Choosing Your Title

[Marti]

https://martimelville.wordpress.com/2...#


One writing coach's ideas on creating a perfect title for your novel.

[Earl]

I recognize that you are an expert in your field and tend to agree with what you have written. I would add, however, that a great title is no promise of success. THE SUN ALSO RISES, GONE WITH THE WIND, and FROM HERE TO ETERNITY are all great titles--and also wonderfully written. Conversely, THE GREAT GATSBY is a terrible title--and also voted the greatest American novel of the 20th century. My own "failed" novel, a Thomas Dunne selection published by St. Martin's Press, has what I consider a good title, IMMACULATE IN BLACK, sold out first printing, yet barely earned back the advance. My latest, JET AGE MAN has a full title that would run us out of characters here, and has sold very well so far. The publisher added to the title so it would get more search "hits." In this new digital age, I think he's been proven right--a definitive title is more effective than a clever one. FIRE ALONG THE SKY is catchy and clever, but what is it really about? The blurb is much too general,but I must admit that I love the title--just as I loved I in B.