Many thanks to my budding
marketeers both here and on Facebook and Twitter, for helping me come to a
conclusion regarding the turbulent future of my book title, Glass Houses. My,
very unscientific, survey would suggest that Glass Houses must remain the title
for now, even if this isn’t the most charismatic of names.
Your responses have suggested it
is a little one-dimensional and the idea of a sub-heading is a good one. I need
to play with the idea of a life being prone to shattering in an instant and,
although its re-building can be painful and the end result will never be the
same, the journey to re-building can be fun; the re-built ‘glass house’ can be
even better than before, even in the most unlikely of circumstances. This is the
case for my main character, who also, for the record, receives her fair share
of stone throwing, from those who can least afford to throw them.
As you can see, this could do
with being a little snappier but you can leave that particular conundrum with me.
However, I would love you to
tell me about your titles and how you came up with them - and crucially,
whether you’re happy with what you’ve chosen.
We could have an Agenthood and Submissionville title workshop right here!
And to my lovely readers, far
too sensible to ever get mixed up in this writing escapade, what would your
title be, just for fun? What’s the best title you’ve ever seen and did the book
delight or disappoint? I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks for reading!
I missed this discussion on FB but I will say that Glass House seems fine to me. Sure, it might be a bit plain but I think it is fine. I am happy with my own titles, for the most part, but not everyone agrees with me. My fantasy novel has a made-up name which occasionally gets questioning comments but I don't mind. It is unique which is cool.(The Light of Epertase.)
ReplyDeleteHi Doug, thanks for popping in! I think made-up names are great IF they're easy to remember. Often, I find that they aren't because you have nothing to link them to, but that might just be me. Anyway, The Light of Epertase absolutely works for me because it trips off the tongue, suggests 'expertise' but retains a 'quirkiness'.
DeleteA favourite made-up one of mine is Glasshopper (by Isabel Ashdown - I don't know if you know it?) I thought this was superb as central to the plot is an alcoholic mother. It was so appropriate, that I had to actually check in the dictionary that it really was made-up, not just something I hadn't heard of!
I found the title of my recent release by searching for quotations linked to 'forgiveness' (the main theme of my contemporary romance). When I found Mark Twain's 'Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it', I knew I'd found my title - 'Fragrance of Violets'. I've used quotations before to help me with titles.
DeleteGosh Paula! I love that quote, really. And how perfect for your title. You're all making me want to change mine again!!
Delete"Timesmudger" - because that's what she does, smudge time.
ReplyDeleteI once went on a Myslexia 1/2 day course on finding the right title. The process she used was good in principle but for me came up with "The Boy in the Laundry" ????? I prefer my title!
I suppose I could tweak her system and try "The Boy in the Wall"?
I love that, just where IS the connection between The Boy in the Laundry and Timesmudger?? However, you might not want me to say this but I like 'The Boy in the Laundry'. I would wonder about that, would wonder which laundry and why and whether 'laundry' stood for something bigger. 'Timesmudger' is lovely though. It's of the same ilk as one of my favourites, 'Glasshopper' - seemingly meaningless yet meaning much.
DeleteInteresting post: I think people often underestimate the importance of a good title. I love plays on words like Lynne Truss's 'Eats, Shoots and Leaves'. Christopher Brookmyre's books have fantastic titles: 'One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night', 'A Big Boy Did it and Ran Away'. And sometimes I'll choose one book over another on the strength of its title, such as opting for Philip K Dick's 'Flow My Tears, The Policeman Said' as my sci-fi read in the Eclectic Reader Challenge.
ReplyDeleteLove Timesmudger, by the way!
I read somewhere that crime novels (the genre I write in) sell better if they have 'death' or 'murder' in the title. So I did the usual thing of going through books of quotations to find the right one for my current WIP. All the best ones have, unsurprisingly, gone! So I played around with a few words on Sunday afternoon and 'No Stranger to Death' popped into my head. My MC is both a newcomer in the village where the story is set, and a doctor. I was so pleased with this I googled it, checked out Amazon, convinced that it would have been used. But so far it hasn't.
Yes, Janet! I can really see, 'No Stranger to Death' in that context and it's got that great mix of sounding simple yet really making you think/ want to find out more. Great that it hasn't been used :) Thanks for reading!
ReplyDelete