family tensions that fester because of it.
Original title was: A Heartland Education — but no one liked that.
I wonder if you could substitute the word education with teaching or learning. Teaching a Missouri White Girl. Or something …
How Red Is My Neck? (free at http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/17942 )
Who Moved My Rice? (a work in progress)
How Red Is My Neck? Yep.
Yes, I would have to look. Made me chuckle.
love how red is my neck – sounds like a good sitcom title
How Red yep.
I got nothin’. Quite a turnout tonight.
Deluxia
One boy learns how to learn.
Stark, Raven
A mystery in two acts.
Apollo At Sunset
A novel
Those are mine,
But my favorite titles ever:
Tender is the Night.
All the Pretty Horses.
The Sound and the Fury.
Who Will Run the Frog Hospital?
Yes, yes, yes!
Like Stark, Raven best.
Your favorite titles — !!! esp. the last three
Jane of Hearts, One-Eyed Jacks, and the Suicide King — probably my next novel
Which genre, Katherine?
I seem to write “literary” novels, though I don’t love that designation.
Jane of Hearts yes
Makes me think of “fours, whores, and one-eyed jacks,” which is a way my friend’s granddad used to call trump in a card game whose name I no longer remember. …Which might also make a good title, though possibly not for your book. 🙂 Anyhow, I like it.
Whores, Fours and One-Eyed Jacks is a seven-card stud poker game.
and would also be a good follow-up novel to: My Pair-‘O-Dice
I really like “Jane of Hearts” and then the “Suicide King” but all three phrases are too much for my title attention span
ps Katherine, great website and great titles! How could I not have heard of these? I just ordered Triangle.
Thanks, Mary!
Really really like this one. Probably would shorten to Jane of Hearts and the Suicide King though.
The novel is three connected parts, however, so each of those signify.
Hmm, more than the average commenter today. Totally coincidental.
My WiP title: Glory or Death
I haven’t had anyone give me specific feedback on the title, just the work itself. I just figured if I get an agent and they don’t like the title, it’ll be time to go back to the drawing board. If they do like it, then cheers.
But as Betsy said, you have to work to get an agent intrigued as well, especially if you’re querying them cold (i.e. you don’t have a referral).
Reminds me too much of Eddie Izzard’s
cake or death?
The words are BIG and perhaps depending on the tone of the book ned some leavening
Haha me too! (Eddie Izzard)
Ha! We say that line in my house every time cake is served.
Glory or Death. Hmm. Glory and Death, maybe? What is the book about, and what genre?
Rambler
I like it but would check out the cover art to see if it was a western or contemporary.
Multi generation story told from the backseat of a 1962 Rambler American four door sedan.
Ah, that sounds cool.
I love this. My dad had an olive green Dodge Dart – I’m feeling the whole back seat thing.
I love it in context of the story but I never would have thought of the car first. How about a subtitle that includes the backseat?
I want to keep all the connotations of the word rambler and I prefer one word titles. am so tired of sentences on book covers
love it! stories from the backseat.
Based on a question my mom asked me every time my father went into my room at night, “I heard him in your room last night, tell me what he did.” My autobiography covering a journey to healing, which spans child abuse, the occult, ultimately being healed through forgiveness with the help of God, I plan to call my book:
Tell me what He did.
It covers my mom’s question and what God did.
Yowza. Good title, sad story.
Yes, at first but it has a happy ending 🙂
Wow. Perfect.
chills
Love this. Made me think of another heartbreaker, “Say You’re One of Them”.
i’m so sorry.
great title. i also like: What God Did
tell me what he did is strong.
Definitely. This one’s a winner.
Yes, perfect. Good luck!
That the Night Come
From the Yeats poem.
Maybe needs an extension to cut the loftiness
that the night come common and enduring and true
How about drop the “that” . . .
Night Come Common
Ooo, I like it. Who is your audience? I think literary right away.
Always a little hard to say but between the two designations of ‘commercial’ and ‘literary’ I’d say it’s the later. I’d like to think it has some cross-over appeal a la Curtis Sittenfeld or Diane Johnson.
Love the idea , the phrase, and the poem but it needs one less or one more word for me.
