Title, Title, Who Gets to Keep Their Titles
You might think that because you wrote the book, you get to name it. And I kept my titles for my first five books, which lulled me into a state of complacency.
Since then, I've pretty much had a losing streak (and my 13th book came out this year).
Here are some examples:
Was: Point and Shoot. Publisher said: sounds like school violence. Became: Shock Point.
Was: Fire, Kiss, Electric Chair. Publisher said: sounds too violent. Became: Torched.
Was: Shadows Walking Backward. Publisher said: sounds too literary. Became: Girl, Stolen.
Was: The Girl in the Mini Cooper. Publisher said: doesn't sound scary. Became: The Night She Disappeared.
Was: Finish Her Off. Publisher said: Sounds too mafia-like. Will be published as: The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die.
Agent Chip MacGregor look at who gets to choose the title - and why.
Since then, I've pretty much had a losing streak (and my 13th book came out this year).
Here are some examples:
Was: Point and Shoot. Publisher said: sounds like school violence. Became: Shock Point.
Was: Fire, Kiss, Electric Chair. Publisher said: sounds too violent. Became: Torched.
Was: Shadows Walking Backward. Publisher said: sounds too literary. Became: Girl, Stolen.
Was: The Girl in the Mini Cooper. Publisher said: doesn't sound scary. Became: The Night She Disappeared.
Was: Finish Her Off. Publisher said: Sounds too mafia-like. Will be published as: The Girl Who Was Supposed to Die.
Agent Chip MacGregor look at who gets to choose the title - and why.
I still like Finish Her Off very much and wish the publisher had kept the title.
Heart of Ice was Heart of Stone, for example.