In a post on Writers in the Storm, Barbara Linn Probst discusses the importance of titles and how to choose one. “Like a first impression when we meet someone new, a book’s title is (usually) the first and most enduring thing we know about a book,” she says. “The title alone can make us want to read a book.”
But what makes a good title? That depends on your measure. A title can be:
- Simple. A title might simply be the name of the protagonist or an important character, or describe their role in the story. It can state the setting or a character’s objective.
- Long and complex. Longer titles can be flowing, more lyrical, or complex. They are fun to say and memorable.
- Thematic. A title can summarize your novel or convey your theme.
- Enigmatic. “Some titles are intriguing, rather than obvious; they arouse our curiosity to know more,” Probst says. “We don’t know what Woman on Fire by Lisa Barr or The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold refer to, but we want to find out.” Caveat: be sure that you aren’t raising expectations that your novel won’t meet!
Considering your own WIP, what are some options for the title?
- A central character: Carrie, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
- A central relationship: Book Lovers, My Sister’s Keeper
- The quest (or question) that provides a throughline for the plot: The Last Temptation of Christ, Game of Thrones
- An important aspect of the setting: Room, Brokeback Mountain
- A signature object, image, talisman, or motif: A Spool of Blue Thread, The Maltese Falcon
- A reference to the core lesson, emotional arc, or change in the protagonist: Things Fall Apart, What is the What?