Interesting suggestions all. I guess I have trepidations about messing with Yeats and I do want it to refer specifically to the poem because it relates strongly to one of my characters…
Late second for Night Come Common
My contemporary young adult novel is called “It’s Not Me, It’s You.”
Love love love the reverse of “Me” and “You.” I’d totally give a book with this title a second look, especially if it’s a YA contemporary.
I can see my friends’ kids loving this. Even my younger ones would pull it out of a stack.
solid title – and generally true
Yep, like! Surprised it hasn’t already been used.
It has, twice, but one is a memoir with a subtitle and the other is a book of poetry about breaking up. I don’t think anyone is going to confuse those with a YA novel. 🙂
Carne Letras: The Heart Is a Piñata Filled with Sin
Is this yours, Melissa?
Yep. Was happy until I goggled and saw that Palahniuk has used “heart as pinata.” Now a little less happy. (Haven’t read Palahniuk or most contemp. American writers–I read the oldies, mostly.)
If you had to alter it, I’d still try to keep the pinata in there. Pinata Full of Sin … or something like that.
Yes , it’s a great title. I love the ‘religious’ undertones.
All the Things You Are / commercial literary fiction,
also the title of a 1930s jazz standard.
I love this title. It flows very nicely.
I like this too. I’m surprised it’s not already taken!
My current WiP is a YA science fiction. It’s tentatively titled:
FUTURELESS
Hmm. It seems a little defeatist. The Future Life of so-and-so might inject a little hope?
doesn;t do it for me, sorry
Sounds too much like there’s no upside. Add another word?
My title is:
“City of Pearls”
It’s a story about American’s taking their American Egg Donors to India to hire a surrogate there- and the children’s lives years later.
My title is:
“City of Pearls”
It’s a story about Americans taking their (American) Egg Donors to India to hire a surrogate there… and more importantly the children’s lives years later.
I like it
I like this a lot.
I like it, and your brief description says a lot about the book.
I have:
– FAKE
– As Long As I’m Lying
– An Elegant Noise
– An Unholy Sound
I like Elegant Noise (without the “An”). Unholy Sound brings to (my) mind all sorts of crass noises.
I like “As Long As I’m Lying”
LOVE As Long as I’m Lying
An Elegant scans too much like Unelegant to me. But Elegant Noise is great.
As Long as I’m Lying best of these
Yes to As Long As I’m Lying. That’s great.
All time best title- The Colony of Unrequited Dreams.
The Hard Way is the Only Way
The Practice of Wearing Skin (young adult)
Makes me uncomfortable and draws me in at the same time. Would have to pick it off the shelf and at least look.
Intriguing. What does it mean?
wearing skin is intriguing. what does it mean?
I really like this one. I think it’s my favorirte.
Good, kind of creepy, intriguing
If I were a teenager I would absolutely pick this up.
My favorite title and one of my favorite books –
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
Slingshot at Fort D, a memoir
The title makes me think of a coming of age or kid’s mystery (male) so I’d probably skip over it. I’m sorry.
A collection of poems about 19th-century Shakers in Kentucky: The Paradiso Shuffle. Whaddaya think?
Like the modern take. However, The Italian connotation of the word paradiso doesn’t equate to Shakers in my mind. Is there a reason you didn’t want to use paradise?
My two works in progress are How to Build Yourself the Perfect Mother and The Adventures of Jennie Dean and Awkward Girl: A Superhero Love Story. They’re both women’s fiction, I guess, though I sort of rage against the idea that we’re still slapping gender categories on literature in the 21st century.
Titles I’ve loved lately are Before You Suffocate Your Own Fool Self, Aliens in the Prime of Their Lives, A Home at the End of the World, Motherless Brooklyn. I can’t explain why, really, but they all seem full of magic and promise to me.
Like them. Only suggestion I’d have is to drop the yourself in the first title. How to Build the Perfect Mother. ?
Yep: How to Build the Perfect Mother.
My WIP is currently called Death Hires An Assistant.
It’s contemporary humor fiction along the lines of Christopher Moore and ‘Good Omens’
I’ve had really positive (‘does what it says on the box’) feedback and some negative (too obvious) feedback.
Would appreciate thoughts.
Thanks
There’s something to it, but it feels awkward somehow
I actually like it. A lot. It’s humorous and I’m curious to find out what it’s about. It promises to be different than most of what’s being thrown at us these days.
