What's in a name?
Book titles. It's often hard for me to decide what a book title should be, and I've just got 26k into my current wip, and only now know what the title is. I try not to think too hard about it, and let it come to me rather than burst a blood vessel trying to force it.
I am however really lucky about titles, they have to make sense, have to be something that vibes with the story, maybe a part of the story, or a character, or something, but it must vibe, and must make sense. I've seen some horrible ones in my time, not going to lie. Quite a few actually. And let's face it, more often than not, it's the book title and cover art that grab your attention.
I also don't like bandwagon titles, the qirst if which seems to be The Something of Something and Something.
When will these ever end? I'm not sure if it began with A Song of Ice and Fire, or earlier, but shit, looking in bookshops today, its dizzying array of The Wall of Sword and Pies, or A Tower of Sauasgees and Crowns… IT’S BORING! Try and be a bit original, I always think these titles smack of “well that's what SELLS, so I have to do it too!”
It actually turns me off a book that otherwise sounds good.
BUT - Titles are hard sometimes, thats for sure. What do you think?
Totally feel this. Titles are like little spells—you don’t always know what they’re summoning until the story has lived a while. I’ve had the best ones come mid-draft too, when the theme finally clicks and the name just lands.
And yes, the "The Something of Something and Something" fatigue is real. It’s like cover bands of fantasy titles—safe, familiar, but often forgettable. I think readers crave resonance over formula. When a title vibes, like you said, it adds this invisible gravity to the whole book.
Curious—have you ever had a working title that turned out completely wrong once the book was done?
Names matter.
Children. Adults. Movies. Novels. Songs.
They carry weight—even when they seem plain at first glance ('The Road' comes to mind). Sometimes, a quiet title has more staying power than something loud or over-styled.
And you're right: 'A Song of Ice and Fire' never quite sat well with me.
But didn’t it always feel like 'Game of Thrones' was the real name, even before the show?
Curious—what’s a title you’re genuinely proud of? And what do you think makes one actually great?