A Title by Any Other Name

Pat here, writing from Yosemite's Mariposa Grove:

Quantum asked how the wenches choose their titles and are they as important as the covers? (Quantum wins a book of mine and is still in the pot for the rest of the wenches, because it’s a fun question)

Whether we like it or not, book titles are important. Do you ever receive newsletters like Bookbub or EarlyBird advertising book sales? I’m picking through a recent one, and I apologize to any authors I might offend, but I pulled these titles off one sales sheet: Ballad of the Sad Café, The Revelation Room, Arkansas, Shadow of Ashland—what kind of books do you think these titles represent? Would you reach for any of them? I’d jump on Ballad of the Sad Café, and if I were bored or desperate, I might look into the Revelation Room, but the others, big yawn. THAT’s why titles are important—they persuade readers to snatch a book off the shelf and dive in.

Our weary brains have to process a lot of information every day. We’re constantly bombarded with ads, social media, newsletters, bookstore shelves, friend recommendations, the list of information sources is endless. For us to hear a message about a book, the title or cover has to jump out at us, hit us over the head, and shout Buy Me. So yeah, I’d say the title is almost as important as the cover.

A really good title tells us the book’s genre, excites interest, says “this is the kind of book you want to read.” What does Arkansas tell you? That it’s a history maybe? The cover isn’t any help. The publisher is relying on you to skip title and cover and read the blurb about “’sly, self-knowing, and hilarious’ novellas of escape and exile.” Yeah, I didn’t get that either.

So when a publisher titles a book, they’re looking at marketing. Speaking from a writer’s POV, I want to see an accurate portrayal of the story. The two do not always go hand in hand. When I’m working on a book, I tend to slap a title on it like The Viscount’s Dilemma. Or maybe just Lydia the Librarian. I’m simple-minded and like the obvious. I suspect most readers would look at my makeshift titles and think Regency Romance. They’d be wrong, although not by a whole lot. I do have a Regency sensibility, but I’m currently writing Victorian Romance with a paranormal twist. So my work-in-process titles don’t make the final cut. The book may be about a viscount and his problems, but the title has to appeal to readers who like Victorian romance and psychics. If they think it’s a sweet Regency, I’ve not only lost my intended audience, but I’ve disappointed a readership who expected a new Regency. Errors like that can kill an author’s sales.

So how do we settle on a title? Difficultly, very difficultly. When I was working with a traditional publisher, I’d set up lists of romantic adjectives and nouns that applied to my book and might appeal to my readers. I’d work through the list, sending my editor titles like “Blue Moon,” or “Romantic Nights,” and work my way through the list, “Blue Nights, Romantic Moon. . .” You get the picture. Eventually, I’d end up with Indigo Moon and voila, my editor would jump with joy. (Actually, I got that title on the first try, but that’s the only one ever.)

Now that I’m working with a cooperative of other authors, title hunting can become extremely. . . entertaining. We may all be professionals, but fantasy authors go for fantasy titles and The Magic Camera just won’t cut it in romance. And straight romance authors might want The Viscount’s Hot Dreams. Or we can lump it all together and go with Magical Hot Dreams.  I’m the one who gets the final choice, and since I don’t write hot, any sexy titles are nixed. I have to be aware that while The Viscount’s Dilemma  is exactly what the book is about, it won’t sell my book to readers who are waiting for my next Magical Malcolm book, but neither will hot dreams and magic cameras.

I still have lists of adjectives and nouns to jog my thought processes. Since the current books are part of the School of Magic series, I’d like to relate them to “school” while being romantic and give a hint of magic. Try that sometime. (Please, send me all titles you think might cover those requirements! I’m desperate. I still have three more books to go.) So I have lists of “school” words: teacher, academy, class, governess, and I have lists of “magic” words: illusion, enchantment, charm, and lists of “romantic” words: dreams, enticing, wicked. And then I have to pull them all together to fit the subject of the book. Uh huh, that’s happening.