I can see why you’ve gotten some hesitation, but I like it.
I’d pick it up, but it reads more category mystery to me than Moore or “Good Omens.” What about Death’s Protege or Death’s Attache?
Makes me think it’s too close to Mort by Terry Pratchett. In which… Death hires an assistant. So I’d go against saying-it-on-the-tin that way, maybe focus on something that’s more uniqute to your novel.
Like. Reminds me of Death Takes a holiday
The scansion is wrong. How about “Death’s Intern”? Interns are funny.
“Bagel, Bagel, Crunch That Kegel”.
Memoir. I am a prostate cancer survivor and used humor to help me get through the battle.
First of all – congratulations. It’s cutsie but doesn’t grab me. Something like Kegals for Men?
Cute, but the juxtaposition of food and pelvic floor puts me off. I think I’d have to see the book to suggest a better one, however!
Thanks for the feedback. It’s always good to get a fresh opinion. Any others? Betsy, you struck gold on this post.
Saved by the Funny Bone
okay a little silly but something like that … playful, suggestive
For upmarket fiction:
Life Between Dreams
My Paradise
(My Paradise is ironic.)
I prefer Life Between Dreams. My Paradise would depend on the subtitle to convey the irony (unless you wanted to use, My Pair-‘O-Dice…which would work if it’s a gambling memoir).
My Paradise: As If.
LOL. But that sound like YA, which it’s not.
My Pair-‘O-Dice…A Gambling Memoir
Love it! If I had a gambling addiction story, i’d spend the weekend writing it just to use the title!
Life Between Dreams, yep.
Life Between Dreams is lovely. I’d just call it Between Dreams.
Shit. No I wouldn’t. Your title is better.
Yes, Life Between Dreams. Or My Life Between Dreams.
I’m one of those titles-aren’t-my-thing people. The three possibilities for my historical fiction Wip: Talvikki, Mushroom Hunting and Golden Cuckoo.
of the 3 I prefer Mushroom Hunting
I’ll vote for Mushroom Hunting too. Talvikki zaps my brain, and Golden Cuckoo makes me imagine it was published in 1958, for some reason.
Thanks. It’s my favorite too but it’s gotten negative feedback. The book is set in WWII Finland, is historically correct, etc. But the real story is the death of an individual within the framework of the greater good. Maybe I have to go back to the drawing board?
In Finnish folklore the golden cuckoo sang for the grief of a mother whose daughter commits suicide after her family tries to force her to marry a powerful suitor. But the reader wouldn’t know that up front and it might sound foofoo.
I’m going to break my streak of title-shortening and suggest that you lengthen Golden Cuckoo. Song of the Golden Cuckoo … Maybe not that, but something to draw it out or make it more lyrical. The image is beautiful, especially with that folklore behind it.
I called it Song of the Golden Cuckoo at first. Someone didn’t like it and then Kate Morton’s book had all kinds of references to a cuckoo. Maybe it’s time to rethink it.
when you hear the golden cuckoo
Or ‘Call of the Golden Cuckoo’?
‘Gildsong’? Eh, that sounds like fantasy.
Thanks again for the great feedback.
mushroom hunting is my pick.
Mushroom Hunting (because those words win individually–better together)
Look What You Made Me Do, working title for my novel-in-progress. It’s not a mystery though the husband dies in mysterious circumstances and his body’s in a freezer. One of the most helpful pieces of advice I’ve gotten in the five/six years I’ve been writing the book is, “Ditch the [original working] title.” (Betsy at Tin House summer of 2006), one so cringe-worthy I can’t bring myself to type the word here.
I like it!
LOVE Look What You Made Me Do! It has depth and attitude
Great title!
Excellent, yeah. Tone, and already there’s a story dynamic in it.
I agree! It has an in-your-face appeal.
LOVE this title.
Gates of the Moon – historic thriller
I think that’s a good one, has the right feel for that sort of book. Slight D&D echo.
Yeah, I like it. Would have no idea what it’s about but would pick it up purely on title. Then historical thriller would hook me.
Working title: We Can Reach Our Destination
It’s a YA book, at least, that’s the age of the characters. It’s set 86 years in the future.
I like it, but I’d still rely on the cover when deciding whether or not to pick it up.
