A lot of writers begin a story without a title in mind. They flesh out the characters, envelop themselves deep within the story, and never think about the title until a) one comes to them naturally while writing the book, or b) they are forced to think of one because they can’t submit without the title.
Not so with me. You see, I can’t lose myself in a story if it’s untitled. I can connect with the characters and flesh out their lives, but I can’t spend hours, weeks, and months bleeding on the page without giving that page a name. Talking with friends about my work in progress only works for me if that WIP has a title.
Imagine it: I’m raving about my newborn son or daughter, showing pictures to friends. They ooh and ahh over how handsome he is, and then someone asks, “What’s his name?”
I can’t reply, “I don’t know, it’ll eventually come to me.” Could you?
So the first thing I do is think about the tone of my book. Is it funny? Sexy? Serious? Does a consistent theme run throughout? Something that either the hero or the heroine needs to learn or acknowledge by the end of the book?
Once I’ve decided, then it’s time to brainstorm. I sit at my desk and make a list of words related to my book. Nothing is off limits. I write down everything I can think of that is related to my story, whether it’s an emotion, a setting, or a question.
At this point, one word usually jumps out at me ““ a word I KNOW has to be in the title. From there I play with word combinations and another list takes shape””a list of possible titles.
Here I should probably tell you that sometimes this method works for me, and sometimes”¦well, not so much. Take, for instance, the title of my first book, Not Without Risk. My original title for this book was Strength to Love. No really, that’s what I called it, which was better than my original title for After Midnight (and no, I’m not telling what that was called). Anyway, back to Risk”¦The farther I got into the story, the more I hated the title. It just wasn’t right. Then one day I’m typing along and the hero’s mother tells him, “To love someone, to have someone return that love is”¦It’s a risk, certainly, but what is life if not a risk?”
*insert light bulb*
There it was, the moment when the word clicked into place. Risk. Everything in that book revolved around risk, from the hero’s job, to taking a leap of faith and risking his heart in order to find love.
Here’s another confession. I have a compulsion to see the name of the book somewhere in the book. It doesn’t matter to me whether a character voices it, or thinks it; my titles have to be in the book. This need made naming, or should I say coming up with the correct name for, AFTER MIDNIGHT even easier.
The original title broke my rule about following the tone of the book. It was too sappy, and gave the impression the book was light-hearted. I don’t write light-hearted. Yes, everything I write has its happily-ever-after. Yes, the hero and heroine always ride off into the proverbial sunset. But getting there is never an easy journey. I torture my characters, some more than others, and Isabeau Montgomery”¦she’s a tortured heroine.
Then it hit me. Isabeau owns a bar, the opening scene takes place in that bar after closing. In fact, most of the key moments in the book occur late at night. Night”¦ Darkness”¦ Midnight”¦aha! There it was.
Sometimes the moment that changes everything comes After Midnight.
~*~
Thirteen years””that’s how long Isabeau Montgomery has been living a lie. After an automobile accident took her mother’s life, Izzy hid herself away, surviving the only way she knew how. Now she is happy in her carefully reconstructed life. That is until he walks through the door of her bar…
Black Phoenix singer/front man Noah Clark came to Long Island City with a goal–one that doesn’t include an instant, electric attraction to the dark-haired beauty behind the bar. Coaxing her into his bed won’t be easy, but he can’t get her pale, haunted eyes nor her skill on the piano out of his head.
Can Noah help Isabeau overcome the past? Or will her need to protect her secret force her back into hiding and destroy their chance at happiness?
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0 COMMENTS
Nancy Jardine
13 years agoGreat post, Sarah. Wish I was that organized. Like you I do start off with a title but not a 'keeper'. For one or another reason it seemed to change a lot by the time I submitted, and my 'Monogamy Twist' was editor influenced!
Vonnie Hughes
13 years agoFor me a working title is better than no title at all. I can't begin to write a novel without it having some sort of working title. I mean, where is the emphasis to be? The plot? Characterization? But the thing that is really, really hard is to find a title that hasn't been used lately. I had a terrible problem with my first-published book, Coming Home. There are many, many books and novellas out there called Coming Home. But you see, it couldn't possibly be called anything else because Coming Home described both the hero and the heroine's psychological journeys as well as their physical ones.
Really like the title Not Without Risk – now that's not at all common and it neatly describes what the book is about but makes the reader a little curious too. What sort of risk?
Good luck with your titles!
Calisa Rhose
13 years agoI love your titles Sarah. One day I hope to read the books behind them since I already own them both.
I always seem to start different for each book. HOME came to me midway through the book. I had to have something to call it, like you I can't write it without some sort of name. I have never really struggled with titles but that one- nothing would come to me. It's about a soldier coming home, the girl back home, home in general, the geographic location, and so I tagged it Home. By the end of the book nothing worked and then I realized why. It was a book about HOME- where the heart is, not where the characters are. Emotional HOME. It had to be all caps to signify the deeper meaning of the simple word.
Have a lovely day and wonderful post.
AJ Nuest
13 years agoGood Morning, Sarah. I love this post. Like you, I can't work without a title. Generally they come to me pretty quickly — sometimes I even start just with the title, before the story is even written. My latest contract, though…whew! Had to change that title three times before I found one that was perfect. I'm so glad my editor suggested reworking it. Super job so far on the book tour! You're doing GREAT!!
