What We Did to Ask Your Opinion

[mrissa]

Please note that I am aware that most of you have not read this book, so you are not being asked to comment on whether the title works well for the specific book I've written. (Although if you have read it, feel free to e-mail me with opinions on how the title worked for you.)

[Poll #1294645]

Also, if you ran across a book called What We Did to Save the Kingdom, what, if any, preconceptions would you have about it? (Funny, serious, high fantasy, swashbuckling, sword-wielding protagonist, lots of boats, whatever.)

Comments

[stillnotbored.livejournal.com]

I love that title, but like Bear, I'm pretty sure a marketing department would kill it or try to market it like a Terry Brooks book. But I think of marketing and titles way too much. That's why the book I'm writing now will go out into the world as Reasons and not with it's real title, Reasons to fall in love while fleeing dire wolves, goblins and assorted alaurms . Marketing would hate that title even though I love it.

Preconceptions--I instantly think of a group of people forced into doing things they normal wouldn't do to save what they have. I don't necessarily think of humor, and while I do think fantasy right away, it could be high fantasy, urban fantasy, almost anything. But serious, with touches of humor to lighten things up.

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

So I think you're pretty spot on, but it sounds like you may be alone in this. Ah well; if I didn't want to know, I wouldn't ask.

[stillnotbored.livejournal.com]

I've decided that books can have a title of the heart and a title that will get the book sold. I've also decided that this is not selling out, it's being pragmatic and practical.

So you keep the title you love just for you, knowing it to be superior, and find something that marketing or an agent can grab on to. Something thematic and that reflects the tone of the book.

Having done this twice now, I know how hard it is.