I get the idea, but (in my opinion) too long.
How about, “Star Bent” or “Galaxy Geeks?”
Actually, nobody leaves the planet. It’s set in a very small town in the upper Midwest.
The title makes me a little ambivalent. The subject could be interesting but I’m not sure the title would jump out at me.
Stop When We Get Here
Destination: Here
— given your concept
I like Destination Here
The Next 24
Memoir about addiction
This pales in the face of so many here, but I welcome feedback.
i can’t help but think of the TV Show. but i like the use of time (my title plays with this concept too).
Is there a TV show with that title? Crap! (I haven’t watched TV in 10 years)
Could you try something that indicates what the 24 hours feels like? I don’t know, really, but is it a tightrope? Are you holding back the ocean with a broom?
Sorry, maybe I’m not helping. Titles are hard!
The first title was Disambiguation. I never got feedback for it, but I decided it was too…I don’t know.. obscure?
The Next 24 is part of a saying in recovery. That I hate, by the way, so yeah….no.
Hmmm…. the memoir’s about meth addiction, if that helps.
Everything helps:)
You wanna get more ‘vic-lit,’ I suspect. What’s the most degrading part of meth addiction? Can you get that in a title?
Most degrading? Oh, man. How about:
I Bought Him a House but He Slept With the Dog
That’s hardly degrading at all! More visceral is what I guess I’m getting at.
‘Scraping Fat from the Bone’ or ‘Flesh of My Flesh: Selling My Daughters For $35 a Day,’ that kinda thing.
Oh, dear.
the show was just “24”
i like the idea of giving up more about the addiction w/in the title
Oh, oh, oh, right! Keifer Sutherland. Gotcha.
24 reminds me of the TV show.
“Hanging By A Thread”
“One More Run”
The TV show has ruined this for me…sorry, but the idea is so right, how about
The Next Day At A Time or
The Day After the One Day
One more day at a time
I’m not an avid tv watcher and I like it. With the subtitle it sounds desperate to me which I imagine the process is.
Everything Happens Today ?
something like that —
something that conveys urgency and need for patience–unraveling of sense of time in some ways i would guess …
Yow. The two titles I’m considering (can I submit 2?) are: 1) Dying Dad and My Old Truck
2) The Stranger Who Loved My Mother
I like the second one. The first feels awkward.
I think Betsy’s blog is about to go up in smoke!
I like the second one, but I’d suggest The Guy Who Loved My Mother. The word ‘stranger’ seems overdone.
Nice. Thank you.
I’m obviously not an expert but the first one seems more testosterone based and the second has an injection of estrogen. Maybe if you cut the first to My Old Truck, the reader will make the connection on their own. I like Glasseye’s suggestion too.
Or maybe He Loved My Mother. ?
#2 is #1 !
Non-fiction ed book/memoir that includes a lot of travel. . What about Teaching in Unfamiliar Places??
It’s okay. How about: A Teacher in a Strange Land?
i think you should have fun with the title, a play on words. curriculum in Korea. that sort of thing.
The Moving Classroom
Teaching Non-Stop
Neither is great, but maybe something along those lines?
My title is The Mating Habits of Fireflies
The image of fireflies is cool. Could it be The Mating Dance of Fireflies?
oh. oh. oh.
did you read this article?
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/30/science/30firefly.html
it’s like porn for science geeks.
I think we all need ass lights. Blink once for yes, twice for no.
(Men would be claiming not to see that second blink, I’m sure of it.)
🙂
Love it! I’d pick it up for sure. And rea, thanks for that link–fascinating.
I would pick this up and give it a look.
Killing Rites. A brutal crime novel.
This is really fun! Favorite of all my titles is Going to War with the Avon Lady. Editors liked the title but not the book, so it languishes in the attic.
When I was a kid I went to war with the Avon lady–her name was Mena and she drove a huge old Pontiac maybe? down the middle of the street. She was relentless. (Actually it was more like hiding than going to war.)
Titles for two short stories I currently have in progress:
1. The Camera Has its Reasons
2. 101 Ways Of Hating Claire
I really like the first one; it’s a title that catches my attention.
the first one is awesome awesome awesome. Jealuos awesome.
