Title Question: Should it have a verb?

Writing Jedi · Jul 16, 2008

I heard some advice from a writer friend of mine (who has given me dubious advice before but hey, she has an agent and I don't).

She said that publishers like titles with verbs, and that if you submit a title with a verb they are more likely to keep it.

Do you think you are attracted to titles with verbs? Does it make the book sound more exciting?

Because when I think about it, most of my favourtie books do not contain a verb at all. Then again most of my favourite books were published a hundred years ago, LOL.

Alpha Echo · Jul 16, 2008

I'm not sure. I think some of the best books and interesting, intriguing titles are those that don't have verbs

Pride and Prejudice
Little Women
The Time Traveler's Wife (although that one IMPLIES verbs I guess)
The Lovely Bones

There are so many more but for some reason I can't think of any more off the top of my head. Maybe I need more coffee.

maestrowork · Jul 16, 2008

Interesting. I just scanned my book shelves and NONE of the titles has any verbs in it.

Then of course you have classic titles such as Something Wicked This Way Comes or One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest or To Kill a Mockingbird.

I'd say if the title is smart or catchy or exciting, you can go either way.

ottorino · Jul 16, 2008

What's your current title?

scheherazade · Jul 16, 2008

I was thinking maybe that applies to genre or popular novels from the last few years, but nope.

The Da Vinci Code
Confessions of a Shopaholic
The Nanncy Diaries
Duma Key
The Killing Floor
The Faithful Spy
The Blade Itself
A Walk in the Woods

Nope. Even the action titles I came across had no verbs. Other than "Bait and Switch," which could be verbs or nouns, I'm having a hard time even finding a title with a verb in it on my bookshelf. Oh, other than the sort of cheesy non-fiction titles.

Should I Do What I Love? (Or Do What I Do So I Can Do What I Love on the Side?)
Tell it Slant: Writing and Shaping Creative Nonfiction
Eat the Rich

Maybe this concept applies more to non-fiction than to fiction?

maestrowork · Jul 16, 2008

What's Eating Gilbert Grape?

Me Talk Pretty One Day

Running with Scissors

Choke

Momento Mori · Jul 16, 2008

Writing Jedi:
I heard some advice from a writer friend of mine (who has given me dubious advice before but hey, she has an agent and I don't).

She said that publishers like titles with verbs, and that if you submit a title with a verb they are more likely to keep it.

Publishers like books they think they can make money from. If they like the manuscript, then their marketing department will approve the title (and if the marketing department doesn't like the title that you've supplied, then they'll provide alternatives).

Focus on producing a publishable manuscript first and foremost. Anything else is a needless distraction. (And as regards your friend, she's done well to get an agent, but if she's given you dubious advice before, then don't listen to what she has to say).

MM

dwellerofthedeep · Jul 16, 2008

I don't see anything wrong with it, either way.

Not that it matters, but it is somewhat interesting that the Lulu.com title rater likes verbs in titles. I think it might be because fewer books are written with those and their base data-set it screwy.

DeleyanLee · Jul 16, 2008

Title it something you think fits the novel. From my friends' experience with getting titles blessed by publishers is that it has nothing to do with verbs and totally to do with marketability. Unless you know something about marketability, might as well just make yourself happy with something you can live with but won't be heartbroken gets changed.

Phaeal · Jul 16, 2008

Well, I liked the title Atlas Shrugged long before I read the book. A River Runs Through It* is another lovely "verb" title. A third one that occurs to me is As I Lay Dying. Oh, and You Can't Go Home Again.

But I like lots of nonverb titles, too. Often the titles I find most intriguing are those that pair a noun with an unlikely adjective, like the above-mentioned Lovely Bones.

Overall, I can't say one type of title will attract me more than another. I also can't say I see a lot of "verb" titles on the bookstore shelves. Come up with the most evocative title you can, then let the publisher worry about it.

*I'm a sucker for any title with River in it.

Claudia Gray · Jul 16, 2008

I agree with the majority -- there are plenty of memorable, successful titles out there that are completely verb-free, so I can't see any noticable publishing trend toward favoring verbs.

Go for your best, catchiest title, whether it includes a verb or not.

shelboselby · Jul 16, 2008

Mine has a verb. I'm quite partial to it, but I've never particularly noticed one way or another if I pick up books with verbs more.

Really, I think publishers just like to see interesting titles because that means your eye is better drawn to it on the shelf. I think verbs in titles can often make them more unique and unusual than you generally see.

