Finding the right
title
Choosing a good title for a story or novel can be tantalisingly
difficult. I usually resort to random brain-racking, leading to a few unsatisfactory
possibilities based on fixations with particular phrases or words that cannot
be dislodged from the mind. So, I wondered if using a more systematic approach
would help.
Predictably,
there is a wealth of material online – individual writers and organisations
offering various approaches. I selected one by iUniverse: https://www.iuniverse.com/Resources/Writing-Editing/HowToChooseABookTitle.aspx
This provides a step-by-step guide to generating possible
titles. The advice starts with some general ‘rules’ about titles and then moves
on to 10 ‘Tips to get Creativity Flowing’.
I tried to
use these tips to generate titles (in italics) for a novel I am currently
writing. (Please note that I have adapted the tips. There is more detail on the
site.)
1.
Consider
the essence of your book. What is your book about? Underlying theme of
story?
Illegitimacy,
Identity, Paternity. Comment: As
titles these sound like Sociology books
2.
Look over
your book’s text. Are there any lines that jump out at you?
Revelry for Gentlemen. Comment: In the novel this phrase, used in a
letter by one of the minor characters, is meant to suggest the attitudes of
upper class men to lower class women, but as a title it sounds rather pornographic.
3.
Add
perspective. How do the characters see themselves?
The two main characters commit criminal acts of different
types and are remorseful.
Remorse, The Guilt of
Thieves, The Price of Theft
4. Consider the visual. Is there a special
setting for the story?
Early 18th century King’s Lynn, a thriving port
with coastal and overseas trade.
Port of Plenty,
Smugglers’ Haven
5. Add some mystery.
Who is my father? The
Love Child, A Question of Fatherhood, A Mother’s Secret
6. Research best-selling titles in your book’s
genre
A very swift survey reveals certain preferences: the pattern definite article – adjective – noun
e.g The Italian Wife, The Incendiary Plot, The Scarlet Thief and definite article – possessive noun phrase e.g.
The Gamekeeper’s Wife, The King’s Evil, The Prince of Mirrors
7. Search
for words in the dictionary. Flip to random pages in your dictionary and
look over the words.
dishonour,
flesh and blood, imbue, mental, pursuer, rogue, titled, vassal
Comment: A thesaurus might have produced
more relevant words!
8.
Consider
song lyrics and lines from poems and other books.
The Family Face (a
phrase from a poem by Thomas Hardy called ‘Heredity’)
9.
Free
write. Jot down every title, word or combination of words that comes to
mind.
Boat Crew, Inherited Evil,
River of Evil, Redemption, Criminal Classes, Compulsion, The Hoard, Father and
Daughter, Orphans of Evil, Theft and Keeping, Evil in the Blood, Crime in the
Blood
10. Change your words. Try adding an
adjective or verb to the main idea of your book.
Wicked Inheritance,
Beautiful Bastard, Unknown Daughter, Base Born, Thieving Classes, Finding
Father
In conclusion, this process certainly generated a wider
range of ideas than I can usually produce, though I’m not convinced that I’ve
found the right title yet!
