Write On, Wednesday: What’s in a Title
By Leslie Lindsay The manuscript is finished. It’s actually not too terribly rough, either. Now it just needs a title. You’d think titles would be easy-peasy, but they are not. Here’s why: You have to summarize everything that happens in–oh 100,000 words–into a few words (about four). No pressure, right? You also don’t want to be so overt about it, in that all literary ‘secrets’ are given away. And God forbidden the title is already “taken.” Okay, you’re technically “safe” on that–titles aren’t copywrited. But who wants 8 books called WAR & PEACE? Something pithy would be nice. Last night, I couldn’t sleep for obsessing thinking ruminating perseverating. I tossed and turned. I thought of every teacher who taught 4th grade and then 5th grade at my elementary school 30 years ago. That got me to sleep. But I woke up to pee around 2 a.m. and guess what I was thinking about? Here’s some other advice I’ve gleaned of late, “We talked a lot about branding at [a local chapter meeting], and you really want to think about what …