This business of titles
As I mentioned yesterday, Knopf wants me to come up with a new title for my novel formerly known as The Theory of Evolution. I had no idea how hard this would be. I spent hours yesterday brainstorming with different friends–in addition to my editor and agent–and every new idea sounds worse than the last.
Which brings me to the topic of titles in general. What makes a good one? Is it better if it’s short and easy to remember–Star Wars, Alien, Hamlet, Lost–or can it be long and semi-strange–To Kill a Mockingbird, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, A Prayer for Owen Meany? It seems that no matter what, you want the person asking for your book or ordering tickets to your movie not to be embarrassed by having to deal with a word they can’t pronounce or a title that’s too silly to say out loud. And sometimes the title is so alluring, people can’t help but be drawn to it. Like this one.
Think of the classic books you’ve loved and the titles that go with them. Can you imagine them being called anything but what they are? East of Eden. Pride and Prejudice. Great Expectations. Would Moby Dick have staying power if it were called A Whale of a Story? Would high school English teachers still assign Crime and Punishment if it were called Raskolnikov’s Oscillations? Can you imagine trying to get some sixteen-year-old to open that?
So it’s back to the drawing board for me. So many titles bouncing around in my head, I can’t tell if any of them are good anymore. And before you ask, no, I won’t share them. That only makes it worse. At some point the right title will pop up like toast, and I’ll be amazed I didn’t see it all along.
Until then, Evolution Schmevolution . . . Lord of the Evolution . . . The Chronicles of Evolution . . . Harry Potter and the Fellowship of Evolution . . .
Sigh.
Technorati Tags: Writing, Publishing, Books, Reading
June 15th, 2006 at 8:25 am
Hmmmm, it will come to you. Just relax a little and put on some pointy shoes while pacing and thinking.
I can’t resist, one more suggestion.
“The Lost Alien Hamlet Wars”
I am the Walrus.
June 16th, 2006 at 7:25 am
Not pointy shoes– flip flops. Weren’t you paying attention, Patrick?
“Evolve or Create, that’s the Question”
“The Garden of Eden or Primordial Soup?”
“I love Darwin.”
“Take the “is” off Genesis and whaddaya got?”
Hmm, this is harder than I thought.
June 16th, 2006 at 11:29 am
Ah, feel for you, chica.
One of my favorite books is a list of famous books and their original titles. Quite the eye opener.
Another (possibly apocryphal) story was that when Lucas was first trying to drum up support for Star Wars a producer told him that no movie with the word “Star” or the word “War” in the title ever made any money.
June 16th, 2006 at 11:59 am
Ha! Love stories like that. The wisdom of Hollywood.
June 16th, 2006 at 12:47 pm
“Sometimes Darwin, Sometimes Dar-lose.”
“Riding the Beagle to Eden”
I can’t help but think that we have focused too much on the wrong part. Sorry, my imaginary bestselling nature is coming out. How about this -
“Torn”
or
“Ringtone”
June 16th, 2006 at 12:52 pm
Patrick, it’s so unfair when you make milk shoot out my nose.
I’m moving these to today’s post, The Bad Title Free-For-All.
No offense.