The Town By Storm
(as in, take the town by storm)
It’s a historical novel (1940s) set in a rural small town. The protagonist is forced to travel to Atlantic City–for what I hope are rather suspenseful reasons.
Take the Town, maybe?
My mind is starting to fry!
Wow, Betsy, you got some action on this post.
A brilliant title, I agree, is critical. And, thus, the most difficult, stress inducing part of the entire novel for me.
Of all the titles above (by the commenters) I LOVE and vote for “Living Arrangements”.
My novel? The House Of The Stare. The title is based on a passage from Yeats.
“More substance in our enmities
Than in our love” ?
That’s one of my favorite poems.
And I’m thinking your novel isn’t a light comedy.
I like this a lot. I think I’ve been to that house.
The House of Stare
How about “A View From The Floor”
I know that view well.
My dirty mind is taking this to uncomfortable places.
“Princess No-Name and Sir Chadwick the Not-So-Bright” a YA fairy tale.
Hilarious
cute
Chanel Bonfire: The True Story of a Girl’s Escape.
I like this, but it feels truncated. Chanel Bonfire: The True Story of a Girl’s Escape From ___.
Wow! 330 responses so far. The fire marshal’s going to come around, issue some citations.
So fun
It’s addictive. I feel like I’m playing Mad Libs.
Tetman pokes his head in — cuckoo-in-cuckoo-clock-like, funny.
Memoir:
“What to do When a Fishbone Gets Caught in Your Throat”
Take out the “What To Do…” I like “When A Fishbone Gets Caught In Your Throat.”
Thanks for the tip! I like that. 🙂
Or choking on fishbones.
“The Quilting Bee”
Four old ladies kill a child molester.
I love that four old ladies kill a child molester. I really like “The Quilting Bee.” I wonder if the title should be a bit more sinister–still cozy and old-ladyish, but with a punch. The Quilting Bee Murders? Could they off more than one molester? My title suggestion is lame. Somebody will come up with a better one.
Not lame at all–my husband had the same suggestion about killing off more than one molester. Vision’s of gray-hairs beating preverts to death with rolling pins and cast iron skillets. Not bad.
Do they make a quilt from his skin?
Patchwork.
there’s a joke in there about jeff’s days but I won’t make it
I love the story but I wouldn’t pick up the book because the title reminds me of quilt books
A Martha Stewart meets Silence of the Lambs mash-up. Nice. I will have to research human skin curing.
Piecework
Death Comes to the Quilting Bee?
Quilting Kills?
Quilting Bee — Or Poisoned Lemonade Can Be Painful
Just a few random thoughts
Quilting With Body Parts (sorry, I just like gore).
The Granny Vigilantes.
My YA Contemporary is called: WHAT WAS MINE.
Yes. I like this a lot.
Ditto.
Yes, me too
V. good!
Yes yes yes.
Yay, thanks guys! *happy dance*
Ann Beattie used this title. Doesn’t mean you can’t, but there you are.
My current WiP is called Polaroid. It’s lit fic, though I don’t love the term as a genre.
I feel it lacks something, but it might be just cos it’s short. My last two titles I’ve loved unquestioningly: A Finite Sky, and Who Ever Heard Of Applecake? so I feel I should have one I love more easily now.
Is the name Polaroid trademarked?
anything with polaroid in the title is terrific. as for copyrights, polaroids are no longer made so maybe that solves the problem?
are you familiar with the practise of manipulating polaroids? it’s a chemical process that involves scratching. changes images into dreamscapes.
Beaten Beautiful.
Like the jazz song. It’s a memoir. Haven’t come up with a subtitle yet. That’s even harder.
Love it. But I don’t know if it counts if you’re stealing it from a jazz song.
Thanks! The jazz song is “But Beautiful.”
So if the memoir’s about weight loss or an eating disorder, you could call it Butt Beautiful.
Sorry, couldn’t resist.
Yep.
My Soul You Keep
It’s YA fantasy…I like it but I’ve been playing with other options: A Soul Like Mine, for instance.
Almost.
My fantasy novel is: THE HEART OF BELDESSARIO.
Is Beldessario a person? Or a place? Maybe more clarity on that…
A place. Actually, it’s a place named after a person.
LOVELY DAYS OF JEFF, a story cycle centered on the character of a young bartender named Jeff Chorus, in the late 1970s to early 1980s, right before AIDS struck and changed the sexual landscape.
