Tuesday, March 5, 2019

The Road to TITLE


Still ruminating on my post from two weeks back---

Because I just re-worked a R &R (writerly code for “revise & resubmit” request) which began with a suggestion for a change of title.


When querying agents or working with editors, some have asked if I was open to changing the title.
Goodness me. I am more than open. I welcome your suggestions.


Because, for me, the title is a working title and no more. It serves to remind me of the theme as I draft. Once done, it has performed its job.


A story’s title is its initial offering. It’s the bowstring center of a wrapped box. The title is not the wrapping paper, (that’s the cover design and the flap jacket text) or the present (the work) itself.



A good title is evocative without giving away the story. A great title is pithy and atmospheric at once. A working title is rarely that.



I know I am rather prosaic in my working title choices. This may explain why my first agent changed just about all my working titles. I still have the word documents of my offering alternative titles to these old submissions, and some are pages long.


The final title is the traditional publishing house's prerogative. Their job is to publish (i.e. make public) and to market. This is why in most cases writers have neither control nor the option to refuse a title change the publisher makes.


I’m not married to my working titles. Goodness, I couldn’t be if I wanted to. As titles can’t be copyrighted, it’s unhealthy to be wedded to them. No marriage license for us, Writer and Title.


So a revision request that includes a change of title is an automatic “absolutely yes” from me.




15 comments:

Vijaya said...

Yup, working title it is for me as well. I hope the R&R becomes a sale Mirka!

Mirka Breen said...

I hope so too. Speaking of titles, I should frame the last one on your blog, which reads MIRKA BREEN IS A WINNER.

https://vijayabodach.blogspot.com/2019/03/mirka-breen-is-winner.html

A title doesn't get much better than that ;)

MirkaK said...

Titles are a curious thing. Some artists arbitrarily give a title to a painting or sculpture, making viewers scratch their heads wondering what the connection is. Other artists are intentional; they really have something in mind. Still others ask their artist friends to do the honor and bestow a title. And then there is all the artwork titled "Untitled," maybe because the artist doesn't want to influence a viewer's experience. While there can be a seriousness to all of this, sometimes it also feels like a game. For publishers, that game is selling books by attracting readers with a catchy title.

Mirka Breen said...

The visual may speak for itself. But imagine the day books get to be untitled... This gives me an idea, though. :D

Barbara Etlin said...

For my self-published poetry book I came up with a list of possibilities and asked my critique group and my husband to vote on them. Have you seen the random title generators? They're good for a laugh while you ponder your possibilities.

Natalie Aguirre said...

Yes, titles are hard. While I have some ideas for the title for my current manuscript, it's just New Story until I decide. And yes, it's best not to be set on it because a publisher could change it.

Mirka Breen said...

I should look for the Random Title Generator just for the fun of it, but no attachments there, either. :P

Mirka Breen said...

"New Story" could actually be a title, followed by New Story Two, etc. :)

Elizabeth Varadan, Author said...

My titles are all working titles, too, until the book gets accepted and published. And I am ALWAYS open to revision if an agent asks.

Mirka Breen said...

Unless one is certain she's a master at titles, (I'm certain I'm not) I can't imagine not being open to change.

Kelly Hashway said...

Titles can be such a pain. I actually hate having to title my books.

Mirka Breen said...

Hard to believe, as you come up with fantastic titles.

Vijaya said...

Yes!

Sherry Ellis said...

Titles are definitely hard. Sometimes it's better to have input from other people on that and be open to changing the working title.

Mirka Breen said...

I so agree. My better titles, when they weren't the few I miraculously came up with myself, came from others. Where would we be without Beta readers? I cherish mine.