​What title should I give my story?

You might be asking: what should I call my book, or what title should I give my story? Well, if you are wanting to know how to name your story, I may not be able to give you the perfect title but I can give you some principles that have helped me. Ready?

Last year, when I was around 10,000 words into the 4th 5fingers novel - 5fingers: rescue - we started the naming stage for book 5. So, I asked the pupils on World Book Day for their suggestions. They brainstormed loads of fantastic ideas, such as 5fingers: gone, 5fingers: final, 5fingers: endgame, and 5fingers: freedom. I like to have a title before I write the book for a few reasons.

a). Marketing: when you and the publishing company have a name, you can tell people about it and produce marketing material.
b). Focus: having a title helps me to envisage the completed manuscript. It’s motivational!

In terms of the title itself, for me, it’s really important to have one that is catchy, original, and reflective of the content. So, you might like to think about:

1. Your subject matter. Try to pick something that matches your story and genre!

2. Originality. Google your proposed names to see if they are original.

3. Title length. Consider long or one word titles: both have done well in terms of popularity (eg The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.)

4. Finally, make it interesting! Maybe go for a double meaning; a play on words; a person or place name; or a line from your story.

Above all, have fun naming your story! JRx

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