DAYS OF JEFF might work for me, but LOVELY DAYS OF JEFF does not.
k. tks.
this one I had to think about. I liked the idea but Lovely immediately brings to mind Lovely Bones. So I’m not sure. I like the idea of days and Jeff together. And I love Jeff’s last name.
I like this title very much, but for some reason I want it to read THE LOVELY DAYS OF JEFF.
I don’t know why I think the article is important . . . maybe so it’s clear that those lovely days are finite?
I like The Lovely Days of Jeff too. It’s melancholy and I’m definitely drawn to melancholy. Would scoop it up right away.
Thanks, everyone. I haven’t known what to call it. It does have a bit of the melancholy in it. People die.
(Its working title was COCKED.)
I agree with Sarah, it works better with the article at the beginning. I like the wistful tone.
the lovely days of j. chorus.
that’s one snappy character name, tetman, and worthy of focus.
Wow, Cocked is a 180 degree turn. Lots of innuendo there. Guess this shows what’s in a title because I’d perceive the book in a completely different way depending on which you choose. But I like both.
I like COCKED.
The working title of my autobiography is HALF-COCKED.
I like COCKED, too, but the book it was when it bore that title fifteen years ago has been so thoroughly reworked, the title no longer fit.
Up to the Bar ?
My historical novel’s (very tentative) title is The Madness of Lydia.
It doesn’t quite work for me.
I would give Lydia a look. It makes me expect a strong female character and the historical aspect opens all kinds of possibility.
You’re exactly right — a 19th century woman with 20th century ideas of what a woman is capable of. Thanks!
nearly 400 posts and not one mean-spirited comment! that’s awesome.
Betsy’s blog–a lonely outpost of civilized discourse in a world awash in the ruddy waters of the rude.
I think a fair number of us have been less than polite at times, myself included, you not included–you’re certainly the most civilized one here.
The title of my YA thriller out on submission is TIN LILY. The blurb: After Lily Berkenshire’s alcoholic father kills her mother and gets away, Lily’s mind begins plunging into silent nothingness where there is no memory, no fear – only stillness. Oblivion gives Lily temporary breaks from reality and a calm she can’t find otherwise. Trouble is, she’s losing time. At first, minutes. Then hours. When her body is safe at home, oblivion is a relief, but when she’s on a city bus or fears her father is around the next corner, it becomes a threat to her life. Ultimately, Lily must find a way to survive – her father, her pain, and especially her own mind.
I like TIN LILY. I could not tell you why.
I like it, too. Reminds me of Tin Lizzy. I’m so old; I think I once owned one. Today’s my birthday, so I’m even older. I’m going to start wearing undershirts and stockings rolled below my knees. Plus, I’ll leave my clicker on just to annoy other drivers.
Thank you! It’s actually a Jeff Black song, but fits the nature of the book so well (and the emptiness of the mc).
Bonnie – hahaha Tin Lizzy is a whole different story. HAPPY BIRTHDAY. All you need is a little purple in your wardrobe and you’re set.
Devil’s Moon (Bat-shit crazy ex-wife stalks/torments – and more – new wife)
I’d actually be expecting a paranormal something-or-other with this. I think you might try centering it around the name of the psycho ex.
I like it…though, overall it’s making me think of an egregious case of PMS.
My favorite novel title is Some Day There’s Pie.
Not my favorite novel, just my favorite title.
A waterfront fantasy set against a backdrop of blues music
“Woke Up This Morning”
I’m thinking of James Taylor…still, I like it.
My WIP is a narrative (memoir?) about the pleasures of a teaching life with lots of stories and travel…
Brooklyn to Burma:Teaching in Unfamiliar Places OR
Why Teach? Become a Teacher and See the World
Native English Teacher Wanted?
See the World
How to See the World
Gone to See the World
Going to See the World
(I dunno. It’s monstrously hard to suggest a name to a work I know only by its name.)
Sometimes the less you know the better. I used to work in movie marketing and often had to come up with titles for movies we had never seen or weren’t even made yet. You should have seen the list for The Shawshank Redemption…
To name that movie anything else would be criminal.