But somehow I pulled together the first three books in the series: Lessons in Enchantment,

A Bewitching Governess, An Illusion of Love—so, yeah, I gave up the “school” connection on that third one. It didn’t help that the heroine is actually a photographer and not a teacher. Try working “photographer” into a romantic magical title! But “illusion” fits the magical category and “love” certainly says romance.

Before I reached those titles, however, I spent hours putting together ideas, showing them to the authors in my co-op, brainstorming ideas with other wenches, pounding my head against the desk. . . Titles may be partially creative, but left-brained marketing techniques are a substantial part of the whole, and that’s painful. I don’t naturally think like that. This is where traditional publishers have an advantage—they have trained marketing people and statistics on hand to say “Love” was a bestselling word in 3 out of 10 of their last titles, and “Illusion” fared well in 3 out of 5 of our paranormal series. . .

And yes, publishers have people on staff whose purpose is to come up with those titles you love to hate—and they haven’t even read the book. So I guess I do have some advantage. I at least know what the book is about. Otherwise I might just go to Amazon, find the top-selling titles in the genres I’m marketing, and start a new list of nouns and adjectives.

An Illusion of Love is up for pre-order and will be out on July 21st. I’m working on the three books that will be released next year. The temporary title I mentioned above, Lydia the Librarian, is one of next year’s books. Another is currently passing as The Earl’s Medallion. Neither of those titles will make the cut. If you were a marketing department that has never read the book, what words would you suggest that would fit my parameters—school related/ romance/ psychic/ Victorian?

Do you have any favorite title stories? Have you ever bought a book for the title? (I started a life-long love of Terry Pratchett when I snatched up Wyrd Sisters.)

And just in case you’re interested, one of my contemporary romances, Imperfect Rebel, will be free through July 22 at all retailers. It’s funny and sad and best of all, free. And it’s on its second title already—the first was Almost Perfect, which fit the book much better but didn’t work for the series.

Comments

[Maryellen Webber]

What a great post! I always wondered how a book gets a title. It sounds like it's as challenging as writing the book itself. I recently read a book and the title did not match the book,I think I would have created a more interesting, attention grabbing title. 😊

[Janet Riggs]

Interesting. I never knew all that. Thanks for sharing.

[Kathy/Kaitlyn]

Pat, I hear you on temporary titles, but I tend to get attached to mine and my editors always hate them, so a while back, for my mysteries, I just started calling them Liss #11 or Mikki #3 and then, as you do, coming up with lists of possible titles. P.S. My current editor and my agent come up with some pretty hilarious ones during the process, since puns are popular in cozy titles.

[Sue McCormick]

Well I mostly buy by author. i do find new authors, but mostly by recommendation (from other authors or from family and friends) so I don't pay much attention to titles. But I know I'm in the minority in this.

What I DO use titles for is to help me remember specific books. "What was that book about incest and murder?" doesn't help me find it and Linda Howard's titlle "Shades of Twilight wasn't much help either. But most titles do help me find the proper book. So I do indeed appreciate the trouble authors go to in finding the appropriate titlle for each book they produce.

[Mary Jo Putney]

The most important thing on a cover is the name of an author one loves, but if the author is unknown, cover art and title both become really important. Yes, trying to get so many nuances into three words or so is HARD! Even harder for books that cross genre lines. It is never easy. It never GETS easier! And yet we persist. *G*

[Jenny V]

Hi Pat! I absolutely adore brainstorming titles! If I were naming Lydia the Librarian, I'd probably call it "By Magic Bound". The Earl's Medallion is a tough one without a little more information though, lol.

I first discovered your books when I bought Magic Man on impulse, because of the irresistible title and gorgeous cover with a running horse. Your acknowledgements in that series mention the help you had with those titles! All very well chosen!

