How do you come up with a working title for your novel? The one that I'm writing with the help of a friend I am calling Ceilidh, but I'm not sure now that that fits.
Working Title
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They usually just come to me at some point in time. I like to have one at the beginning, but it usually changes three or four times, and from what I hear publishers like to change titles anyway. The book I'm polishing at the moment, is currently called Elysian Flames. In the beginning the book was split into sections, and that was the name of the second section. I later did away with the splits and just took the name and made it the title. I doubt it'll make it out into the real world under that name though...if I ever manage a book deal...or an agent...or sending out a query letter. LoL.
One step at a time.
One step at a time.
I like choosing titles. I usually pick some small element of the plot that can thematically summarize the book. Like...in The Sublime, the word sublime appears once in the whole book--in reference to something my MC can't have. Without the title, that would go unnoticed.
Same deal with Christmastime. It's about a virgin birth, but Christmas is only mentioned once or twice (the book takes place in July.)
Same deal with Christmastime. It's about a virgin birth, but Christmas is only mentioned once or twice (the book takes place in July.)
I pick a word or group of words from the first page, just like how people refer to untitled poetry. 'Blue' came from this method.
Right now, I'm playing with the title 'Accidental Demons' for that WIP, but it doesn't have the right feeling, so I'm going to see how the thing ends and trying to come up with something after that.
You could always call it (using Blue as an example), "Story About Blue Cats and Walking Trees" until you come up with something.
Right now, I'm playing with the title 'Accidental Demons' for that WIP, but it doesn't have the right feeling, so I'm going to see how the thing ends and trying to come up with something after that.
You could always call it (using Blue as an example), "Story About Blue Cats and Walking Trees" until you come up with something.
Titles just come. I either know it's the right one or keep it until the right one comes. Sometimes that takes a while.
If not, I just name it after the main character. That always works until I buckle down with a real title.
If not, I just name it after the main character. That always works until I buckle down with a real title.
Thanks for the tips! We chose Ceilidh because that is the first moment where the characters realize that they have feelings for each other. I am also going to try and incorporate a ceilidh into the end of the book. It isn't the perfect title, but it works for now.
I call my first one by the name of the location, the second by the occupation of the MC, the third by the situation of the story (the problem), the fourth by the antagonist (which isn't a person, but an object) and now working on #5, I'm back to location, but with an added word about the situation/problem.
Now I feel bad that none of them are published, tempered slightly by the fact I've never tried to have them published.
But "Book" or "Novel" or "Untitled" all work well for working titles. Or, you could steal one, and call it "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius."
Now I feel bad that none of them are published, tempered slightly by the fact I've never tried to have them published.
But "Book" or "Novel" or "Untitled" all work well for working titles. Or, you could steal one, and call it "A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius."
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If you know it's only going to be a working title, don't stress over it. Mine are called things like "YA Historical Idea" until they get names I like more. Something will come to you eventually -- and if it doesn't, as others have said, the agent or publisher can help you out. Lack of a snappy title won't discourage them if your manuscript's got the stuff.
So far, I've use the first name of the female protagonist. But I think the next one is going to be 'the Yorkshire ms'.
They had a Ceilidh moment.
I have never, ever had one. Not even a little one. I feel so stupid.
Ya know, titles verr often get changed by the publisher. So while we often like to find what feels like the right fit for that first page, it's the next 300 pages that really matter.
I have never, ever had one. Not even a little one. I feel so stupid.
Ya know, titles verr often get changed by the publisher. So while we often like to find what feels like the right fit for that first page, it's the next 300 pages that really matter.
hehe it would be nice to have one eh? I've always wanted to go to a ceilidh.
What part of the "pacific northwest" are you from Horseshoes?
What part of the "pacific northwest" are you from Horseshoes?
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I don't have one yet on my current WIP. The file folder on my computer where everything is filed is named something that no longer has much to do with it since I changed the focus (research led me down a garden path).
Since I only have one that I'm seriously working on (others that I go play with when I need a little break from thinking about this one thing), it doesn't matter too much.
Interestingly, all the other projects, the un-serious ones, all have names that came to me very easily. Not this one.
wee
Since I only have one that I'm seriously working on (others that I go play with when I need a little break from thinking about this one thing), it doesn't matter too much.
Interestingly, all the other projects, the un-serious ones, all have names that came to me very easily. Not this one.
wee
Someone here awhile back had a great idea for coming up with a title. Open your MS anywhere, close your eyes and, using your cursor or a straight pen, depending on your method of writing, point to a sentence. See if you can come up with a title by using some of the words from the sentence you've chosen.
Yeah, usually I just call it "[MC]'s story" until I come up with something better. One I knew the title of before I even knew the story.
Something that relates to the major theme of the book, I guess.
I give them bad working titles as I write but something better comes eventually. One of my stories was just called "Greece" because it took place there...six months later I thought of a title.
I give them bad working titles as I write but something better comes eventually. One of my stories was just called "Greece" because it took place there...six months later I thought of a title.
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The working title for my current WIP is UCNN - short for Untitled Children's Novel Novel.
Though I'm thinking of changing it to SOUCNN (which adds the phrase Seriously Overdue).
Though I'm thinking of changing it to SOUCNN (which adds the phrase Seriously Overdue).
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I had to save my novel under something other than Chapter 1, Chapter 2 etc because I had some chapters from my brother saved on my hard drive, so I saved it under "The Haven," because that's where most of the book takes place, and that's what I ended up calling it.
My wip is called "Sequel." That title is likely to change.
My wip is called "Sequel." That title is likely to change.
Mostly, titles show up with characters and stories for me. I rarely have to hunt for a title or work at it.
That said, I've been working off and on on my Rome novel for six months now, and the top of the first page still says The Rome Novel, and I haven't an inkling what to call it.
Remember: There's lots of really awful titles out there, some of them attached to good books. You won't sink or swim based on title alone. (Or else, books with titles like Her Thundering Passion, or Too Wicked To Wed would never sell)
That said, I've been working off and on on my Rome novel for six months now, and the top of the first page still says The Rome Novel, and I haven't an inkling what to call it.
Remember: There's lots of really awful titles out there, some of them attached to good books. You won't sink or swim based on title alone. (Or else, books with titles like Her Thundering Passion, or Too Wicked To Wed would never sell)
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