Last month, the awesomeness that is Terri Bischoff, editor at Midnight Ink, for those who haven’t had the pleasure, asked for some ideas on the title and series titling for my upcoming books (Book 1 due out in March 2019).
When I sold the series, I had a title for the first book, but I wasn’t in love with it. I didn’t even like it much. Which, for me, is a rarity, for I usually love my picks for titles (though my editors aren’t always, or even usually, fans—but that’s another tale, for when you get me drunk at another time).
In this case, I had a crappy title and zero thoughts on a new one. I was title blind. Wandering around in a haze of empty ideas. Not only was it painful, I was discouraged. And as we all know, a discouraged writer is a danger to themselves and every reader in their vicinity.
Normally, I wouldn’t ask anyone for help with a title. It seems like it should be easy to come up with, right? 1 to 4 words. I write 70k of them, and I can’t come up with 1 to 4? What is wrong with me? (Do not answer that.)
I had less than 48 hours to come up with something great. So I did what any smart person does: I texted poet/novelist/editor and fantastic friend, Lisa Birman. FYI, in the future, you must text your own Lisa Birman, as you all can’t have mine.
Now Lisa is beyond smart, but it wasn’t her brains I was after. It was her imagination and her ears. (Did that sound as serial killerish on the screen as it did in my head?) We sat down for coffee, and twelve cups later, we had brainstormed a mile-long list of titles.
Some were good.
Some were great.
Some sucked. Badly.
But we had titles and series titles.
As an aside, the second title we came up with was the one Terri picked, and my favorite.
While I’ve had brainstorming sessions over plotting and other book-writing stuff, I’d never had one for titling. Nor have I had one for marketing and promotion, which might be fabulous. Any RMFW writers want to hold one?
What sort of brainstorming sessions do you use in your writing? Is this something everyone else has used except me? Like when everyone started wearing their underwear outside their pants—Wait, you don’t do that? Excuse me while I go change.
Titles are, with maybe 1 or 2 exceptions, the LAST thing I can come up with. My wonderful critique partner came up with my last two. I’ve been know to post pleas for help on my Facebook Page. For that and character names, too. I don’t know if it’s easier or harder once you have a series going and pattern established. Glad you found a good one. And a brainstorming retreat sounds wonderful.
Fun column, Julie. Thank you. When it comes to mystery titles, I love alliteration (pun intended), and I particularly like Single Malt Murder–which explains why my next three proposed National Park Mystery Series titles are Arches Enemy, Mesa Verde Victim, and Canyonlands Killer.
Thanks, Julie! I have something to look forward to.
Wishing you (and Scott) much success!