What you’ve heard is true. Don’t get too attached to your title. I’ve just submitted my third attempt at coming up with a title that my editor will like for a book that will come out around this time next year. My fingers are crossed that this time I’ve succeeded. In the publishing world there are two things we can’t ignore. People judge books by their covers and their titles. Which book would you chose?

Alice’s Adventures Underground
The Sea Cook
Stephen Hero
Tomorrow is Another Day
Proud Flesh
Summer of the Shark
Tenderness

Or

Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
Treasure Island
A Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man
Gone with the Wind
All the King’s Men
Jaws
Lady Chatterley’s Lover

Although the title is very important, that doesn’t mean you should spend all your time trying to come up with the greatest title in the world (they may change it anyway). A boring title won’t hinder your chance of getting a book published. Once your book is sold Marketing will get their pretty little hands on it and make it something they believe will sell. They may change the title anyway and put on a cover that makes you scratch your head or scream. So just get started on your next book and hope for the best.

In a popular genre like romance, coming up with a title can be frustrating because the good ones are usually taken already. Next to the statement, “Send me back your proofs by 3pm today” the one thing a writer hates to hear is, “Nice title, but another book in our line has it already.” Ahh!

But I will move forth with confidence that even if one of my titles isn’t chosen a good one will be put on my book that readers will love. Optimism is a wonderful thing.