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 Post subject: How do you pick the title for your book?
PostPosted: December 11th, 2010, 8:42 am 
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I have been writing my book for a while now and I'm stuck on what I'm going to title it, so I wondered how you guys chose the title for your book? Was it just something that inspired you or what? My book is not fantasy...so I hope I'm OK asking this :) And I also hope I've put it in the right forum!

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 Post subject: Re: how do you pick the title for your book?
PostPosted: December 11th, 2010, 10:15 am 
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That is a wonderful question, because I am in the process of trying to determined a title for the historical/fantasy? novel I'm working on currently! :D

It really depends on the book that I'm writing. In my short story "Friends with the Enemy" it's obvious that someone is going to be friends with the enemy. :shock: I was writing a horse story called "White Rose" named after the leading mare in the story. Or a somewhat recent book I called "Black Tears (for a friend)".

As you can see I typically name my stories after the leading characters or pretty much come up with a spoiler title. :roll:

I sort of want the story I'm working on to be catching and profound. Like "Pride and Prejudice." You know what I mean? Temporarily it's called "Charlotte's Story" (Thanks to Melody) because I was tired of calling it by three trial titles. ^^;;

Good luck on titling your story! :D

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 Post subject: Re: how do you pick the title for your book?
PostPosted: December 11th, 2010, 11:58 am 
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(Wasn't there another thread on this? I'm not sure. :?) Anywho, I have a similar problem.

I have a short story called My Brother Is a Secret Agent? Talk about a spoiler title. :roll:

My titles for my (theoretical) novels are things I just came up with. A Slave's Song kept running through my head the night I had the idea of it, and it fit. I was sure it was the title before I had a song! I'm not sure where Shattering the Dark came from, but I have gotten teasing from it sounding close to Piercing the Darkness. :roll: I might change it to Awakening the Dawn, or something.

If you post a synopsis or something on here, you might get some suggestions from people. :D

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 Post subject: Re: how do you pick the title for your book?
PostPosted: December 11th, 2010, 12:49 pm 
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Some possible sources of a title:

- The name of the protagonist or antagonist. (I rarely use this one, but it works well for some people).

- A word or series of words that describe the protagonist, antagonist, tone of the book, plot of the book, etc. (This is usually the easiest for me).

- A title that sounds cool but really has nothing to do with the book, though I decide I might as well use it because it doesn't fit anything else. :D (I've done this occasionally).

- A snippet of a classic quote or saying that fits the book. (I don't think I've ever done this myself, but I've seen other people who did).

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 Post subject: Re: how do you pick the title for your book?
PostPosted: December 11th, 2010, 1:39 pm 
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Here's the other thread on book titles: viewtopic.php?f=49&t=1101 A lot of great suggestions were voiced (including mine, so I won't repeat them), so you might browse them for some more ideas! :D

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 Post subject: Re: how do you pick the title for your book?
PostPosted: December 12th, 2010, 4:15 pm 
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Thanks for all the ideas Guys, I'm working on my title at the moment so Thanks and I'll let you know if I decide what to call it :) Thanks again! :)

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All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost;
The old that is strong does not wither,
Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
A light from the shadows shall spring;
Renewed shall be blade that was broken,
The crownless again shall be king

J. R. R. Tolkien


My favourite quote: "God will give His kindness for you to use when your own runs out."

Pippin's Waggy Tales

Autumn Leaves


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 Post subject: Re: how do you pick the title for your book?
PostPosted: December 13th, 2010, 6:04 pm 
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Just chiming in to share a great post by an agent on titling your book: http://cba-ramblings.blogspot.com/2010/ ... -book.html. If you're still stuck, this has lots of ideas to get you going. :)

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