Choosing a title for your work whether it's a short story or a novel can be as agonizing as choosing a name for your baby. Well, maybe not your baby, but it's still a major decision. It's the first thing the reader sees and it can be the make or break difference between someone deciding to read your work or pick something else. Therefore, you want to make it a good one.
Recently, I picked up Diners, Dives & Dead Ends by Terri L. Austin. My husband is a fan of the Food Network show Diners, Dives, and Drive-ins. I couldn't resist and I have to admit the title is what got my attention. This is Ms. Austin's debut novel and it's a fun read so I was glad I brought it.
Unfortunately, there aren't any hard and fast rules for picking a title for your work. Sometimes it just comes to you and it's fantastic. Other times, it's awful, but you keep it for the time being until something better pops up and it's also a handy name for your file.
The key is to keep the title brief and catchy. Writing a title is akin to creating an advertising slogan. You want it to be memorable yet short and sweet. As with anything in life, practice makes perfect. The more you do it, the easier it will be. When you find one that feels right to you, then you know you have a winner!
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