What's In A Title? Everything. Tell Us Yours!
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Titles matter. A lot. Every writer knows this, and so does every publisher, producer and reader. Titles draw us in or turn us off; titles are clear or disastrously muddled; titles stick with us or slide off our brains without leaving a trace.
Last night, I had the pleasure of sitting in on a mini-writing workshop, of sorts, with the editor, author and agent Betsy Lerner, in conversation with the author Alissa Quart. (Betsy's groundbreaking book, one of my all-time favorites about writing, The Forest for The Trees: An Editor's Advice to Writers, was recently reissued and updated -- don't miss it.) It was our first stab at something we've been mulling called "She Writes Live!", in which attendees don't just sit there while an illustrious author reads at them, but instead write in response to prompts from authors they love, and share what they've written if they wish.
Betsy, of course, had her own twist on the evening. She wanted everyone in the room to share their titles, and then, as a form of market research, to ask the group for their response. Two things about this fascinated me: 1) everyone in attendance had a title, even if they hadn't started a book; and 2) talking about the titles was an excellent way of talking about the books, finished or just begun...and getting to the heart of them.
So in the spirit of taking all things good and sharing them on She Writes, I thought I'd invite all She Writers to participate in a virtual "title workshop."
What's your title? Tell us.
What do you think of other people's titles? Tell them.
Be constructive, as ever, but be honest, as we won't help each other if we aren't. I just spoke with a writer who works in television who told me that TV producers are actually optioning books these days just for the title. Not the book. The title. Which should tell you something about how make-or-break a title can be.
I will give feedback and invite Alissa and Betsy, who are title-savants, to do the same.
KEY POINT -- DO IT ON THE DISCUSSION THREAD I'VE SET UP SO WE CAN EASILY COMMENT ON ONE ANOTHER'S TITLES!Share
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I HAVE STOPPED COMMENTS FOR THIS POST -- PLEASE MOVE TO THE DISCUSSION THREAD! I really want everyone here to be able to get the most out of this, and the best thing is to post your title in the discussion thread so you can then follow everyone's feedback to your title easily and quickly. Woo hoo! Keep 'em coming!
I have co-written a novel. It's satire "mommy-lit," in the same vein as "The Nanny Diaries" but told from the mother's perspective (basically, busy mom employs nanny from hell, hilarity and chaos ensues). We thought "The Mommy Diaries" might work (in reference to "The Nanny Diaries") but that book is almost 8 years old so I'm afraid the reference is stale. Plus, it feels like of non-fictiony to me. Other ideas... "Raised by Wolves," "Feral Children," "Has Anyone Seen My Kids?" My co-author doesn't like these because they are too 'out there' but I do think that because the book is satire we need something that's attention-getting and funny. Would love your thoughts. Thank you!!
@ Joyce re: not understanding Teresa's title.
Pho is a Vietnamese soup. There's also a play on words happening here ("Pho for three" sounds like "Four for three," which could be a puzzle...).
@Teresa Coates: I love Pho for Three, but would take out "unexpected" (leave it simply "A Love Story"). Unexpected sounds precious, and all love is somehow, in some way unexpected, no?
Rock 'Round The Clock: This is a good title for the topic. love it, catchy.
Always American - this is interesting, but doesn't allude to the Indian element. Unless the cover uses an implied image, which could be great.
Daisy: Seems a little too unclear. Not catching me. But then again, "The Lovers" worked, so...who knows!
White Girl in Black Face: love it, immediately interested.
Boundary Street: I like it, it's odd and soft and catchy.
QUICK, MOVE IT OVER TO THE DISCUSSION THREAD SO YOU CAN ALL KEEP TRACK OF PEOPLE'S FEEDBACK ON YOUR TITLES!