AnnieColleen · Jul 16, 2008

Kristin Nelson blogged about this issue a while back (trying to find a title one of her authors & the publisher could agree on). The publisher was looking for a more active title, so they were brainstorming for verbs -- but didn't wind up using one.

Cato · Jul 17, 2008

maestrowork said:
Then of course you have classic titles such as Something Wicked This Way Comes or One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest or To Kill a Mockingbird.

I was skeptical at first, but most titles with a verb in it do sound more interesting now that I think about it. +1 for A River Runs Through It.

Confessions of a Shopaholic
The Nanncy Diaries
Duma Key
The Killing Floor
The Faithful Spy
The Blade Itself
A Walk in the Woods

None of these titles piqued my interest when I read them. Maybe it's just me, but Verb titles might be something to keep in mind in the future.

Alpha Echo · Jul 17, 2008

AnnieColleen said:
Kristin Nelson blogged about this issue a while back (trying to find a title one of her authors & the publisher could agree on). The publisher was looking for a more active title, so they were brainstorming for verbs -- but didn't wind up using one.

I remember that one, actually.

From what I've read (since I have no experience of my own..yet) most of the time, the title you fall in love with isn't the one that the agent/publisher/editor end up giving your work.

Gillhoughly · Jul 17, 2008

:editor's hat on:

A verb in the title will not give you an edge.

GOOD WRITING will.

Check the names of those bestseller lists and you'll find all kinds of titles, with and without verbs.

Your friend's advice is again dubious, if not bloody silly. He or she wants to play the wise sage who knows all about the business, which is bollocks, no one can keep track of all this stuff (except Uncle Jim).

Anyway, publishers often rename books, usually without consulting the writer, as has happened to me.

Just put on an appropriate title on your works and get your own fine self an agent.

Neener-neener to your pal.

Cato · Jul 17, 2008

Gillhoughly said:
:editor's hat on:

A verb in the title will not give you an edge.

GOOD WRITING will.

Check the names of those bestseller lists and you'll find all kinds of titles, with and without verbs.

Your friend's advice is again dubious, if not bloody silly. He or she wants to play the wise sage who knows all about the business, which is bollocks, no one can keep track of all this stuff (except Uncle Jim).

Anyway, publishers often rename books, usually without consulting the writer, as has happened to me.

Just put on an appropriate title on your works and get your own fine self an agent.

Neener-neener to your pal.

Let me clarify my opinion. If won't give you an edge with your editor, but it could give you an edge with the reader. Titles like "The Faithful Spy" put me to sleep. "A River Runs Through It" just plain sound cool, and will have a better chance at getting the reader to pick it up for the first time. Yeah yeah I know, don't judge a book by its cover bla bla bla, it happens.

IceCreamEmpress · Jul 17, 2008

Gillhoughly said:
Check the names of those bestseller lists and you'll find all kinds of titles, with and without verbs.

This. The current New York Times hardcover bestseller list is mostly verb-free, although there are two "Chasing" books (Chasing Darkness and Chasing Harry Winston).

Clarec · Jul 17, 2008

I was under the impression that often times your chosen title will be changed before publication so don't bother getting too attached to something you've chosen or even worrying too much if you can't come up with that perfect title.

I read that blog too which just goes to show it wasn't even the author in that case who came up with the published title. I wouldn't worry about the construction of the title too much and your friend sounds quite ill-informed! Just nod when she gives you advice and reply "hmm...".

Clare

t0neg0d · Jul 17, 2008

You sure she didn't say 'words'? Because, I looked through my meager library and all of the titles had words in them.

Danalynn · Jul 17, 2008

What's a verb?

:Shrug:

JimmyB27 · Jul 18, 2008

t0neg0d said:
You sure she didn't say 'words'? Because, I looked through my meager library and all of the titles had words in them.

1984?

Phaeal · Jul 18, 2008

JimmyB27 said:
1984?

Numbers are symbols for words: Nineteen eighty-four.

Cato · Jul 18, 2008

Phaeal said:
Numbers are symbols for words: Nineteen eighty-four.

Actually, said symbols were given words to represent them. That's like spelling the letter F as "eff".

hammerklavier · Jul 18, 2008

Face it, very few titles have verbs in them. When publishers say they want a title with a verb in it, what they really mean is they want the title to sound more active as if there were a verb implied somewhere.

Title Question: Should it have a verb?

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Whatever I did, I didn't do it.

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It was a dark and stormy night