When I wrote my first book, I came up with the title on the same day I finished it. I love the title. (It’s Redefined Dreams, by the way). After talking it over with my mom for about thirty minutes, I did it. When I changed the file name on my computer, just typing the title melted my heart. I had written a book.
Well, as many of you know, I won my first NaNoWriMo! (Yay!) I have sat back and only this past weekend did I open the file again to start fine-tuning it. I’m very proud of this book. It was my heart and soul for a whole month. I even think that I love this book more than my first one. When I submitted my NaNo book into their word counter and it told me that I won, I was awarded a certificate. I’ve filled in my name several times, but can’t bring myself to fill in a title. I have no idea what to name this book. I’ve discussed it with my husband and several other family members, but still I have nothing. I want nothing more than to print it out, and to hang up in my office! I want people to ask about NaNo and about my book. Now, if I could only come up with a title…
I ask you now:
- How do you come up with the title of your book?
- What do you do when you’re racking your brain to come up with a title?
- Help!
I loved this post because I can completely relate to it. Many times while writing a novel, none that have ever been completed, the working title is either that of a character I relate to strongly, or a bit of music that inspired the book.
Titles of music used are helpful, or specific lines within a song. Sometimes a specific line in the book is a good choice. One of my favorite authors, Emilie Loring, used to do that. Her one book “As Long As I Live”, is a line that is in the book.
However, I’m forever asking other people what to title my work, and inevitably, they tell me to just work on word play. I’ve still yet to come up with titles I love, but I hope this helps.
Congrats on finishing NaNo…. I applaud anyone who has the wear-with-all.
Thanks for you comment! My 4th book is called “Somewhere Down In Texas,” a George Strait Novel. I agree that music is very helpful and inspiring. Good luck to you!
Thanks for your comment! 🙂
Sometimes titles for a novel or short story seem to just come effortlessly out of the blue, and other times I have really struggled with coming up with something catchy that encompasses the story. Often, once I have the gist of what my story is about, the title reveals itself. However, I’ve worked on some stories under a working title that later I had to change becasue it just wasn’t right. A fun play on words usually works, but sometimes it is hard to come up with something. I’d suggest just brainstorming different title ideas and scribbling them down on paper. Just let your mind flow freely and something good will come. It works for me like that when I’m struggling with finding a good title.
Hi Isabella, I’ve found that titles find me. For my first novel, Phoenix, it seemed to come out of nowhere but ended up fitting everything about the book and characters perfectly. My current WIP title hit me in a dream – Pardon Falls – and it seemed to help round out bits of the story. So, sleep on it and see what finds you! 🙂
Thanks Kimberly! Have a great night! 🙂