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"Coming to Term" is the working title of my memoir. Its about my experience with multiple pregnancy losses while working as a registered nurse in an intensive care nursery and near completion of my masters in parent-child nursing. After our daughter, Laura, was born prematurely at 18 weeks, I developed a preterm birth prevention program, Week by Week. Over the next five years, afer long episodes of infertility, I experienced an ectopic pregnancy, an extremely high-risk pregnancy (our son, now 22, was born at 35 1/2 weeks), a normal pregnancy and delivery (our daughter is now 20) and lastly, a miscarriage (a boy that had Down's). In the meantime, I founded my own company, Coming to Term. Coming to Term includes supplements on the information I taught patients such as early warning signs and symptoms of labor.
@Laura Didyk...I love hairband music, so I'd be curious with the Rock n Roll mention. Otherwise, without further explanation, I'm not sure what the book would be about and am not sure how drawn I would be to it??
I'm writing the sequel to my first novel -- about love and intrigue in Rio. I don't want to give too much away in the title and have thought about this waaaay too long. Last night I thought, "I've got it!" This morning I typed in the new title -- SAMBA It has nothing to do with the plot but the action takes place in Brazil again and the games the Brazilian government plays with non-citizens is like a dance -- they move one way, you move another -- SAMBA. Comments welcomed!
Act of Grace
Publisher let me keep my original title.
The Path Underneath - working title of a novel in stories. Had been playing with Lie in it, or Getting Grounded, too. About women and friendships and control issues.
@E Victoria Flynn: Love the Shiny Red Plastic Men from Mars title.
@Julija Kukys: I like Ghost Writers better - sounds like a good story!
@Meadow Braun: What a striking title! My concern is that it may backfire - I have such a kneejerk negative reaction to the idea of blackface now - what are others' thoughts? (I am also the kind of person who has to turn off a baseball game if it gets too close so maybe I'm not the one to offer suggestions on this one)
@Teresa D'Amario...oh girl, I snapped to attention on that title!
@Gayle and Keri, I actually like the Canine Kids, though it doesnt' flow as much as you would think. Laura, I love Red Moon. So far I think Tamara's Devil's Oak is the most fascinating title.
Working title is Coming Home - I know that's weak so I'm open for any and all suggestions. Story is about a girl that moves from the town she's lived in her entire life and realizes that home is where you make it (with a few twists and turns along the way of course!)
HOLD THE PHONE! I just realized this is totally the wrong way to do this since a comment thread doesn't let us clearly comment on one another's titles -- quick, please transfer all this goodness to the discussion I just started: http:/
@Gayle Pruitt I like the Dog-Gone part a lot but am not sure about the Canine Kids. I love my dogs and know some peeps refer to them as their furry children, but I don't care as much for the reference?? Friends, companions, seem more appropriate, but that's just me! Again, I have LOTS of friends who refer to them as kids and babies!
And a book about a Peruvian boy with the habit of keeping a submissive attitude, a story about coming out of the box, out of our comfort zone that limits our dreams and goals.
'The Guinea Pig Republic' -again, translated from Spanish 'La Republica del Cuy'
@Teresa Coates- What does the 'Pho' in 'Pho for three' stand for?
@Jacqueline Strano- I don't know that Rock 'Round The Clock is unique enough to make me curious enough to pick up the book, but with your type of book, I'm not sure.
A novel about three women and their different relationships to butterflies. Mariposa? Pappillon? Would love ideas.
Blood Clay, a novel
@Julija Sukys...I like the Beloved Profession entry...maybe for flow, do and the Vilna Holocaust?
@Laura Didyk - I know, how to comment back?
"You're Beautiful, You're Rock n' Roll" Your memoir?
Always American -- the story of a traditionally-bred Indian woman who migrated to the United States, only to find out she had always been American at heart.
@Meadow Brawn...White Girl In Black Face has me curious!
Yay! This is going to be fun. But everyone: remember to give feedback to others!!!!!!!! Choose one of these titles (or preferably more) and give your fellow SWers responses to their titles-in-progress, or this won't help any of us much.
Julie, what do you want "Unintended Victims" to convey? More feedback from me soon, I'm in a meeting...but keep 'em coming!