From Brooklyn to Burma: One Teacher’s Field
Trips
or
Studies
something like that
Actually, I like ‘Field Trips’ Tales from the journeys of a teacher
Itinerant Teacher
The Names of Enchantment
or
The Monsters of Stephen Enchanter
(or neither. I had huge trouble titling this novel, and still am not married to either)
I like “Monsters” and “Enchantment”…
Stephen Enchanter
is provocative…
Enchanted Monsters?
I’m terrible at titles, and yet I agree with you–titles are so important. Would I have picked up THE ELEGANCE OF THE HEDGEHOG if it didn’t have such a cool title? I doubt it. The title of my WIP is MEMORY OF TREES, not great, but…
I really like it. Brings to mind a great Tom Paxton song called The Names of Trees (“he’s forgotten the names of trees…”)
Memory of Trees … that’s lovely.
Like.
I like it too
I think there is an Enya album entitled The Memory of Trees
A little overwhelmed.
Zebra title stood out as did What You Made Me do (was that it?) Will try to look back through but maybe we need a top 5 finalist list?
Looks like the party is still on. I’m not too late.
WESTERN TIGER SWALLOWTAIL
Memoir about a bicoastal kidnapping custody battle
I like the “Western Tiger” part…I have no idea what a swallowtail is.
The whole thing, Western Tiger Swallowtail, is the name of a butterfly
Mmmm, I don’t think so. Such a riveting subject, it needs to draw the readers in. Birds and butterflies seem to trivialize it. Just a thought.
Yeah, I had already kind of passed on it but am particularly fond of book titles that you don’t get until that one episode in the book that makes it all click. Anyway it’s a WIP (again). Originally I called it She Bear.
Salsa Survival Guide: How To Navigate Salsa World, Endure Heartbreak, and Become A Badass Dancer
The former title was “Salsa Geek.”
Sorry, I’m coming in so late.
Oh, it’s a memoir about salsa dancing…was that clear?
Just a little bit! XD
I like Salsa Geek, though. . . I could see that combined with the subtitle
I like Salsa Geek better
C’mon guys! Let’s get this to 500! (said the loser on Friday night)
Group book title: MARKET RESEARCH
by The Writers Who Love You
500! I wonder if Betsy is covered in confetti right now.
Born to be Committed: The Diary of a Gay Priest
Isn’t that kind of bullshit, though? Everyone knows the title of the manuscript an agent sells is pretty much guaranteed to get changed down the road at the house.
I’ve never had that happen.
The Kat’s out of the Bag
Death’s Door Opens to Life
I like Death’s Door Opens
Reminds me of Sandra Gilbert’s book Death’s Door. I do like the play on the phrase The Kat’s Out of the Bag.
Loving Mrs. Hathaway. Takes place during the depression. After my narrator’s mother dies, her father rents the spare room to a recently-widowed teacher. Both the narrator and her father fall in love with Mrs. Hathaway.
Young Oldmont
The Adventure’s of Young Olmont
I have an advanced Middle Grade fantasy and have settled on:
Moon Tree Brothers
Since it is the first of five. Following would be
Moon Tree Madness
Moon Tree Darkness
Moon Tree Dragon
Moon Tree Invasion
Moon Tree Fire
Alright, I’ve got a couple of possible titles for my YA grief book about a girl whose three best friends & bandmates die.
FADE TO BLACK
v.
SING ME AWAY
Thanks for your feedback–much appreciated.
These are my favorite titles:
Tin Lily
Education of a Missouri White Girl
June of Hearts
Practice of Wearing Skin
Shaken Not Stirred (has this been used before? Not a deal breaker as there is not copyright on titles, but you should check just in case)
The Pigeon Drop
Gardening in Belvoir
Living Arrangements
Death’s Protege (alternative title)
Granny Vigilantes (alternative title)
Polaroid (you need another word here)
My Soul You Keep
I would recommend the person with BRIGHT LIGHTS in title change it because of Jay McInernery novel.
Some of the titles are too literal (like the gay priest–this could be really interesting, but I think you need a better title).
Who I Am Keeps Happening
(Young Adult title about a teen that finds love with both a boy…and a girl
I like this!
I don’t even need the description, though that would catch me, too.
I like it too, but it’s a bit stumbly when spoken aloud.
I think that’s part of why I like it . . .
