What's in a name

[Maryd.]

Hi all,

Mary here, have been off line for a while, needed to complete a novel... And yea! It's done... Only 86,987 words.

I am currently editing my novel (as that is my real job).

I have a little dilema. I have changed the title 3 times and I am still not happy.

When sending a novel off to publishers, if they are not happy with the title, will they even attempt to read the first line or will they just toss it in the 'Boring Title' file. Does anyone know?
regards
Mary

[kelby_lake]

The title will set up their view of the book, give a taster. If you call it 'The precious land of petal-wumpkin', they're probably not going to view the book too highly, even if they do actually read it. Give it a name which is appropriate to its genre- say it's called 'Love Kills'. That's probably going to be a thriller/horror with an element of romance.

Tips on names:
- Use the name of a protagonist if you're really stuck, because the reader's bound to want to know who the person is.
- Avoid pretentious names like 'The Silvery Dots of A Bumblebee's Aunt'.
- Quotes from other literary works sound good, as do quotes from the book themselves. Aim for picking half of the quote out, then giving the rest of the quote in the bit where they have a quote before the book starts. For example the book 'Where Angels Fear To Tread'. Sounds nice, but what does it mean? It's the last half of 'Fools rush in, where angels fear to tread' and that theme is important in the book.
- Memorable title
- Title which isn't a tongue twister: 'Rabid Rabbits Rapidly Wind through the Wind'

[Lokasenna]

The title will set up their view of the book, give a taster. If you call it 'The precious land of petal-wumpkin', they're probably not going to view the book too highly, even if they do actually read it. Give it a name which is appropriate to its genre- say it's called 'Love Kills'. That's probably going to be a thriller/horror with an element of romance.

Tips on names:
- Use the name of a protagonist if you're really stuck, because the reader's bound to want to know who the person is.
- Avoid pretentious names like 'The Silvery Dots of A Bumblebee's Aunt'.
- Quotes from other literary works sound good, as do quotes from the book themselves. Aim for picking half of the quote out, then giving the rest of the quote in the bit where they have a quote before the book starts. For example the book 'Where Angels Fear To Tread'. Sounds nice, but what does it mean? It's the last half of 'Fools rush in, where angels fear to tread' and that theme is important in the book.
- Memorable title
- Title which isn't a tongue twister: 'Rabid Rabbits Rapidly Wind through the Wind'

I don't know Kelby - I think I'd read a book entitled "Rabid Rabbits Rapidly Wind through the Wind" out of sheer morbid curiosity...

Perhaps if we could have a bit more background to your novel..?

[kelby_lake]

Avoid doing a title that is hard for someone to say

[General Urko]

I have no experience submitting a novel to publishers, but my understanding is that the procedure (assuming you don't yet have an agent) is to send a query letter first rather than the actual manuscript. In the letter you will summarize what the novel is about and list other novels you think it is similar to in style and/or theme, and this will be what determines whether the publisher wants to read the manuscript or not. In other words, I don't think the title will matter much at this point. Titles end up changing all the way up to the actual printing stage anyway. Fitzgerald wanted to change the name of The Great Gatsby even after it had been published.

Best of luck!

[librarius_qui]

I work in a small publisher, and the procedure is to read the book, no matter what the title be.

If the publishers think the book worth publishing, but they don't like the title, they'll propose a new title.

Don't worry about it. You might even send with the three titles, and say "I'm in doubt between these titles, what do you think?"

lq~

[kiki1982]

An enigmatic title is always interesting and thought-provoking. So it might also do that at a publisher's desk.

It depends what kind of book it is, butif it is a deep book, choose a deep title, or title that means something to the book, but only if you have read it. :D

Names of places, if that is appropriate?

That is at least what excites me...

[Emil Miller]

Hi all,

Mary here, have been off line for a while, needed to complete a novel... And yea! It's done... Only 86,987 words.

I am currently editing my novel (as that is my real job).

I have a little dilema. I have changed the title 3 times and I am still not happy.

When sending a novel off to publishers, if they are not happy with the title, will they even attempt to read the first line or will they just toss it in the 'Boring Title' file. Does anyone know?
regards
Mary

I note that you are from Australia so maybe publishers there take novels from the author but here in the UK they will only accept submissions through an agent. The only exception to this rule is if the author already has connections with publishing in some way e.g. has made his/her name through writing for the media.
However, with regard to the title, I agree it is difficult to think of something appropriate and interesting at the same time. There is also the problem that someone else may have already used it, which rather diminishes its originality.
An example of this is a book I wrote and wanted to call 'The House on the Hill' but it was a certainty that it had been used before and I finally settled for The Fateful Circle, which may have been used but is at least germane to the novel. I don't think publishers will throw out a book purely on its title but, as someone has already pointed out, they may suggest an alternative if they are too unhappy with it.

[Maryd.]

Hi all,

Sorry have been offline for a while. But thanks for all your responses.

As I am new to the industry, (even though I have been writing for pleasure since I was 11) I have only just decided to take it serious.

The dilemma of the title has had me on edge now for months. I haven't sent anything off to publishers yet as I am also looking into colloquial speech. I have numerous aboriginal lines in the book that I would like to perfect before posting the manuscript off to a publisher.

And Brian, yes there are numerous publishers here in Australia that will not accept a manuscript without a reputable agent, however there are still many that will.

Thanks again all.
Regards
Mary