Opinions on titles

sheadakota · Feb 10, 2012

I don't know how to put a poll up or I would- anyway I find myself in a unfamiliar position. I've never had trouble with titles before but this one is throwing me.

I am rewriting an adult paranormal thriller to a YA paranormal thriller (no vamps just some psychic elements)

My original title was The Lateral Line because the MC is blind and has learned to 'see' using the energy around him kind of like a fishes, sharks lateral line.

I like the title but think the reference might be too vague so I have been brainstorming.

Here are some I've come up with and would like your opinion pretty please with a cherry on top.

The Lateral Line (cause I still like it :tongue

)
Line of Hurt
Not to keep(from a Robert Frost poem)
Running Blind
Crossing Lines(Mc's name is Cross)

I'm not overly thrilled with any of them and yeah I know it could get changed by a publisher- doesn't mean I can't have a great title to begin with-right?

Thanks you!

J.S.F. · Feb 10, 2012

Plot sounds a lot like Daredevil but whatever.

I like Running Blind or Lateral Lines, simply because it's short and catchy. I'm not into long titles unless it's something so odd it catches my eye i.e. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs or something like that. I always had the idea in my head a one or two line title is best that gives a broad overview of what the novel is about or at least suggests what the novel will be about. JMO....

sheadakota · Feb 10, 2012

J.S.F. said:
Plot sounds a lot like Daredevil but whatever.

....

Yeah I guess it does with what I wrote but trust me -couldn't be further from it. Thanks for the opinions! Much appreciated.

Windcutter · Feb 10, 2012

I like Lateral Lines but it might sound too geeky or Sci-Fi-ish to some.
The plot also seems to call for some word play on Blind.
I'm not too fond of Doing Titles (like Saving Sarah or Crossing Lines from this example), they always seem rather generic to me, but they are pretty popular.

tengraceapples · Feb 10, 2012

I love "Not to Keep" it sounds like there is some regret and longing in the story.
And what's a YA with out that? Good luck

sheadakota · Feb 10, 2012

tengraceapples said:
I love "Not to Keep" it sounds like there is some regret and longing in the story.
And what's a YA with out that? Good luck

I love that poem, and it seems to fit with the story- thanks!

missesdash · Feb 10, 2012

The Lateral Line sounds like a sci-fi thriller. "Lateral" just feels very un-paranormal because when you talk about straight lines, I think logic and facts, not the paranormal.

Anyway I kind of like running blind, but I think all of them sound pretty generic. None of them grab me. I do like the idea of playing on the MC's name, however. You can do a lot with "Cross"

sheadakota · Feb 10, 2012

Yeah, I thought they were all a bit generic as well except maybe for Not to Keep. Something will pop for me eventually. Thanks for chiming in!

Becca C. · Feb 10, 2012

Not To Keep is nice, but not overly catchy. The Lateral Line sounds like a thriller... yeah you could do a lot with the name Cross. Or you could just call it Cross. That's a cool title on its own, but once the reader knows it's the character's name it's still a good title. Only thing is, if your book's title is a character's name, you'd better make sure that character is original as heck and worth having a title all to themselves

QuantumIguana · Feb 10, 2012

I like Lateral Lines. I think it is an attention catching title. It is short and alliterative, and doesn't look like other book titles.

veinglory · Feb 10, 2012

Given that LLs are made up of neuromasts, how about The Neuromaster?

sheadakota · Feb 10, 2012

veinglory said:
Given that LLs are made up of neuromasts, how about The Neuromaster?

Wow that's cool. Very very cool - Thank you!

Opinions on titles

sheadakota

part of the human equation

J.S.F.

Red fish, blue fish...

sheadakota

part of the human equation

Windcutter

tengraceapples

sheadakota

part of the human equation

missesdash

You can't sit with us!

sheadakota

part of the human equation

Becca C.

QuantumIguana

veinglory

volitare nequeo

sheadakota

part of the human equation