[Pamela DG]

Titles are important. But more than that I look at the blurb. If the H/H are enticing, it lands in my shopping cart. "Once a Soldier" was my fist MJP book that introduced me to the wonderful world of WenchWerks. I had just finished Mary Balogh's Survivor Series and was looking for a wounded H/H. The title did catch me, the yellow cover was awesome, the blurb hooked me into putting it in my shopping cart (I bought it at a grocery store.) Will and Athena convinced me I had to seek out the rest of the MJP's books.

I've been writing since childhood, but in the last few years I've been writing seriously in the hopes of publishing someday. Titles I've thought of seem to generate themselves after I've written and something the H/H says replaces my working title.
"Revolutionary Romance" was replaced by "Soldier's Heart." "Sea Story" became "Captain's Duty," "Medieval Tale" became "The Secret of Strathcairn." (That one might change yet again as my heroine recovers from nearly freezing to death and her steel begins to shine through. Her hero is a Knight loyal to a Norman King, but "The Gentle Knight," "The Kind Knight" isn't doing it for me.) I have a collection of noir writing exercises that fell under the collective title of "The Beatnik." That name needs to be replaced as a story has evolved from a collection of smokey stories of people encountering a beatnik into a murder mystery. At least I'm good at writing the blurbs.

[Mary Jo Putney]

Pamela, I'll send thanks to Will and Athena! The cover was Kensington's and it's great, but the title was mine.

It's interesting how your writing generates the title. I know some authors who can't really write until they have a title they like. Books and titles are all part of the creative process--as are the characters' names, as I'm sure you've discovered! (I agree that the gentle or kind knight might not generate the spark you want. "LADY OF ICE, KNIGHT OF FIRE.....)

[Mary Jo Putney]

BY MAGIC BOUND--good one, Jenny V.! Though that would be Pat's call, not mine. Maybe she can use in one of the last three books. We try to never waste a good title. *G*

[Mary Jo Putney]

Kathy/Kaitlyn, I know what you mean about getting attached to working titles! Good pun titles can be hard to find, but they are definitely fun. *G*

[Pamela DG]

Interesting ideas... The heroine's sable hair has turned white from the shock she received from her cruel father turning her out on Midwinter Night. Her eyes are aquamarine. She can be positively glacial as she meets out justice. He's a blonde Norman with amber eyes, your idea may work...Frozen Fire? I'm not sure the love scenes I write can justify the title. I tend to leave them behind closed doors. The readers imagination can be more powerful that the author's words. WWMJPD?

[Mary T]

MUSIC ON THE WATER a novella by Caroline Warfield. There are several of her books that I have not purchased yet. But I will probably buy that one because the title intrigued me.

[Kareni]

What a fun post, Pat! Can I confess that I'd happily read The Magic Camera? I could imagine the words 'develop' or 'image' being used with a photographer heroine ... Love Develops? The Image of Love?

[Christina Courtenay]

I like all your titles, Pamela! How about changing the last one to "Knight of Strathcairn" or "Knight's Secret"?

[Christina Courtenay]

I love trying to come up with titles, especially for a series! I spend hours looking up suitable words and trying to tie them to a theme - it's such fun! Sometimes it helps to look at poems. There are poetry websites where you can search for specific words like "moon" or something, and you get all the greatest poems on that subject. That was how I came up with one of my titles "The Silent Touch of Shadows" which seems to have been everyone's favourite so far. I really like the titles you have so far, Pat - for some reason the medallion one made me think of the word "mesmerising" - would that work?

[Pamela DG]

Thank you so much! I like the idea Christina, but he's not from Strathcrain, the keep is her father's. She is the one with the secret. She is Amalia Hawkins, Baroness of Braemoor which is an ancient barony. She's a Saxon. Her father styles himself as the Baron as he was married to the previous baron's daughter, he is pretty deep in a plot to overthrow the King. She keeps the secret that she is the heiress, so she is the Secret of Strathcairn. Sir Renollet (a family name from deep in my family history) has his own keep, where he takes her after he rescues her. She tells him of her title only after he marries her. His keep will became Braemoor. Braemoor will eventually become the Dukedom that most of my other stories will tie into. The Soldier is the Third Son, the Sailor the Second. I have plans to move this series through history from England in to America. You and Mary Jo are so sweet to pitch some ideas to me!

