Picking the Right Title

After being told politely by my writers group that the title for my latest WIP sucked, I spent a week looking into a new name for my baby. I soon discovered that there’s a lot more to the process than I first supposed. After much research and examination of different opinions, I compiled my own list of what I think are the rules.

A good title should reflect:
- Your voice
- Your Market
It should also
- Sum up your story
- Be catchy and memorable
- Not be too long

Yep. So it’s worse than writing a bloody synopsis. How do you summaries a 100 000 word novel in five words or less, whilst showcasing your voice, attracting your market and being clever at the same time. I’ll let you know when I find out.
Examples of titles I think got it right are:
The Devil Wears Prada
PS. I Love You
Memoires of a Geisha

The thing is, titles are so important for the unknown author because it’s your first selling point. If readers aren’t looking for your name, they’ll probably buy your book based on the title or the cover art. Usually writers don’t have much control over the cover art, so that leaves the title. Hence, in my book, (pardon the pun) you’d want to spend some time getting it right.
Unfortunately, time is my least expendable commodity at the moment.
Always the way.

Loretta

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger…

Or so the saying goes.
June is 50k/30days-write 50 000 words in June http://writeinjune.blogspot.com/ . Just like the NaNoWriMo challenge except for us in the Southern Hemisphere so it falls in our winter. Apparently winter is the best time to attempt this challenge-less distractions.
Just past the halfway point in June and I’m flagging. I still love my story, I still love writing. But I need a rest.
A night in front of the idiot box, with chocolate, and wine or my cross-stich (never eat/drink while cross-stitching-the result will not be good). Plus my brain needs the time off to percolate an idea. This has resulted in me skipping big chunks of the story to write the ending. I’m now working forwards and backwards as the fancy takes me.
Aside from the mid month lethargy-which I’m told is normal-50/30 has been interesting.
I’ve learnt that I can fit more writing into my week without causing upset in the family routine. I’ve also learnt that I can do this, while I’m not racing a head with the word count, I am keeping up and chipping away. I can write under pressure.
And it hasn’t killed me.
Yet.

To write or not to write...

That was the question on the minds of the hopeless romantics at WA's first Romance Roadshow. I know it was on mine. Is the pain and suffering of trying to get published, worth the joy of creating a parallel universe where men listen to woman and put the toilet seat down? I was at The Good Earth Hotel to find out.



First up we had chats from published authors, Anne Gracie (great sense of humour), Marion Lennox (prolific writer and published in 120 countries - or something equally impressive) and Trish Morey (who has a tremendous sense of her market). Then the group of 60 women spilt up to learn how to start a novel or keep one going. Other topics were point of view, sex, emotional punch, plotting, writing a synopsis and dialogue. The day was finished off with questions from the audience to the author panel. Some questions that were fielded were the daunting prospect of getting noticed by a publisher and that ever present concern, money. Sadly, most of it was doom and gloom. Even Stephen King had a spike filled completely of rejection letters before he got 'the call'. Collective sighs and groans could be heard about the room as many a J.K. Rowling dream, died a quick death. Was it all worth it? Of course it would be when I am sitting in my plush home office, signing my multi million dollar book deal with a glass of Dom Perignon in my hand. But for the average person? The one who writes a paragraph on the bus home from work? The one who takes holidays from work to write 3 chapters?

The authors did answer this question (from the published side of the street) by saying that the Romance Writers community is an amazing one, full of warm and supportive people. The joy of doing something you love in your pj's while everyone else is standing in the rain waiting for a bus, is huge. And the sense of accomplishment and pride in seeing your name in print and people from all over the world writing to you to gush about your narrative, is immense.



As I drove out of the city at the end of the jam-packed day, I had answered my own question.
To write or not to write... Hell yes to write! Whether it be hobby or career, no one can stop me now.



Kym



P.S. Big THANKS to all those who helped organise the Roadshow, especially to Lesley - fellow winkette.