I have started writing my first proper novel, and posted the first chapter on this site. However after reading the comments, which I am so glad I received them I decided to remove the chapter to re-write it. In doing so I have decided that I'm not happy with the title that I have picked, so my question is. How do you decide what title to use, and is it best to use something short and snappy, or something discriptive regarding the story your trying to tell. How do you Choose, do you put several in a hat and just pull one out, or do you let somebody pick a title for you. I'm not happy with my original title but unsure where to get the title I want for my novel.
Well, it has to bear some relation, doesn't it. Do you remember a film in the 90s called Shooting Fish? I think it was Kate Beckinsale's first film. It was about a couple of con men who called their targets fish. I suppose it came from the phrase 'Like shooting fish in a barrel.' That is the phrase, isn't it?! Anyway, it was a good metaphor.
Personally I like stories that use metaphors, although I prefer it if the metaphor is new. I don't think it matters if the title is a long way away from the real subject as the blurb should indicate to the reader if it is their sort of book or not. The title just needs to capture the imagination so they get as far as reading the blurb.
My title is a metaphor, one of my main character's own. Although, the more fashionable thing to do is choose a title that has something to do with your theme. I don't like that much. It's a bit like putting the whole point on the front page. Like Atonement, except I happen to think that one really worked.
I thank everyone for their very thoughtful reply's, could I just put a slight spin on this question. Has anybody ever heard of or known of an author ever having a book title not associated with the story within the book. For example a book entitled "Doomsday" being based on a story about a person who loves cupcakes. May not be as extreme as my example but on those sort of lines. The reason I ask this is because it doesn't seem to be the case in film's and when a book is made into a film, sometimes the title of the book is not used for the film. I recall a film called "Swimming with Sharks" which from the title I thought it was to do with the great white, or the tiger shark. But what the film was about, was a person being downtrodden and abused by somebody in power, to the point where the person just snaps. But far from what the title suggest if you understad the point I'm trying to make.
I thank everyone for their very thoughtful reply's, could I just put a slight spin on this question. Has anybody ever heard of or known of an author ever having a book title not associated with the story within the book. For example a book entitled "Doomsday" being based on a story about a person who loves cupcakes. May not be as extreme as my example but on those sort of lines. The reason I ask this is because it doesn't seem to be the case in film's and when a book is made into a film, sometimes the title of the book is not used for the film. I recall a film called "Swimming with Sharks" which from the title I thought it was to do with the great white, or the tiger shark. But what the film was about, was a person being downtrodden and abused by somebody in power, to the point where the person just snaps. But far from what the title suggest if you understad the point I'm trying to make.