How do you name your books?

[KatnissEverdeen]

How do you name your bookS?

Since I started writting my book, I've changed my my over a thousand different things, the topic, the names of character, what happends, and etc. One thing I haven't figure out is the title of my book. This is the order of the ones I've thought of but are gone. YES I HAVE HAD TO START MY BOOK QUITE A FEW TIMES. :goof:
1.Everflame's Fairytale (the character's name isn't everflame anymore and the book isn't a fantasy/fairies/elfs/wizards (anymore))
2.Safe Fire (It was about knights and etc, again not happy with the first 5 chapters.)
3.--TO BE FOUND-- (THIS ONE IS ABOUT GREEK MYTHOLOGY AND I ♥ IT SO FAR. (GREEK GODS & GODDESS/DEMIGODS AND DEMOGODDESS))

So how are you supposed to name a book. What does it rely on?
I would appreciatte any help.

[Panglossian]

Stating the obvious I'd say a book's title should capture what the book is generally about.:thumbsup:

I've changed the title of a novel I've been writing about four times in as many years. The first title was the protagonist's name - (boring). The second title was too abstract - (trying to hard). The third title was too specific - (too long/trying to say too much). The fourth and hopefully last/correct title is simple and generally captures what the story is about.

None of this probably helps.

Anyway, it's a personal thing.

Try thinking *theme*. What's the theme of the story, then experiment with potential titles based on the general theme. ???? :hat:

[Lokasenna]

The title for the novel I've been working on has been static... until about a month ago when a new book appeared in the local Waterstones with the exact same one. Damn.

My trouble is that I've very little to compare with - the models for my own work are medieval Icelandic sagas, the nomenclature of which is fairly unimaginative. They are usually just the main character's name appended to the word 'saga'.

Tolkien got around it well - 'The Lord of the Rings' is a very effective title. At one point I debated calling my work 'The Lord of the World' as a concious tribute to him, but I've since decided against that. The title it has been working since its planning stages has been 'Seven Stones' - which I thought was suggestive, without giving anything away.

Oh well, back to the drawing board...

[Fyodor]

:iagree:

[KatnissEverdeen]

Thanks. The first advice is really helpful. It gets me to think. What is the theme of my book. I reflects on my life. How I've been a no one for my whole life and suddenly am noticed for something I didn't know but some else did. It's about how my best friend make me be me. Hmm. Thanks alot guys (: I really appreciatte it.

[MystyrMystyry]

I like to take a line from Shakespeare or some other classic, and bend it (sorry - no personal examples)

But 'The Name of the Rose' should give you an idea - it gives the reader a feeling of familiarity, and a sense that they're in for something with a bit of classical depth