So while sometimes you just need to wait and see when it comes to titles, there are a few ways to help your brainstorm for the one that makes you go "Aha! That's it."
- Write down all the words you can think of that are connected to the book. For "Melinda" it would be words like this: courage, winter, deep, child, midwife, night, secrets, still, Revolution, family, charity, or silence.
- Think about the message you want to convey. Your book probably has a specific theme and there's probably a very specific message and feel you want to share. Try to pinpoint what that is exactly. For "Melinda" the main theme is that courage comes in many different forms and that you need to stand up for what is right even if you stand alone. Having a title that doesn't contradict the overall feeling of the book will really help your readers know what to expect.
- Decide what type of titles you like or don't like. If you spend some time sifting through a library or bookstore you can probably begin to recognize which titles you like and which you don't. Are you drawn to descriptive titles? Figurative titles? Short, snappy, to-the-point titles?
- Write a list of all the possible title ideas down for your book. Even if they sound silly, just write them down. You can always go back and cross them out. :) This will help get your creative juices flowing! So for example, again with "Melinda": The Midwife's Courage, A Silent Courage, The Midwife's Revolution, New Winter, Silent, The Secret Children, One Family's Courage, Courage in the Night, Silent but Strong...
Make sure that when you choose a title it isn't already a book or movie! While there will always be multiple things with the same name, it's best to try to stay away from something that already has a book with that title.
What's your favorite way to come up with titles? What's your favorite type of titles? Let me know in the comments below! :)
Have a lovely day,
<3
Victoria