So . . . I’m not great with titles. Not for fiction. I don’t know why.
Dudes---I can't allow my cover to be blanksville!
I’m coming to the end of my editing spree of the WIP (at least I hope!), and I feel like I need a new title. I’ve got one now (no, it’s not Sheena Easton—that was just its nickname!), and it’s a really good one—but I don’t think it necessarily fits my MS.
I went through this same thing with my first MS, and I drove myself nuts, trying to decide on a query-worthy title. In the end, I came up with a decent one, but it still lacked the *perfect* factor.
Why is this so hard?? Oh, because it’s only my dream that I gave pretty much everything up for. No pressure or anything. 🙂
I know one-word titles are “hot” right now, but I don’t think that’s going to work for this MS. The title I have now gives off an edgier vibe than does my book. I don’t necessarily think that’s a *huge* problem—whatever gets the book read, and it’s not *just* about the title—and titles change—but I’d still like to get it as close to perfect as possible.
Anyone out there have any tips for me? How do you come up with your titles?
I’m all ears!
And I don't want the title to be too corny . . . like this caption was. Ba-DUM bum!
Ricki Cardenas 
I LIKE your title!
But I feel your “I hate my title” blues.
I don’t *hate* it — I’m just not sure it fits . . . and how or if that will affect me when I query. But thanks, dawg. 🙂
I don’t have much of a problem with titles-I try to keep them simple, like John Grisham does. Sometimes I’ll even come up with the title first and that inspires me to write the story.
Good luck, Ricki!
Is there a strategy you use, other than simple? Simple is good!
Hi Ricki!
Goodness, who doesn’t go through this?! I have to come up w/ titles for all my articles, corporate articles, stories and books, sometimes w/ little time. So one trick I use is to read something – a line, a quote – w/in the piece and find what sticks out as inspirational. In other words, sometimes it’s someone else’s voice talking to me (unless that’s my Rice Krispies again). In your character’s case, what is her goal, her desire? Is it to come to terms w/ who she is? Is about discovery? Passion? Forgiveness? Etc. Asking the “what ifs” and “how” might help.
And if you like the correlations between say, movie stars and real life, maybe you can bounce off of that. “How Sheena Easton Kept Me Out of Rehab.” Okay, well, you know what I mean. 🙂
I shall look during my next run-though!
Maybe you could play off of the recent popularity of Reality Shows, somethng like “My Own Reality Show.”. Ramsey.
Hmm . . . cool!