Books that declare themselves as novels within the title

[billl]

They normally write 'A Novel' to dissuade us from thinking that it's a load of rubbish.

That's what it seems like to me, in some cases anyhow.

[Mathor]

Well, I don't know. I think perhaps if an author usually writes short works or poetry, then there one and only novel should be "____ - a novel" it advertises the work as a different type of work.

[higley]

Well, I don't know. I think perhaps if an author usually writes short works or poetry, then there one and only novel should be "____ - a novel" it advertises the work as a different type of work.

That's understandable. Neil Gaiman dabbles in so many different things that a lot of his titles have indicated "Novel," "Short Fictions," etc.

I wonder if it is better to have "A Novel" in the title, or let the title stand alone and at the bottom put "a novel by so-and-so." It's up to each author's preference but you also consider what appeals to potential readers.