Our clients, as authors, often come to us saying, “I’m not sure about my book title… what do you think of this title? Or that title?” Or “Can you help me with the title?”
I could give many tips on how to come up with a title, but you could also look online and find all manner of helpful info.
“I believe titles don’t need to be forced; they are born.”
What I really want to say here is that I believe titles don’t need to be forced; they are born. And like most babies, they will emerge at the time that is right for them, and you don’t always know when that’s going to be.
It is important to leave time and space to let the title come to you, and it will.
You probably already know the obvious—a title should reflect the tone of the book (serious, poetic, whimsical, scientific, literary, etc.). Naturally titles are often derived from a theme or a scene in the book. If the title is more obscure or poetic, it’s good to add a subtitle that explains and clarifies the content. Some titles have more punch because they’re commercially published and must jump out at you.
It’s OK to collaborate on choosing a title, but don’t start asking EVERYone for title suggestions or feedback on your title options. This opens a can of worms and causes confusion and delays. Sit with your own thoughts; go with your gut instinct; maybe even call the midwife, an editor.
Then, once you’ve chosen it, “google” your title and check that it hasn’t been coined anywhere else (book, video, poem, song, etc.).
If you’re selling the book, you might ask a commercial editor or publisher their opinions. If you’re not selling the book, I’d say just listen to your intuition.
Some of my favorite (commercial) titles simply say it as it is:
Accordion Crimes
A Grief Observed
Crime and Punishment
No One Can Pronounce My Name
Others are more mysterious:
Ballad of the Sad Café
To Kill a Mockingbird
100 Years of Solitude
Last Night at the Lobster
Length? A longer title or subtitle might affect the front-cover design (fitting of the words), but that’s another topic. There are plenty of intriguing long titles:
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius
No Matter How Much You Promise to Cook or Pay the Rent You Blew It Cauze Bill Bailey Ain’t Never Coming Home Again
And short ones:
Passing
Plainsong
Snow Country
Beloved
Hopscotch
Some of my favorite Modern Memoirs (non-commercial) book titles:
There’s a Book in Here Somewhere
I Dunno
A Narrative of Certain Events in the Life of Russell B. Newton, Jr.
Don’t Believe a Word of It
I Said I’d Retire…
For my part, the title that was born to the tribute book I wrote for my late mother is Learning to Speak. How did it come to me? When I was almost done with the writing and happened to be on a 3-hour car trip, I said to myself, “I need a title!” Drive, drive, drive. The title came to me as I crested the Bourne Bridge on Cape Cod, close to my arrival point. I said it out loud: “Learning to Speak.” For me, it came at the perfect time. Trust yourself.