Lynne Marshall
13 years agoI'm like you, I like to have a title in mind while I'm writing the book, AND I like to see it somewhere in the book, too. jinx!
As a category writer, I've never been able to keep one of my own title, and have gotten used to that fact. that's why I was thrilled when TWRP let me keep my title for One for the Road. That title worked for me on many levels, and it came before the book.
It was fun reading your methods for naming your books.
Jannine Gallant
13 years agoI like your process for creating a title, Sarah. Me, I never come up with one until I'm closing in on the finish. Usually it's a line I've used in the book that jumps out at me. For Nothing But Trouble, I was getting desperate. I was actually writing the blurb after the book was completed when I used the line and had the "Ah ha!" moment.
Sarah Grimm
13 years ago AUTHORNancy, I have yet to have a title be editor influenced, but I imagine it to be an interesting process. 🙂 I do love your title, though !
Sarah Grimm
13 years ago AUTHORVonnie, thanks! I love the title Not Without Risk, too. It's an easy one to do unique promos for. I understand what you're saying about Coming Home, and would probably have struggled with it, too. It fits your story though, so glad you kept it.
Sarah Grimm
13 years ago AUTHORCalisa, yes, it has to be all caps. 🙂 One day you need to let me know what you think of After Midnight. Have fun with AJ today!
Sarah Grimm
13 years ago AUTHORAJ, thank you for visiting with me on all of my stops. I love ya, babe!
Sarah Grimm
13 years ago AUTHORLynne, I LOVE the title One for the Road! I've heard that you never get to keep your title in category. I would have a hard time with that. Too funny we both need to 'see' the title somewhere in the book!
Sarah Grimm
13 years ago AUTHOROh, I could not do it, Jannine. I swear to you, I think the writing would wait until I had the title. That's how much I need one in order to work. From reading all the comments, at least I now know I'm not alone in that.
LOVe those Ah-Ha moments!
Susan Macatee
13 years agoSarah, I am the same way. Once I come up with the initial idea for a book or novella, I have to have a title for it before I start writing. Sometimes the first title does get changed, but I can't write the story without a title.
I also write a blurb after I outline the story, even though, in the course of the first draft and revisions, that blurb may have to be changed or tweaked. I think a title and blurb help commit me to finishing the story. I even post wip's on my website. Makes it harder to back out of a project, unless it just isn't working.
Sarah Grimm
13 years ago AUTHORSusan – I know exactly what you mean. A title and a blurb are a definite help to committing to a book. Thanks for visiting!
Cara Marsi
13 years agoSarah, I like the titles of your books. I'm like you in that I can't start wriitng without a title. Most of the time the first title I come up with is crap. I keep hoping the light bulb will go off in my head and I'll come up with a better title. Seldom happens. My critique partners came up with two titles, and my editor came up with another one. The title of my very first published book, "A Catered Affair," came to me immediately and I never changed it. I still like it. I wish I were one of those authors who come up with great titles.
Katherine
13 years agoHi Sarah, I also have to have a working title. The funny thing is the working title never ends up being the final title. I haven't figured out why that is yet. Actually, the short story I just signed the contract for started out as THE MUSE and it stayed that way because I couldn't come up with anything I liked better that seemed to suit the story. That's a first so maybe I shouldn't say never. :o)
Sarah Grimm
13 years ago AUTHORCara- First off thanks, I'm rather fond of my titles, too. 🙂 As long as you have critique partners to help with titling your books I think you're golden!
Sarah Grimm
13 years ago AUTHORHi Katherine! You know what's going to happen now, right? You said never and now all of your working titles are going to remain the final title. Not a bad thing, though, right? 🙂
Babette James
13 years agoGreat post, Sarah. I always have to have a working title, as well, and I like to have the title appear somewhere in the book. Sometimes the titles come easy, sometimes I'll brainstorm with my critique pals. Clear As Day's original working title way back in time was Mohave in July and one day I was editing along, and bingo!, one character's bit of dialogue popped out at me, giving me both the title and focus for the ending. I was so happy TWRP let me keep the title. 🙂
Sarah Grimm
13 years ago AUTHORBabette, it is fantastic when you get to keep your title isn't it? It sounds like we have the same way of coming up with titles. Wonderful to learn I'm not alone in this!
Amie Louellen
13 years agoLOL, Sarah you crack me up! "Here's my new baby. He doesn't have a name, but it'll come to me eventually." My son was named 13 years before he was born. Sometimes I have the title of the book before I have anything else! Glad to know Im not alone in this!! <3 ya!!
Sarah Grimm
13 years ago AUTHORYay! It's Ames! My first son was named long before he was born. Second son? Let's just say that every name we'd come up with for the baby – boy and girl, since we didn't know before birth with either – my DH decided he hated while I was in labor. Yes, shamed as I am to admit it, Seth had no name for the first 24 hours. *sigh*
I have a list of titles that I've come up with. Problem is, although I love the titles, they never seem to fit what I'm writing. What's that about?
Lilly Gayle
13 years agoI'm with you, Sarah! I "name" my book when I name my characters. Can't write without that book title in the header. But sometimes, I do change the name of the book when it's finished becaues a better name does present itself. Slightly Tarnished was origianally called American Beauty (after Nikki's father's ship.) But on line in the story kept repeating itself in my head and when I used that line in the blurb, I changed the name of the book. I also changed Chad's name. He was originally Trent. But he didn't look or act like a Trent. so, he became a Chad.
Can't wait to read After Midnight!