[Patricia Rice]

as you can see, it's not an easy job. And sometimes people just don't know what is interesting to others!

[Patricia Rice]

well, I've also been known to call it Max's book. Depends on how creative I am on that first page.

[Patricia Rice]

that is my major concern with these "series" titles. If "Magic" appears in every title, how do you know which one you've read and which one you haven't?

[Patricia Rice]

That is a most excellent title, thank you! It shall go into the title hopper. They did a great job on that original Magic Man cover, didn't they?

[Patricia Rice]

oh that's a great title! It would make me pick up the book for sure.

[Patricia Rice]

I love that title too but it just didn't work with the rest of the series. Series titles are tricky!

[Patricia Rice]

I'm definitely adding "mesmerising" to my word list but it's a specific talent that doesn't apply to this book but may in a future one! I used to do the poetry thing too, even included the poetry at the beginning, but then I got jaded.

[Christina Courtenay]

I'm sure the right title will come to you - best of luck, Pamela! And I hope the book gets published soon, it sounds like a great story!

[Pamela DG]

I saved all the ideas! They may not fit this one, but maybe another. As for soon? I'm still brainstorming and doing my sticky note outline on the back of my office door. It will be a while. I will have to remember the Word Wenches in the acknowledgements.

[Annette N]

I thank you very much for this post. For me, titles are important. But, actually for me, the author is most important. If it is an author I know, I will look at the blurb as much as a title.

For authors who are not familiar to me, then the title and the cover will be what draws my interest. If the blurb seems interesting, then I am drawn into the book.

And I never realized how difficult it might be to find a good title. I reckon you cannot call any of them - The Book About a Man and Woman in the Regency Period in England and Scotland. Two People Who Fall in Love in Queen Victoria's Reign and Live Happily Ever After - After Some Personal Issues are Settled.

This is Off Topic. I don't know if any of you know Karen Ranney has died. After she became ill, she died in June. She and I had become email and mail friends. I had written her a note and not received a response. So, I started looking on the internet and then called her publisher. (Can you tell that in the past I was a researcher at times?) Anyhow, I thought I would let you know because some of you may have been friends with her.

Karen was a smart and funny woman. I will miss her.

[Jenny V]

OMG, hi Mary Jo! I love your books! I am so excited that you answered. You made my month! Sorry for fangirling. I like to wrote . Established romance authors are my heroes!

[Quantum]

This question was prompted by my reading Lisa Kleypas's 'Mine till Midnight'. When reading/listening to fiction I sort of expect to recognize an event in the book that correlates strongly with the title and which I assume led to the choice of title. This becomes an additional amusement like trying to recognize the culprit in a whodunit. I often find such an event, for example in Catherine Anderson's 'Annie's Song' the discovery that Annie is sensitive to music explains the title but for the Kleypas example I could find nothing obvious .... very frustrating but an absorbing novel nonetheless!

I had no idea that authors go through such contortions in search of titles. My advice would be to finish the story then try to isolate a scene that has particular significance and summarize that as a title.

[Beverly Abney]

I read by Author rather than Title for the most part, so no matter what the title I will read the book if a favorite author writes it. However, since this health emergency I am reading many books by unfamiliar authors and clever titles get my attention. Humorous sounding ones, most of all. Since you Wenches are among my favorites, please keep writing and I will keep reading.

[Pamela DG]

Hi Quantum, Great question! I was wondering the same thing. I read the same Kleypas book. Since I am not well versed in Romany Culture, I found "Mine Till Midnight" fascinating. I think the title came from Cam and Amelia's first night together.

[Karin]

So sorry to hear this, and sorry you lost your penpal and friend, Annette.

