In search of the perfect title

I need a title. Not just any title, but one that will convey the tone of the manuscript I’m working on, and give a hint of the story. I’ve been told I shouldn’t worry about it, that if it sells, the publishing house will probably change it anyway.

But think about it – if that busy editor is about to head home, and needs something to read, is she going to pick up a manuscript with a snappy or intriguing title, or one that’s so generic it could fit any genre? Okay, maybe it won’t make a difference in the long run, but every little thing we can do to draw an editor’s attention to our work is worth the effort.

But even more than that, I need a title. I could call it Cassie’s book, or the HQ book, but that doesn’t exactly call to me in the morning when I turn on the computer.

So, the search is on. I need a title that is fun, light, something to do with psychic ability (but not paranormal). And who knows, if the book sells, the publisher might just let me keep my perfect title.

Am I the only one who feels this way? Do you need just the right title for your book as you write it?

Comments

In search of the perfect title — 7 Comments

  1. Margery, I am positively psychotic over titles. It takes me forever to come up with one because I want the “right” one, and so most of the time I write the book calling it all the while by the hero and heroine’s name. If I’m really lucky, I can figure out the title by the time I finish the darn thing. To me the title has to convey the mood of the story.

  2. I need a title for my wips, BUT, for at least the first ¼ of most of them, I just call it “_________’s story” or something similar. Eventually a title comes to me. I don’t drive myself nuts trying to come up with one right at the beginning or I’d never start writing.

    Hope a good title comes to you soon 🙂

  3. I’m really bad about titles. They’re hard to come up with! It’s rare when I come up with one before I’ve written much on the story.

  4. Margery, I have to have a title or I can’t work. Seriously. Even if it’s just a working title it still has to feel right for the book. Really I’ve only had two working titles and they both stuck in my mind for the book. So I understand completely. And I agree a snappy title will draw more attention faster. Good luck with your search!

  5. Sometimes books “name” themselves, sometimes I have problems with titles. I once even ran a contest for a title!

  6. I feel the same way about titles. Sometimes I can start off with a “working title”, but it eventually nags at me to find the perfect thing. I always feel like I’ll know it when I hear it. I’m having trouble with the title to my latest wip and spent most of last week wandering around with a Thesaurus looking things up! Nothing obsessive about me!

  7. I have to have a title too. I find it hard to work on the book if I don’t have one. And I can only go with a working title for so long. Then I obsess about finding the right one so I can continue writing.