Finding a Title

When working on a new novel the title is really the last thing to worry about but for me, once I begin writing the first draft, I can't help trying to think of one.

A title does give you something to use when referring to the book. With my second novel it was much easier for someone to ask, "How's 'Nothing Ventured' going?" rather than "How's the novel with four separate but intertwined stories about taking a chance in life going?"

My first novel started out as 'Coach Trip.' Not very 'sexy' perhaps, but it did what it said on the tin. Then again, maybe it sounded like I hadn't put much effort into the name? It's like the parents who call their son Aaron or Abraham. They obviously find reading a whole book of baby names a struggle.

The next title I thought of was 'First Impressions,' as in 'first impressions can be misleading.' I felt my protagonist, Derek, was assessing his fellow passengers on the trip before he got to know them. When I began writing a synopsis for the book to send out to literary agents I kind of realised that wasn't what the book was about and I'd neglected to even consider Derek's relationship with Angela - a rather large part of the storyline. Oh well, back to the drawing board then.

By this time I'd already written the first draft of 'Nothing Ventured' (nothing ventured, nothing gained) and I wanted the title of my first novel to be a phrase or part of a phrase as well. The book was about a holiday and I felt that really needed to play a role in the title. At one point it was almost called 'The Only Way to Travel' but finally I found 'Driven to Distraction' and, with a few adjustments to the storyline, it became the right title.

As I'm hoping book three will lead to a series it's been easy enough to refer to it as 'The Maggie Reynolds Mystery.' (I keep picturing later novels with 'Another Maggie Reynolds Mystery' written on the cover). At the moment I'm using 'Serial for Breakfast' as Maggie helps investigate a serial killer but I don't think that will stick long term.

Maggie runs her own hairdressing salon in the novel. Her members of staff and clients will provide a lot of the humour to contrast with the grizzly sides of the story. I did wonder whether to change her profession to café owner; just so I could use the title 'Crime and Nourishment' but I've decided against it. If any budding author out there wants to use that, feel free.