A Rose by Any Other Name is a . . . Book title?!

Question? How is it possible to write an entire book, and get writers block when it comes to naming the book? That’s like carrying a baby for nine months, giving birth, then having no clue, what to call it except — baby, or in this case, the Book.

What constitutes a good book title? Does the book title come before the book is written or after? You know, kind of like, what came first the chicken or the egg? It’s true that a good title will catch the eye. Sometimes it is what makes us stop and reach for the book on the shelf in the first place. The title — It’s a powerful thing. The title certainly sets the tone. Like the opening line, the first five pages, or the ending, it has to be just right. I’m just saying, a child’s book about fluffy bunnies called THE EDGE OF EVIL — not good. Unless the bunnies were possessed by a supernatural power, and it wasn’t a children’s book at all, but I digress. That’s just some food for thought.

There is a lot that goes into naming a book and then in the end, the publisher will probably change it anyway. Still, we need to call it something besides “The Book” while we are working on it and patiently waiting to be published. I don’t have the answers. I’m searching for them, looking, listening, and praying. But nothing yet. I’ll let you know if I find the elusive answer. I vow next time I am going to name my baby I mean my book, before I start writing it — not after I’ve finished.

I am still wrestling with a title I love for my first book. THE DARK SIDE OF “GRACE” or JOURNEY’S EDGE — you choose your favorite. In the meantime, I am hoping to write a right title for my next novel. I’m hoping you do the same.

P. S. I’m still working on my commas and other dreaded grammar enemies. Check out Whitesmoke Writing software, it double checks your sentence structure and grammar for you. The link is http://www.whitesmoke.com/ A thank you shout-out is in order going to T. Rommel Blossom from the Write On Con writer's conference. Thanks for the tip!

Keep doing the write thing children,

Guyanne