One word title

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Paul Whybrow

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Glen Wheeler

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I have been told that a one word title of a book is a no go area. Mine is one word. Is this a total fail or should I go with my instincts? and a thumbs up from a friend.
Also, sorry guys I'm the clueless new kid on the block, if my book which I term as a biographical fantasy uses historical characters though for some their outcome changes, then should it be termed instead an historical fantasy? Any input gratefully received.
G
 
Who told you that?

Take a look around the shelves of your local bookshop - I think you'll find that one word titles are quite popular. If you have a strong single word title that is attention grabbing then go with it. Of course, once you have interest from an agent or publisher the might suggest a change of title but for now I wouldn't worry.

And 'historical fantasy' sounds fine to me.
 
Kitty said:
Who told you that?

Take a look around the shelves of your local bookshop - I think you'll find that one word titles are quite popular. If you have a strong single word title that is attention grabbing then go with it. Of course, once you have interest from an agent or publisher the might suggest a change of title but for now I wouldn't worry.

And 'historical fantasy' sounds fine to me.
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Thanks for your input... :)
 
I agree with Kitty. One word can be more powerful than a complicated sentence, so if you found a fitting one stick with it. And, of course, I'm not saying that because two of three of my titles are also one word only ;)
 
KG Christopher said:
I love Robert Harris

Fatherland
Enigma
Lustrum
Pompeii
Dictator

I do think, though, it seems to be only for well-known publishers, it's going to be harder to pull off if you are a new author.
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Ok thanks but I will pursue it :) and Celine is much more emotive Perhaps not
 
Look around the books in your genre. I write thrillers, and one word titles are EVERYWHERE. And, as everyone else has pointed out, other genres use it often as well.
 
AgentPete said:
Quite sexy, in fact. Nicely fits the oblong shape of a book. Finding a memorable one can be tough, tho'.
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I agree, but make sure your one word is unique. I had a brilliant one-word title for one of my novels...only to find FIVE other novels with the same one-word title.
 
Glen Wheeler said:
I have been told that a one word title of a book is a no go area. Mine is one word. Is this a total fail or should I go with my instincts? and a thumbs up from a friend.
Also, sorry guys I'm the clueless new kid on the block, if my book which I term as a biographical fantasy uses historical characters though for some their outcome changes, then should it be termed instead an historical fantasy? Any input gratefully received.
G
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Worked OK for Dick Francis.
 
And don't forget Rider Haggard's 'She', though that does have a rarely used subtitle. I'm surprised that hasn't been made into a Hollywood movie for 50 years, considering how much the studios are scraping the bottom of the barrel with superhero flicks.
 
Paul Whybrow said:
And don't forget Rider Haggard's 'She', though that does have a rarely used subtitle. I'm surprised that hasn't been made into a Hollywood movie for 50 years, considering how much the studios are scraping the bottom of the barrel with superhero flicks.
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I love the film, never read the book, I think its Ursula Andreas? in the lead role, Bernard Cribbins?

Tonight I am watching Lawrence of Arabia on a projector in my friends house, looking forward to it.
 
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KG Christopher said:
I love the film, never read the book, I think its Ursula Andreas? in the lead role, Bernard Cribbins?

Tonight I am watching Lawrence of Arabia on a projector in my friends house, looking forward to it.
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Strange to think that Lawrence could have been played by Albert Finney, who was director David Lean's first choice. He was a virtual unknown as an actor at the time, yet didn't think the film would be a success, so he turned it down.
 
Trainspotting, anyone?
Perfume?
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban?
Oh, wait, that's seven words...
 
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V

Hello,Litopians.

  • Victoria
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Paul Whybrow

Who's that? Characters in a Novel.

  • Paul Whybrow
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