Were you blessed with the poetic ability to assign few words to a thing of such significance? I was not. I not only struggled naming my children, but I am now struggling to name my youngest baby: my manuscript. Hey, it's okay. I know I'm not the only one with naming/titling deficiency ("TD"). I actually know a guy named Dick Hofacker...someone is responsible for that!
Some titles seem to jump right off the shelf at me, and I marvel at how succint, or lovely, or witty they are. Like last night, I went to buy LEGEND by Marie Lu. Not only is the title awesome, but the cover is too. The title "Legend" seems to inspire an epic, grand feel to it. Another title that I love is HUSH HUSH. Along with the black and white cover art of an angel falling, it makes me feel like I want to know that secret.
Yet, for all the amazing titles out there, there are some that haven't done it for me. I put off reading HUNGER GAMES for a long time, because the title somehow turned me off. I really enjoyed I AM NOT A SERIAL KILLER, and yet I was always embarrassed to be seen with it in public. Shoot, when I first heard about Harry Potter, all I could think was, "Why are the British so fascinated with such an unattractive name? Seriously, a name that makes me think of hair, and hairy things?" I know I really can't talk since my last name has the word "hump" in it...but you get what I am saying, right?
So I am desperately, obsessively searching for a title that will inspire greatness. I know, I know, you say authors don't really end up choosing their own title. Well, while that's true, it's also true that an awesome eye-catching title won't hurt you either in getting published in the first place.
I was going to have a title contest or ask for feedback on titles here on the bloggy, but decided that could be disastrous. Last night I emailed a good friend of mine (who shall remain nameless) with a list of ideas for titles. She shot every single one of them down with gusto. Which is good...I want the truth! But really, I don't need the world to know just how bad my titling deficiency ("TD") really is.
So how about you? Do you have TD or are you do you have a black belt in titling (in which case, tell me so that I can beg you to help)???