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Friday, June 28, 2013

First time ever

So. The other day I got my very first editorial letter, outlining what was working in my novel and what wasn't. I was actually pretty happy to see that there was nothing unexpected, including the suggestion to jettison my title, PARADISE. Thankfully I have no problem saying good-by since I was never very attached to it. But now I have to try to come up with a new one, something that hints at the story. My editor suggested writing down all the words that have to do with my story in the hopes that something will pop.

Here are some of the words I came up with:

time-travel
the wild west
mistaken identity
thief
train robbers
mystery
murder
romance
bounty hunter
Pinkerton Agents
the past
change
love


I've got zip so far, but...it occurs to me that some of you are fairly clever and imaginative so I put it to you, after seeing those words and reading the query letter for the story (in the static pages at the top), does anything come to mind, title-wise? Have you ever had trouble coming up with a title for your work?

22 comments:

  1. On Pinkerton Time?
    Just keep playing around with it. And do a Google search to make sure what you create is unique. You don't want dozens of other books (or whatever) appearing in the search first.

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  2. As you're working on the revisions, also write down phrases that are spoken by the characters and especially any that are repeated. They might give you some idea, too.

    Hope things are going well on revisions. I just got another set of notes on my manuscript last night. That would be edit letter #4 on this one book. #5 if you count the one from the previous editor. #6 if you also count the changes suggested by my agent. ;)

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  3. think of the essence of your book and the title should hide somewhere there :) The main message, something poetical and catching. And unique, of course.

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  4. The Cade Conundrum: A Deadly Pact. "He had a timely offer they couldn't refuse" LOL! I'm rubbish at titles! Good luck! Take care
    x

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  5. WANTED
    DOUBLE BARRELED TROUBLE
    MASKED BANDIT OF LOVE
    SHE ALWAYS GETS HER MAN

    I'm not helping, am I?

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    Replies
    1. I thought of WANTED but it's been used quite a few times along with WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE.

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  6. It's hard without reading the book, but I'm thinking BACK OUT WEST has a catch to it.

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  7. Don't ask me. I'm terrible with titles. My first book was called "Slipstream" because I seriously could think of nothing else. It's also the name of a really bad sci-fi movie with Mark Hammill in it. So that just shows you how awful I am at naming.

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  8. You've come up with a great list of words to spur ideas for a new title, but I think you need to consider the overall tone of your story to pick a title that best suits it. Is it more mystery... or is it more romance? Tongue-in-cheek snarky or totally serious? What's its underlying theme... or moral, if there is one? Is there a particular feeling or idea you're trying to impart?

    Any suggestions I came up with would be blah and generic, because I don't know enough about your book to be more specific. Nobody knows your book better than you do, so I'm betting you'll nail the perfect title. Have fun with it!

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  9. I don't really know what your book is about but The Pinkerton Agents jumped out at me.

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  10. Mistaken Time? Wildly Mistaken.

    I'm terrible with titles. I always beg people for help.

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  11. I'm terrible at titles. The only thing I can think of is to let your dreaming mind work on it.

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  12. Time of Their Lives
    Ride Into Time
    Time Out

    All I got at the moment. Story sounds great!

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  13. I'm terrible at titles, but just reading these phrases makes me really interested in your story. You had me at time-travel!
    Good luck and I know you'll come up with something great.

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  14. I have no idea, but maybe something will surface after I stop consciously thinking about it. That is how my brain works.

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  15. Reread the query and really enjoyed it. Here are some more ideas for you:

    - High Time (Like high noon) ;)
    - Time Bandits
    - In Love's Time
    - Heart's West
    - Stolen Hearts

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  16. Yep, had trouble with ONE title of mine, and never was happy with it. No matter, as it was a story that I never did anything with (won't see the light of day). Some of these title suggestions are clever! but I agree; it needs to fit the tone and feel and genre of your story. And be mysterious and alluring enough to make people want to read it just by the title. Good luck!

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  17. Stealing Time. Time Thief???

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