Titles are important to me. I've never been able to throw myself into writing a new book until I've come up with a title I love. I'm just not inspired by "WIP" (work in progress). At the beginning of each new story, I brainstorm and tweak until I settle on a title that conveys the right tone. It keeps me true to my original vision and gives me something to write towards.
The title of my first book, Harvest of Dreams, came easily. I struggled a bit more with the second, A Man Like That, but The Treasure of Como Bluff was really the only choice for my dinosaur-hunter novella. Unwritten Rules was a different story. With it, I was changing sub-genres from Western historical to romantic suspense. I needed something sharper, more contemporary. Also, I was planning a series for the first time and wanted something I could build on for additional titles.
Initially I had planned to call the second book in the Phoenix, Ltd. bodyguard series Boiling Point. In this story, the heroine goes undercover as a personal chef but doesn't know how to cook. As a title Boiling Point is short and punchy (which I like), and connects to the cooking aspect of the plot, but to me it sounds more like a serious thriller than my sassy, romantic version of suspense. So I've been working to come up with something I like better.
I brainstormed a list of thirty possibilities with cooking references: everything from Out of the Frying Pan to Up in Flames. Then, because I learned a few things with Unwritten Rules, I checked Amazon for similar titles. That knocked out many of the more cliched titles. I'm willing to accept a few other books with the same title as mine, but not a few dozen. From there I whittled the list down to five:
Cooking up Trouble
Up in Flames
Fuel to the Flames
Undercover in an Apron
Sauteed, Not Stirred
Then I chose my two favories:
Undercover in an Apron
Sauteed, Not Stirred
I think both suggest sassy suspense. I'm leaning toward one of them but would appreciate any feedback. What do you think? Which is your favorite?
I like Sauteed, Not Stirred. I'm not good with titles, so sometimes my WIPs are usually called something inspired like Grace and Dillon or New Story until something calls to me. (Of course, my titles seldom call as loudly to my publishers. :-))
ReplyDeleteLiz, I've never had a title changed, but I haven't published nearly as many books as you!
DeleteHonestly, I love Boiling Point. I think it goes best with Unwritten Rules in staying with a two word title. It implies heat in a romance story and trouble in a suspense book. I'm sure there are lots of other books with that title. The good ones are always well used! Of your two choices, Sauteed, Not Stirred is my preference.
ReplyDeleteJannine, I like Boiling Point for all the reasons you mentioned. I was just worried about so many other books with that title.
DeleteWhen I read your short list, the two that I liked the most are the two that you ended up chosing as your two favorites! Good taste. I personally like Sauteed, Not Stirred the most. Good luck with your selection!
ReplyDeleteMy process for a title is almost the complete opposite to yours. I usually slap a working title on my WIP and then when I finish writing, I pull my hair out while I try to think of something catchy that captures the essense of the story. I loved hearing about your way of doing things. Maybe I'll try that next time! :-)
J.C., thanks so much for your input. Sauteed, Not Stirred is currently my favorite too!
DeleteI have to agree. I really like Boiling Point, although I think it has been used before. Of your two favorite, I like Sauteed, Not Stirred.
ReplyDeleteTami, I haven't completely ruled Boiling Point out, but there are LOTS of other books with that title. Sauteed, Not Stirred is my current favorite.
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