Choosing a title

Brickie · Jan 8, 2007

How do you do this?

I've been working for a year and a bit now on my Polish Pilots in WW2 novel, and I still haven't found a title that I like. Anyone have any tips as to what makes a good title, or how they come up with titles?

It's not exactly my main priority, but it'd be nice to know what to call it because "The Long Way Round, but not really because I'm changing it" is a bit of a mouthful.

(I'm changing it from "The Long Way Round" partly because it's a TV series about Ewan McGregor biking around the world, and partly because it no longer really applies)

Mike Coombes · Jan 8, 2007

I can't really help, but Michael Moorcock told me that he found that if he put the word 'sword' in the title, initial sales were higher!

Not sure how you'd relate that to Polish Pilots, however.

KTC · Jan 8, 2007

My last manuscript...I wrote the title at the top of the file, then moved on to the first word...then the rest of the first sentence...and so on.

johnzakour · Jan 8, 2007

Finish the book, the title will come.

How about: Polish Pilots, Planes but no Swords? ;-)

Brickie · Jan 8, 2007

Well, Polish pilots were issued ceremonial daggers. All is not lost for the Sword theory.

I have finished - at least, I've finished the first draft and am editing. Perhaps I will acquire a Motif at some point.

Saundra Julian · Jan 8, 2007

Why sweat it? When you get published, they'll change it anyway!

Maprilynne · Jan 8, 2007

Saundra Julian said:
Why sweat it? When you get published, they'll change it anyway!

That's what I was going to say.

Maprilynne

Brickie · Jan 8, 2007

Saundra Julian said:
When you get published

Ahahahahaha! Hahahahahaha! Good one...!

johnzakour · Jan 8, 2007

The title will come.

I've never had a publish change the title of any of my books, though my current contract for the next three books reads: Blue Haired Bombshell, Flaxen Femme Fatale, and book 7. I'm pretty sure that book 7 name will change by 2009 when it comes out.

PeeDee · Jan 8, 2007

When all else fails, go flip through your CDs and look at song titles. Pick a spiffy one from there, or see what they encourage.

Stew21 · Jan 8, 2007

I'm going to sound like a freak: but I don't choose a title, the title sort of just finds me in the words that are written. It jumps out during the writing.
(and I don't necessarily choose the story either, in some ways it feels like it chooses me as its writer).

You may point and laugh now if you must.

Brickie · Jan 8, 2007

No, that does make sense.

I'm still kind of hoping that at some point I'll write something that will jump out and say "Hey! I'm your title!"

I'm just not sure how I'll know.

Stew21 · Jan 8, 2007

YOu'll know. I struggled with a title for a while with my first MS. then about 3/4 of the way in, one of my characters said something that was not only right for the moment he was in, but sort of summed up a theme for the book and voila! Title.
After that I never tried to name anything, I let them name themselves

C.bronco · Jan 8, 2007

Polish Pilots' Perilous Plunge

PeeDee · Jan 8, 2007

I'm sorry. I'm trying to be good. I really am. It's just that "polish pilots" sounds like a porn.

('m sorry)

KTC · Jan 8, 2007

I write titles down on napkins and then give them away to other people.

Stew21 · Jan 8, 2007

KTC said:
I write titles down on napkins and then give them away to other people.

I have been the recipient of one of those.

It was quite good, too.

johnzakour · Jan 8, 2007

Somebody once told me, "you don't choose a title a title choose you." Of course that person wasn't all that bright and have never sold anything. Still the title will come to you.

Choosing a title

Brickie

just ... don't ask

Mike Coombes

Guru

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

johnzakour

Dangerous with a Keyboard

Brickie

just ... don't ask

Saundra Julian

A work in progress

Maprilynne

Author Waiting in the Wings

Brickie

just ... don't ask

johnzakour

Dangerous with a Keyboard

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

Stew21

Brickie

just ... don't ask

Stew21

C.bronco

I have plans...

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

Stew21

johnzakour

Dangerous with a Keyboard