This post was originally published at Novelicious.com and is now at WritingTipsOasis.com. WritingTipsOasis.com acquired Novelicious.com in June 2022.
I have to be honest, the last thing on my mind when writing or trying to write a novel is creating a title for the book. I’m too busy trying to craft the plot and actually write 80,000 words. I guess I just hope that my working title will magically morph into a clever catchy title by itself. But when it doesn’t – what do you do? Well in my case, you appeal for help from the lovely readers of Novelicious.
I wrote a little while ago that I’m turning my podcast novel into a Kindle e-book, and I’ve been working away editing, reediting and getting it ready for print. It was only when I started to design my cover title that I realised I’d never really moved away from a working title for the novel.
When it was a podcast it was called An American Wedding. Sure it tells you that the novel is going to be set at, yep you’ve guessed it, an American Wedding, but other than that it doesn’t give you any clues really to the genre or the story.
I shelved it in my mind and ploughed on trying to design the cover, the title could still come later. But could it? What if I called it The British Bridesmaid the cover would need to have probably a Bridesmaid on the front and the British flag incorporated. If I called it Millie and the American Wedding then the cover would definitely need to feature someone that we could associate to be Millie.
So how do you title a book? What would you need to convey in a title? I started thinking about books I’d read recently. Something from Tiffany’s (Melissa Hill) , The Secret of a Happy Ever After (Lucy Dillion) and Miracle on Regent Street (Ali Harris). Even if you haven’t seen the covers you can imagine that each one has a magical and romantic tale inside. For my book, I wanted to convey romance, despair, emotion and a teeny bit sparkle as it is set in New York. Easy peasy right?
Well I still can’t decide. So I’m asking for your help, think of it as a little market research. I’ll give you the synopsis and the five possible titles then please could you comment and let me know which one you like the best!
Millie accidentally accepts an invitation to be a bridesmaid at an American Wedding in New York. It's Millie’s worst nightmare. Not only has she slept with the groom, but her ex boyfriend (the one that got away) is the best man and he’s married. As her friend, Kristen, gets ready for the best day of her life, Millie gears up for the worst week of hers.
And here are the possible titles:
An American Wedding
Millie and the American Wedding
Fear and Loathing in a Bridesmaid Dress
The British Bridesmaid
Surviving the American Wedding
Or do you have a suggestion for me?!
Thanks 🙂