NaNo nerds,
it’s time for a special bulletin. So get out your secret decoder rings and get
ready for that all important message. Are you almost done with your new MS?
She’s a sleek and beautiful little thing, but until she’s named, she has no
identity.
Freaking
out yet?
No worries.
Just breathe deep into that brown paper bag and check your pulse.
Okay, you
ready? Good.
Here are a
few simple ways to help you name your novel.
1. Stick
to the nouns. In other words, think about a person, place, or thing in the
story that fully embodies it. This is probably the easiest and most used way of
coming up with a title. Two great examples are City of Bones and Hunger Games.
Also JK Rowling used the ever living crap out of this.
2. Find
your chorus. Ever notice in a lot of popular music that one word or phrase in
the chorus is the title of the song? Same works with books. Best example of this
is Wicked Lovely.
3. Brainstorm.
There is a lot out on the web when it comes to this method. Best piece of
advice with this is to answer one question: What do I want the reader to think about when they
read the title?
That’s all there is to it. Well
there is one small thing left.
Once you have your title idea,
think of a way to embellish it (or strip it down depending on the style of
story) and get creative. Remember to have fun with it. If you do, it’ll show. And
that’s when you’re title will become intriguing enough to spark some interest when
the agent reads the query letter.
Anyone have
any other suggestions when it comes to naming the story? Have any awful
memories about constantly changing it? Feel free to let us know.
Auzy
