100 Things #91 Why are Titles So Hard?
Feb. 15th, 2015 03:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jana_denardo
Just like the header says, Why are titles so hard to come up with? At least they are for me. I suck at it. I loathe it. I hide from it. Basically I half-ass something to call the file while I'm writing it then I run around flailing crying huge tears when it comes to putting an actual title on it.
However, I have to wonder am I failing at coming up with a good title. I look at some of my recently releases and while they do well judging by the review blogs as far as that's concern, the sales numbers aren't where I'd like them to be. True, there probably isn't something known as 'too many sales.' And this isn't a post 'whining' about not selling enough, however, for the record, I don't call that 'whining.' I call it being legitimately concerned about a business. My friend, FH, pointed out on his Facebook that talking about it isn't going to make it change. You need to do something and that's what I'm thinking about here.
I'm trying to identify what I could be doing better. I have confidence in my stories but of course, there is always room for improvement. I'm looking for other reasons sales aren't where I want them to be. I did my best to get the word out and my publisher didn't leave me hanging either. They promoted too. I know one problem that I need to deal with (website) but I had to think where else I could be going wrong.
1. Cover art - fantastic. No problems there (and I only have so much control over that. All I can do it make sure I give the art department the most complete picture I can and trust in their abilities. They have never let me down yet).
2. reviews - The ones I've gotten have been very good. I suppose I could get more reviews. I feel awkward and shy about approaching review sites
3. Titles and blurbs. - Hmmm, might need work.
And since we already know which one I want to talk about, let me get to it. I'm wondering if the titles aren't doing their job which is to catch the eye and intrigue people. For example If Two of Them Are Dead is a clever play on a Ben Franklin saying and goes to the heart of the story but since this is supposed to be romance first and steampunk/mystery second, it probably does the story a disservice in retrospect. (though really I'd rather it be the other way around, romance as the subplot but that is a completely different kettle of fish).
Kept Tears refers to a line in the novel but does it catch the eye? I don't know. Maybe it's confusing or bland or I simply don't know.
So what do you think? How much does a title play into your picking up a book? Or is it more blurb/cover art (I confess, this is me but I'm trying to see where I can make small changes that might help.
Who knows, maybe being a first novel didn't help it much either. I do have a second one coming out this summer (another reason to be thinking on what to change now so it's in place by August/September). The subject matter alone worries me there (being m/m/m and historical urban fantasy) so I'm trying to do all I can to make it easier.
Sucking at titles doesn't help.
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Date: 2015-02-15 08:56 pm (UTC)As for what catches my eye? I'm more attracted by cover first than I am title. There are some books I read and enjoy, and THEN go look what the title is.
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Date: 2015-02-15 09:07 pm (UTC)It may be less important for book selection than I think. I'm rather hoping actually. Like you it's the blurb and the cover art that catches my attention.
Thanks
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Date: 2015-02-15 09:05 pm (UTC)I don't know what to tell you about attracting more readers (or purchasers, as the case might be).
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Date: 2015-02-15 09:11 pm (UTC)Me either. I try doing most of the things that I see in other blogs and suggested by other authors. Limited success. I might give the book trailer a shot this time (though frankly I've never once in my life found a book that way) and I HAVE to get the website going
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Date: 2015-02-16 04:07 am (UTC)Good luck.
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Date: 2015-02-16 04:37 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2015-02-15 09:59 pm (UTC)I don't know (/don't remember what I thought) about how the title of Kept Tears comes off to someone just seeing it, but when I was reading the story and realized what it meant I found it very satisfying (a little of that 'light bulb over my head' feeling).
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Date: 2015-02-16 02:55 am (UTC)Oh, well thank you, that makes me feel better. I'm glad that worked for someone!
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Date: 2015-02-16 06:14 pm (UTC)You're welcome! I'm glad to be able to let you know!
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Date: 2015-02-16 01:12 am (UTC)I prefer buying books at a bookstore, rather than online. I like to pick it up, open it, read a few pages here & there to see if it's to my liking. Unfortunately, you can't do that when you buy a book online. So I don't know if that's part of the problem. I wish I could be of more help. *sighs*
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Date: 2015-02-16 02:53 am (UTC)Titles are hard.
Don't get me started on the whole writing summaries (or synopsis or blurbs) Shakes head.
I like to do it the same way. i think we're a dying breed. Sigh
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Date: 2015-02-16 03:16 am (UTC)They really are!
XD
*nods* Yeah... *sighs too^
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