Ask any writer where their titles come from for their work and you’ll get a thousand different answers from “It just came to me!” to “My publisher made me use this one.” As an author, I’ve had both happen to me, with several other scenarios for my titles scattered in between.
BUY IT HERE:https://www.amazon.com/Fire-Eyes-Cheryl-Pierson/dp/1499215452/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474425964&sr=8-1&keywords=Fire+Eyes
In my first book, FIRE EYES, the heroine’s name is Jessica—my own daughter’s name. She needed a name that she was referred to by the Indians, and my daughter had told me years earlier she wanted her Indian name to be FIRE EYES. So that was a given. And it worked out great! That story was the one that the title came easiest for, of all my books.
BUY IT HERE: https://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Danger-Cheryl-Pierson-ebook/dp/B00KY8GGH4/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1474426021&sr=8-4&keywords=Sweet+Danger
Fast forward to my first contemporary romance novel, Sweet Danger. The story takes place in a deli that has been taken over by a very dangerous escaped convict, Tabor Hardin, and his men. His hostages just happen to include an undercover police officer, Jesse Nightwalker, who put him away in prison—supposedly for life. One of the other hostages is Jesse’s neighbor, Lindy Oliver, who is the retired police commissioner’s daughter. They’ve just met and are minding their own business over a sugar ring when a hail of gunfire erupts and—well, y’all know how I love my wounded heroes, and Jesse is no exception. I had titled the story THE SUGAR RING. But I was told by my publisher that that title would have to be changed. Period. SWEET DANGER was born, and in retrospect, is a much better title.
Titles should stick with the reader, be memorable, and make readers want to know more about the book.
TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (Who would do that?)
SWEET SAVAGE LOVE (Tell me more!)
SHANE (Who is this person?)
ONE THOUSAND WHITE WOMEN (Who were they?)
NOBODY’S DARLING (Maybe mine?)
THE GATES OF THE ALAMO (I’ve gotta know!)
THE CHRISTMAS SPIDER (What???)
HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE (Maybe I can learn something, here!)
MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN (Did I live there once?)
BUY IT HERE: https://www.amazon.com/Tales-Otherverse-James-Reasoner/dp/1519314272/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474426092&sr=8-1&keywords=Tales+from+the+Otherverse
TALES FROM THE OTHERVERSE (Where is this place, and what are these tales about?)
LOST SISTER (Who was she and why was she lost?)
THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE (Who was he? Certainly not who we thought!)
The list goes on—but you get the idea. I know right now you’re thinking of titles you’ve read that have stuck in your mind—and the questions they’ve made you ask about those particular stories or books.
And I bet you’ve seen a phrase and thought, “That would be a great book title!” I know I’ve done that plenty of times. I’ve even written them down. Now, if I could only remember where I wrote them!
https://www.amazon.com/Code-West-Classic-Western-Novels-ebook/dp/B01JM2UONO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1474426315&sr=8-1&keywords=Code+of+the+West
Another fun way to come up with titles is through a title generator. There are several of these online. They even have them for different genres: Sci-fi, westerns, fantasy…you name it. But they come up with some real doozies! Take a look at some of the ones a western title generator came up with for me:
FALLEN SAVAGE
THE GUITAR OF THE AZURE
THE PLAINS OF THE SAGE
THE DEATH’S RING
WOLVES IN THE MESA
THE WILLOW AND THE HOLSTER
THE REIN OF THE DWINDLING SECRET
THE BIBLE OF THE WHITE HEART
RUBY IN THE CHURCHYARD
LIGHTS IN THE SOMBRERO
ANGEL OF THE FINAL LIGHT
These are mainly odd, funny titles, but the beauty of them is that they get your mind working in ways you might never have thought before—and adding and changing some of the words in some of these titles can make for a beautifully creative experience!
What are some of YOUR favorite titles, and why?
I confess, I've always loved the title "Tea with the Black Dragon" (and it's a wonderful book). There are so mamy others, but space doesn't allow the 100s I would be adding.
ReplyDeleteTitles are the hardest part of the writing process for me. Maybe I should try the generator.(Smile) Thank you for getting the grey matter working. Doris
Hi Doris! I love titles, too. Some titles are just so perfect--you can't imagine anything being any better for that work. Others...you think, "Why?" LOL Now I will have to find Tea With the Black Dragon"!
DeleteI think so many titles from years past are wonderful--they say so much and have more than one meaning when you read the book. The Age of Innocence is one that comes to mind, by Edith Wharton. Like you, I'd be filling up a ton of space if I listed all the ones I love.
And who knows what makes a good title? The Wolf Creek books all have good titles--you know exactly what to expect and you want to know more. And you know they're about Wolf Creek characters because that's the series name. I think my favorite title of all time is a movie, though. The Magnificent Seven.
ReplyDeleteJacquie, you are so right about Wolf Creek. I love everything about that series--you know what you're getting, and it's always like going back to revisit old friends. Kind of like why we continue to watch Gunsmoke, and Star Trek. LOL
DeleteOh, yes. I've always loved THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN. That was a fantastic title. Another one I think is so perfect is TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD.
Thanks for stopping by today!
Ah, Shane. My first husband loved that movie. My third son was named after the movie. Yep, some titles stick.....
ReplyDeleteDid you know, in the book, the little boy does not run after Shane like he does in the movie where he calls the classic line, "Shane! Come back!" This is one thing that's so important that was odd--it worked in the movie, but in the book, if he'd done that it would have negated the "growing up" that he'd done while Shane was there.
DeleteLove both the movie and the book. And I love that name, too!
Sometimes a writer gets lucky and picks a good one.
ReplyDeleteSo true, Charlie. I've noticed a trend on Amazon for some really long, long titles that make me wonder, "How in the heck would anyone even remember that?" LOL That's one thing I try to stick with--shorter is better. Usually.
DeleteI like titles that are a bit lyrical. Son of the Morning Star, about Custer and the Little Bighorn, is a good example. I also love the titles of each of the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency books (my favorite is Blue Shoes and Happiness). There's a movie from the 1930s called The Trail of the Lonesome Pine - the movie is OK but that title is great.
ReplyDeleteLouis, those are all good titles! I remember when the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency books was a series for a while on HBO, I think. Loved those titles! Thanks for coming by!
DeleteI love titles! Coming up with titles is one of my favorite parts of the writing process. I actually have a hard time working on a story if it doesn't have a title, LOL!
ReplyDeleteSome of my favorite titles are the ones that Jim Butcher chose for his Harry Dresden novels such as Fool Moon and Summer Knight.
Isabella, those are good--I love those titles that play on words. Livia Reasoner's cozy Fresh Baked mysteries are excellent at that. Her latest was Black and Blueberry Die.
DeleteAnd of course, I love your title "DIAL V FOR VAMPIRE"--that is really catchy!
I agree that choosing a title is like naming a child. I put quite a bit of thought into it. My short story, "The Songbird of Seville," was, of course, a play on "The Barber of Seville." My female protag is an opera singer and it seemed like a natural. Enjoyed your post!
ReplyDeleteVonn, I did that with Time Plains Drifter (High Plains Drifter, of course!) It was one of the few novels/stories I've written that I actually KNEW what the title was going to be before I wrote the entire story.
Delete