Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Titles

I had a discussion yesterday with Daughter #3 about the title of the book I am currently writing. The tentative title is Blackbirch Manor. However, I did not think that was enough--it did not say enough about the story. So I asked Daughter #3 what she thought of The Count of Blackbirch Manor.

"That sounds like The Count of Monte Cristo," she said.

"Okay. You're right. How about The Secret of Blackbirch Manor?" I asked.

"That sounds like a Nancy Drew book," she said.

I winced. "How about The Curse of Blackbirch Manor?"

She frowned. "That's better. But if I were you I would just use Blackbirch Manor. It's simpler."

True. The letters would be bigger because there are less of them.

Titles are difficult for me. A few have come to me in a flash, but not all of them. The publisher could change the title anyway. But what do you think? Should it be short--or more definitive?

3 comments:

Leann said...

I think it should be more difinitive. Black Burch Manor sounds like it's about the Manor itself. Is it??

Penelope Marzec said...

The story is set in Blackbirch Manor. It's a rather dark, gothic-type story. But I still am fond of the idea of making the title The Count of Blackbirch Manor. After all, he's the hero.

K. said...

I agree with Leann. In this case, a little more would be better.