Q – I need to come up with a title
for my novel. Are there any guidelines or ways to pick a good title?
A – There is
really no right way to title a novel, but there are a few tips that
may point you in the right direction. First, it needs to reflect the
content, but not give away the conclusion. For a Christian book, you
might pick a proverb or a little phrase from the Bible—or you could
search a book of quotations or come up with a twist on a familiar
quote. The most effective titles are five or six words. You want it
to first catch an editor's eye and ultimately the reader’s
attention. You might want to start a list of titles you like and when
it's time to title your novel, just pull out the list and read
through it to get your own creative juices going. Although you will
want to select at least a working title, you can also include a list
of alternative titles if you come up with more than one that you
like. Some writers turn to their friends to brainstorm possible
titles. Whatever you decide on for a title, don't get too attached to
it. Eighty percent of titles ultimately get changed by the publisher.
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