It is easier
for me to write an entire mystery than to come up with an amazing title.
Seriously, I find it agony to create titles. I think about a title for weeks
while I’m doing other things, and often my subconscious will nail it while I’m
asleep. That must mean I’m trying too hard during my conscious hours, right?
My newest book, A Death at Tippitt Pond,
is a prime example. When I sent the pre-publication manuscript to a book
contest that sent me three judges’ comments, I received two positive comments
on the title and one negative. I still decided to use it (Sorry, third judge.)
But look at this photo of the paper where I determined the title, and you’ll
see how many possibilities I thought about before I circled one.
I’ve decided to
go by some guidelines for writing my book titles. Here they are.
First, the
title must support the book’s genre. If it’s a cozy, I don’t want the same kind
of title as a thriller or a historical fiction novel. Second, it should reflect
the tone of my book. Third, it might hint at my theme. Fourth, it should have a
word or phrase I can repeat while writing a series. Fifth, it might have a
recurring character’s name. Sixth, it could be a phrase I use at a crucial time
in the plot. Seventh, it could contain random words connected to the book that
I’ve moved around in various patterns (again, see photo). Eighth, if all else
fails, I’ll sleep on it and let my subconscious sort it out.
I decided on A
Death at Tippitt Pond because it is a combination of cozy-bordering-on-traditional
mystery. So it isn’t as “cozy” as a cozy with animals or recipes. The Tippitt
family who owns this pond is going to be a force throughout the series. Adding
that to the title will help down the road. I also liked the title because I
could repeat it in advertising. The plot of this book proves that “a death at
Tippitt Pond changed everything.” Big time. In a way, that points to a theme of
the book: decisions made by people throughout history change outcomes
dramatically. My main character is a historical researcher. I also have room to
grow. Combining the word “death” or “Tippitt” with other phrases will yield
titles for books that will help brand the series.
I’ve learned a
lot. I originally titled my first Endurance mystery, “A Silent Place to Die.”
Seriously? Now I am embarrassed. It was a cozy. Does that sound cozy? I had a
terrible time coming up with a more relevant title. Then I remembered that my
protagonist, Grace Kimball, was a retired English teacher. She would have
taught pieces of Ben Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Almanac. Bingo! I began
using phrases from that book for the whole series. “Three May Keep a Secret (if
two of them are dead), “Marry in Haste (repent at leisure), and “Death Takes No
Bribes.” The e-book novella about my Endurance detective does not follow Ben
Franklin’s proverbs, but then the protagonist isn’t Grace Kimball either.
I would like to
think I’ve become better at framing titles. How about you? Do you have any
advice to add about creating titles?
