Hi all
Was just wondering how people come up with titles for their work? With my 1st book I came up with the title almost at the same time as I started writing it. Am now starting the second draft of book 2 and still don't have a proper title - i.e. it has a working title but not one i'd like to send it out into the world with.
Do you tend to get a title first, not until you've finished, change the title half-way through?

I'm crap at titles. My wip is titled Boy And The Post, because it starts with a boy, standing beside a post.

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However, I do appreciate that titles are very important in the subbing stage, even if they get changed by the marketing dept. later.

It's hard to know isn't it? I know people who say, 'Don't worry about the title, it'll get changed anyway.' and others who say 'A snappy title is a must for a sellable book'. And how does one come up with the title if inspiration fails? Brainstorming? Random word association? Pick something out of the dictionary?

I'm rubbish at titles, and they're a perennial problem. But WW has a good track-record, so you can always post a plea for help...

Emma

I think a title can diminish your chances in certain cases. My first title was 'The Change' - and whilst it perfectly suited the book, I can see that it may have turned agents off, since it implies a book about the menopause. I've had more positive response about my new title, The Making Of Her.
But I think the title could easily change during the course of writing the novel. The subject you begin by thinking you want to write about changes as you write. My second one has already had two titles, and I'm only a few thousand words in!
Susiex

I think a title has to whet the appetite and conjure up the tone of the book as much as the subject matter.
That said, I advise new writers to remain entirely pragmatic and never ever wed themselves to titles as so many of them get changed by editors, book cover designers, the sales team.
HB x

Another WWer was blogging about titles just today, if you're interested:

http://strictlywriting.blogspot.com/2009/07/whats-in-name-or-bane-of-my-life-or_10.html

But Emma is right - post a quick blurb and some themes and WWers are brilliant at brainstorming with title ideas.

Rosy