After reading through all these one more time, the one I remember most is: ZEBRA CROSSING
crackwhorepornstarlove
I have a YA WiP that is the first in a series written in Pulp fiction style:
“The Arc Riders”
‘The Trouble with Mexicans’
The story centers on a team of teens who ride dimension hopping horses in the pursuit of justice.
Oh, the horses are main characters alongside the kids.
‘The Trouble with Mexicans’ isn’t sitting quite right with me – I feel like it would invite controversy where you don’t intend or need it.
Actually – it is inviting controversy.
In this novel my main character is being tormented by a Mexican gang in the Bronx, and he gets sent to save a Mexican girl from the Drug Cartels as she desperately struggles to get back to the USA and her illegal immigrant parents.
Also, (and if I am wrong I would love more information on the topic) I was going for a stereotypical pulp fiction title. I imagine the old dime novel cover with flying in titles and lots of exclamation marks.
Of course, all of that being said, as a first time author (my first novel is on submission) who is just making her second stab at this I must ask – is controversy bad? Does it put people off before they even look at the blurb?
It doesn’t actually bother *me* but I can see people knee-jerk judging it as racist without bothering to see what the book is about. Especially because it is YA. But others please tell me if I’m out of whack – I live in Southern California so maybe I’m just attuned to people jumping on perceived anti-immigrant rhetoric. “The Trouble With” part is fine, and I agree, nicely pulpy.
I’m working on an upper MG novel titled
Seventh Grade Solitaire
The Secret Baby
adult fiction, set in Queens during the mid 20’s and early 1940’s.
Hmm. I’m torn on this one. Sometimes titles that are very direct work well, but in this case it feels a little ‘on the nose’. Maybe it’s partly the lack of rhythm with word ‘Baby’ because ‘The Secret Child’ doesn’t sound as clunky to me.
Hmm, I like that. Definitely something to consider–it’s about an immigrant German woman whose husband runs off with the baby nurse–and the baby, their second child–and returns to Germany. Her search is for the baby, as he remains in her mind all those years, but of course, he is actually a child most of that time. Thanks, Lauren–
If it’s a boy maybe even ‘The Secret Son’ or ‘Secret Son’? Baby could still work in another phrasing. I like the idea that he’s sort of frozen at that stage in the mother’s memory. It’s just the ‘The ____ Baby’ construction that isn’t quite hitting the aural sweet spot for me. Interested to hear what others have to say!
Secret Son. Even better. Thanks again, I’m going to let these brew a while.
[…] couple days ago, Betsy Lerner invited her blog readers to share the titles of their works-in-progress . The one she liked best would win its writer an autographed, revised copy of her book, Forest […]
happy dance for you – many congrats!!!
I’m late, but if anyone’s willing to give feedback, I’d be grateful. The working title of my memoir is
Naked Before God
I read somewhere that two of some of the most desirable words to put in a title are “naked” and “god.” This was in the Seventies, so I think “dragon” was also on the list, now replaced by “vampire.” But do “naked” and “God” ever go out of style?
If you believe in Goddess, you can call the book ‘Mother Naked.’
Assuming, for the moment, that titles matter, I think Naked Before God is perhaps too static. This is a Miami hotel/strip club/Hare Krishna memoir? Can you sex things up a bit?
Personally, I like ‘Love Bomb.’
“Love Bomb” is super-sexy, August. Reminds me of the first “adult” book I ever read, at the tender age of eleven: The Love Machine, by Jacqueline Susann. Definitely goes on the list of possibles.
God, how to follow the Love Bomb …
I actually love this title, Tulasi-Priya, but you wouldn’t have it to yourself. I got three pages of links when I googled it. I’m not sure if this matters to you but I thought it was worth a mention.
Which one ehad three pages of links, glassye, NBG or Love Bomb? I know there’s a Christian book called NBG, but I don’t think it’s very well-known.
seems to me the choice is more complex than what is desirable regarding title only. in other words, i would hope that your title possibility is inextricably tied to the content you are writing about. because “naked” and “god” are such powerful, evocative words in and of themselves, well, hey, i wonder what this book is about
Naked before God: the pigeon drop
I thought you were dead, George! Oh, well, the soul lives eternally.
“Syntropy; The Education of Booker T. Bakkus”
Coming of age, eco-sci-fi adventure
Twinkie