The primary job of a book title is literary seduction. It should beckon, in an irresistible fashion, until you have no choice but to read the first line, and then the first paragraph, and then just one more chapter. . . and cripes, now it's time to devise a plausible excuse for missing work because you stayed up all night reading.
But which comes first? The title? Or the story idea?
A lot of times the title shows up to me first. It's a phrase I've heard, or read, that has such intriguing story potential. Every Maiden's Dream, one of the first books I wrote, started as a title. These words are used by the hero's best friend, in a semi-sarcastic way, to describe how the hero has been forgotten by the ladies during his year-long absence from Society. It is also meant to be ironic, since the heroine seems to have no use for our dashing hero, to his great surprise (and distress). Yet it also ends up being an accurate description of him as he becomes a vital part of the heroine's happily-ever-after. That is one hard-working title!
Another title, A Short Step to Crazy, was part of a phrase I recently read in an online article, and it was an instant winner. I knew it could be part of a trilogy, so I brainstormed other "crazy" titles, and then set out to find a story to go with the titles. That's when I thought of three sisters and, "if they lived anywhere else, they'd be normal". It's been a lot of fun working through the story possibilities that emerged because of an unexpected title dropping into my laptop.
Sometimes the story comes first, and the title requires some effort. I have one book that I've re-titled so many times I'm not even sure what it is anymore. I'm still digging in my brain for one of those "Yes! This is perfect!" titles for it. I'm not sure why it's so hard to find the right fit either. Perhaps I will have to ask someone to read the book and ask them what titles come to mind. (It's a process that could be fraught with peril, or the advent of genius. I'll let you know how it turns out.)
Lately it seems too many book titles have NOTHING to do with the story. I find this aggravating, especially if the book is part of a series. I have to read the cover blurb to see if I've already read the book, because it sounds like they just shuffled the words in the previous book's title. This "title disconnect" seems to happen most often with romantic suspense, so I guess there's only so many romantic ways to say "Danger Ahead! Ye Be Warned!"
Sometimes it's obvious the title is solely meant to be titillating, even more so than the cover model's chesticular qualities. That can be disappointing as well, because then I feel like I fell for a Ponzi scheme, and I'll grumble for the rest of the day. It's my own fault if I buy a book just because I was mesmerized by a spectacular set of male pectorals. But if I buy a book with a title that promises one thing, yet delivers another. . .well, that makes me unhappy, and do we really want that? No, we don't.
Another trend that's fun, but can be a huge stretch from what the story is about: titles which are actually a pun on OTHER titles, especially TV shows and movies. I definitely appreciate the humor and wit involved, but it feels as if it's meant to be clever wordplay for its own sake rather than an indication of the storyline. Again, I've been promised one thing, but given something else. And we know how I feel about that (see answer at the end of previous paragraph).
So, which came first for you, the title, or the story? Give us a title from your manuscript, and what made you choose that one (i.e, the story behind the story). Or describe titles that made you pick up a book, and whether it met your expectations. Just for fun, come up with a NEW title for a book you've read, one that describes it even better than the published one.
Well, I'm not published yet but I have written novel length pieces and I tend to come up with a title half way through. However, one time I was actually working on another book idea when my roommate was watching TV and I overheard the preview for a movie coming up and well - I jumped off my bed and ran for the TV because in a split second an entire story plot filled with amazing characters filled my mind and I had to see if that was what the movie was going to be about. Luckily it wasn't, and now I have free realm to write the book that I wanted to so badly to see.
As for what was stated about titles being misleading, I also agree with that. It irks me when I finish a book and wonder how in the world the author came up with such an unrelated titled. In fact, it takes away from the entire reading experience, because instead of basking in the afterglow of reading, my mind is bugging about what the title meant or if there was some element of the story that I completely missed - it makes me feel as if I didn't really enjoy the novel as much as I thought I did, because evidently I didn't completely get it.
Also, I just love books that incorporate the title somewhere in the story, because it makes me feel even more involved with the characters since the title of the book is significant in my world as well as theirs!
Posted by: Britt | August 08, 2011 at 02:25 AM
Britt, I love how the movie preview gave you such a great idea for a new book! It always fascinates me how the creative brain works. :)
As for misleading titles, I know it's not always the author's fault. I know several author friends who have had their titles changed by the publisher, sometimes because it's felt the title doesn't convey the story as well, or because certain words are more marketable, so it's meant to appeal to the reader more. But yours is a good example of how it doesn't always work that way. :(
Right now I'm reading Lori Foster's "Men of Honor" series and I like how the hero's name has been included in the titles. The first was "When You Dare", and I'm reading "Trace of Fever" now. You're right -- it makes it more significant for the characters AND the reader.
Posted by: Donna Cummings | August 08, 2011 at 08:30 AM
Titles elude me most of the time. I have one instance where I came up with a title before writing the book. The rest of my work sits nameless for now. I do HATE it when a title is misleading though. ugh.
Posted by: Kari Marie | August 08, 2011 at 07:57 PM
Kari Marie, I'm actually having a harder time lately trying to come up with BLOG titles. LOL I want them to be eye-catching, but also give an idea of the topic. It's tough!
Posted by: Donna Cummings | August 08, 2011 at 11:31 PM
I struggle with titles - either they come to me like a bolt from the blue, or I agonize endlessly over them. Usually only the ones that come like a bolt are any good! LOL
Thanks for stopping by my blog and supporting Kris! Best of luck to you in your future writing endeavors!
Posted by: Susan Kaye Quinn | August 09, 2011 at 02:11 PM
Susan, I know exactly what you're saying about the "bolt-from-the-blue" titles being the best ones. Our brains are contary creatures, that's for sure. :)
And thanks for stopping by here, and for your kind words. I wish you the best too!
Posted by: Donna Cummings | August 09, 2011 at 02:27 PM
Just for the record, I love the titles to your articles - very catchy!
Posted by: Britt | August 13, 2011 at 01:12 AM
Britt, thanks, I'm glad to hear that. :) Some days they can be just as elusive as book titles LOL
Posted by: Donna Cummings | August 13, 2011 at 07:50 AM