Hello, Everyone!
When writing a book, there are so many aspects to consider. The author isn’t just writing a story. She has other things to think about—like the cover and the title. Thinking of a book title can almost be as difficult as writing the story. It has to be unique, and it has to represent the story. Also, something to consider is branding a story. A title can brand a story, especially if the book is part of a series.
Writing a Series
Because I write my books in a series, I make sure the titles flow from one book to the next. When I wrote the Crystal Creek Series, my goal was to brand the books with the words, “Her Heart.” After six books, I decided to take a different tactic. Starting with Book 7, Imagine the Kiss, I used the word, “Kiss,” in the title.
I’m now working on Book 8. Though I’m not ready to think about titles, I do have the branding settled and can easily come up with a title. I make lists and check titles on the web. I google, “Book titles with the word…” and the internet will send me links of sites that list these titles.
Does Your Book Title Resonate?
When I review these lists, I write down the ones that resonate. Once I have a few, I play with the words, use synonyms or rearrange the syntax, which doesn’t always make sense. You don’t want your reader to look at the title and think, ‘Huh?” I’m looking for a title that will make the reader think, “That sounds interesting.”
“Kiss,” is a word that sounds interesting. Most people feel or think something when they read it. That’s what I want to evoke, an emotion that stays with the reader.
Book Titles Aren’t Copyrighted
I’m also looking for an original title—one that hasn’t been used before. In the U. S., titles aren’t copyrighted and even though you’ve spent considerable time creating a unique title, someone can come along and think, “Yes, I like that,” and plop it on the cover of her book or another creation. That can confuse the reader. She thinks she’s buying one book but ends up buying another.
Choosing a book based on its title is a subconscious decision, but as I look through my library, I see that many of these books had titles that resonated with me. They evoked a feeling or an image. If the title is that evocative, what will the story evoke?
What Resonates?
Are you drawn to a title? Can you remember picking up a book merely because the title was intriguing? What method do you use when thinking of a book title? I’d love to hear about your experiences. Feel free to share in the comment section.
I wish you a happy, healthy, fun and exciting week. God bless you and your loved ones!
Love,
Laura