[Karin]

I don't usually like titles that are plays on words; sometimes they're too cute. But I really love the titles of Grace Calloway's books which are based on cinema noir, spy and mystery movies. For instance "The Lady Who Came in From the Cold", "The Duke Who Knew Too Much", "M is for Marquess", "The Widow Vanishes", "The Viscount Always Knocks Twice", etc.

[Jenny V]

Yes it is still probably my favorite book cover (and love story) ever. I could go on for pages about that! Lol but anyway.

Can you elaborate a little on The Earl's Medallion? How is it related to magic and schools? What is the heroine's job?

I would love to offer more title ideas if I could be of any help to you.

[Alice]

Nice article. The cover usually catches my eye either good or bad (bad if wearing a prom dress instead of period). The titles are so similar "The Duke's..." that I actually can't keep track of them so I appreciate a series that uses the same word throughout the titles, like Magic or Crystal from you prolific beloved writers. I totally hate it when you decide to change your covers at some random time as you loose me as to which book is which in a series. I also appreciate when you include a symbol, shield, banner for the cover of a series . Mostly I ignore the titles as they're mostly to similar other than indicating genre. Love your article and your books.

[Patricia Rice]

this one is just getting started so it's all a little airy-fairy at this point, but thank you!

[Patricia Rice]

oh no, I'm sooo sorry! Karen was a wonderful contributor. She will be sorely missed. Thank you for letting us know.

[Patricia Rice]

I didn't want to speak directly to Lisa's title because as far as I know, there may have been a scene that got cut later. It's absolutely impossible to know what goes into a title. The title is romantic, which is all marketing wanted.

[Patricia Rice]

Hugs, Bev! and stay safe...

[Patricia Rice]

I kinda like the plays on words and those are really good ones!

[Patricia Rice]

nice insights, thank you! I'm a word person and scarcely notice the symbols, but my cover designer is really good about that. Anything to distinguish one book from another because you're right, the proliferation of dukes is mind boggling.

[Quantum]

Hi Pamela. I listened to the audio of 'Mine till midnight' and the problem with audio is that its not easy to go back to particular scenes. References are made to Romany legends where a horse carries away a rider at midnight and Anne Gracie commented to me that the Hathaway series all have time of day references in the titles -- Mine Till Midnight, Love in the Afternoon, Seduce me at Sunrise, Tempt me at Twilight etc. Your suggestion prompts me to listen to the book again.😊

[Margot]

Great topic. I never realized it might be so difficult to come up with a good title. I do not usually go for the cover photos as many are too much alike and the characters do not resemble my vision of them. As for the title - I also tend to look for authors I have enjoyed, rather than titles.

[Patricia Rice]

I am much happier knowing our readers look for the author, thank you! Its reassuring to know that if we botch the title, we wont lose you. G

[Anne Gracie]

That's certainly the case with my last series. Marry in Scandal, Marry in Secret and Marry in Scarlet, especially are forever getting mixed up. By me, by my publicist and no doubt by readers. One of them even finalled for an award, and the email notifying me had the wrong title. LOL

[Anne Gracie]

The trouble is, in traditional publishing (ie with big publishers) the author's choice of titles is often just tossed into the mix and the final title decided on by the marketing dept and the editor, according to what they think will make readers want to buy. It can be quite frustrating for the author, especially if the author has what she thinks is the perfect title that reflects the story beautifully. A lot depends on the editor.

My guess is that those Lisa Kleypas titles were more about signalling "part of a series" than any event in the story. So one series is linked by times in the title (midnight, morning, etc), and another by a season in the title — I've done that, too. In any case, I'd read anything she writes, so who cares about the title? *g*

Catherine Anderson's 'Annie's Song' -- great book.

[Patricia Rice]

LOL, yup, that was my fear with the magic books. Thats why I put magic in the series name and then just tried to give the titles something similar to each other. Not easy