How to find Amazing Story Titles

6/27/2016

Ever wonder how to come up with amazing story titles? Here's a few tips!

Titles are tricky. Sometimes I can think of a dozen amazing ones at the drop of the hat and other times...I sit looking at a manuscript thinking "What on earth am I going to call you?" Some books start with a title firmly in place. Others sort-of-kind-of have a title, but it doesn't fit, and so you go through a few different titles on the manuscript name as you write it. And then, if you're like me and happen to be on your 3rd or 4th rewrite of a book (you lost count) and still haven't found the perfect title, you call the entire book after the main character. And you wait till the end to completely decide what you'll call it. Conversations are rather funny then. "Ugh, Melinda is giving me trouble today." or "Guess what just happened with Melinda." lol.

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

6 Comments

Olivia

6/27/2016 06:16:48 am

I think I use number two the most...finding a phrase or something from a verse that conveys the main drive of my story.

Hm...favorite title? That's a little hard. Maybe Reaping the Whirlwind by Rosey Dow...or Letter Perfect by Cathy Marie Hake. But like I said, it's hard :)

Victoria Minks

6/27/2016 04:17:04 pm

I like how you find a phrase or part of a verse! I've not tried it much recently because I did it a lot when I was 10-14 age range and it was often times pretty silly. lol! But maybe I should try it out again for fun.
Wow, those are some good titles! Thanks for sharing!

Abigail

6/28/2016 03:49:11 am

I'm so happy you had this post! Titles have always been a sore spot with me. I especially like your titles Courage in the Night and Silent but Strong. Thank you so much for all the blog posts. Yours is one of my favorite blogs!

Victoria Minks

6/28/2016 01:31:36 pm

Awesome, I'm glad you liked it. :) And thanks so much-- you seriously made my day with your comment!!

Katja L.

7/15/2016 10:32:21 pm

I like short, snappy titles. :) Like, ‘In Freedom's Cause’. ‘Through Deadly Peril’. :D But mine usually have an explication after. For instance: ‘Through Peril & Strife, or, Charis, & Other Girls of History’. ;) I usually have my FlashFic title all written out already! Haha. It's my way to pick a title for those and then write a story. For books it kind of comes naturally to me. . . ‘Wallace FitzEric, or, Wait Upon the Lord’. I can't say how I do it really. . . But I also like gripping, descriptive ones that stick in your mind and thrill you, like ‘Silent Spring’ (just an example; I've never read the book, just heard the name!) My favorites of the ones you put up was ‘Silent Courage’ and ‘New Winter’.

But. . . I do call books after the MCs name.
“Lib, where's ‘Meg & Jo’?”
“Hey Becc, seen ‘Anne’?” (OK, that's a cheat).
“I'm looking for ‘Damaris’. . .”

;P

Victoria Minks

7/17/2016 01:20:49 pm

That's interesting how you do subtitles with your titles-- it's very quaint and old-fashioned! I like it. :) I know what you mean about calling books by the characters. It's not really a thing any more for titles, but for some reason I still like them--maybe it doesn't grab right away, but once people know the book the character stands out, and so it works... but yeah... having a title that will draw people in is pretty important too.