But how much time do we devote to titles? It appears to be very little.

I recently did an unofficial survey of both published and unpublished writers, and here’s what I found:

Most believed:

• The title was unimportant
• If the editor didn’t like it, she would change it
• Makes no difference to the book
• People would buy the book no matter the title
• It was something to think about later-if the book sold.

They couldn’t be any further from the truth if they tried.

Titles are extremely important to your story. So important, they will often mean the difference between selling or not.

It’s okay to have a weak or unrelated ‘working title’ ­ but that’s as far as it should go. The minute you have an appropriate catchy title, change it. Not only on your ms, but also in your mind.

When I wrote “Saving Emma,” it had a horrid working title. “Undercover Love” was never a favourite of mine, but it would do until I could find something better. As I wrote the second last chapter, part of the dialogue talked about the main protagonist ‘saving Emma’ from certain death. In that unforgettable moment, the title jumped off the pages and into my brain.

Not only did my whole outlook on this book change, but it also changed in the minds of editors and publishers.

As “Undercover Love” I’d submitted the book to several publishers and had nothing but rejections. And not even personal rejections; I got form letter ‘dear writer’ rejections.

When the title changed, the responses also changed. I began to get bites and requests. Despite the fact that the story itself was unaltered, editors became interested.

All this because of a title change?

Well, yes. Titles are extremely important.

To get an idea of how much difference a title really can make, take a look at these examples of title changes:

• Tomorrow is Another Day ­ – Gone with the Wind
• John Thomas & Lady Jane – ­ Lady Chatterly’s Lover
• Something that Happened – ­ Of Mice and Men
• Blossom and the Flower  – Peyton Place

Sometimes it’s just a matter of tweaking your title slightly. For instance, one of my works-in-progress was called “Into the Arms of a Stranger.” I hated the title, despised it in fact, until I shortened it. “Arms of a Stranger” is a much better title, and has more appeal than the longer version.

Following are just a handful of titles I’ve started with, and then changed for the better:

• Poison Ivy -  The Rubber Ducky Killer
• The Flight – ­ The First Flight
• The Gym – ­ Mystery at Joe’s Gym
• First Person Point of View – ­ Me, Myself & I: Writing First Person POV
• Finding Ideas – ­ Today I Witnessed a Story

The title of your story, book, or article, should portray something of the content, as well as standing out from the crowd.

Just as a great looking cover will sell your book, so will an outstanding title.

Copyright Cheryl Wright. All rights reserved. Cheryl Wright is an award-winning Australian author and freelance journalist. In addition to an array of other projects, she is the owner of the Writer2Writer.com website and the Writer to Writer monthly ezine for writers. Her publications include novels, non-fiction books, short stories, and articles. Her upcoming release is”The Write Resources” from Central Avenue Press. Visit Cheryl’s website http://www.cheryl-wright.com/

What I got back was an open email

telling me – and every other writer who contacted him – what the aim of the publication was (to have articles written for a dating magazine), but apart from saying they would require articles twice a week, my questions were not answered.

So I wrote back, again asking specific questions. I received another email, and again my questions were not answered. The person concerned did however say he was taking ‘quotes’ and would take the cheapest one.

But I still didn’t know what he wanted. So I wrote again, this time withdrawing my interest.

What I received back was a very nasty email from the person saying I was ‘too quick to judge.’ In this final email from him, he finally mentioned that he was looking for someone skilled, but wanted the cheapest price he could get.

Call me stubborn, even call me stupid, but I wrote back and told him what I thought in the nicest possible way. I let him know that taking the cheapest quote was not necessarily the best option. That if he needed or wanted an experienced newsletter writer, then lowest price shouldn’t come into the equation. My twelve plus years of experience in this area could have proven more valuable to him than securing someone at the cheapest rate he could lay his hands on.

He wrote back and agreed. By this time it was too late. I’d had several emails back and forth with this ‘editor’ over a period of less than thirty minutes. During that time he had been elusive, arrogant, and downright rude.

After the second email with him I’d decided not to pursue this position, even though it was ongoing work. It came through loud and clear that he was not only inexperienced (which is not necessarily a bad thing), but he had no respect whatsoever for the writers he was dealing with.

At no time did he disclose the name of the magazine, whether it was a print magazine or for the internet, and how young or old the publication was. These are all important issues for writers, and of course, if the publication was internet based, it makes a huge difference to the length of articles to be produced.

I’ve only once before come across something like this, and it left a bad taste in my mouth. If our first, second, or even third encounter with an editor is not particularly good, then what will your subsequent dealings be like?

I’ve worked with loads of editors over the years, but only two have been unprofessional like this. The majority of editors are easy to work with, very trustworthy, and treat writers with respect. If they don’t, then my friend, you have a problem.

Writers are the bread and butter of publications. Without us, there would be no magazine, or website, or whatever it is they’re producing.

Go with your gut; if things don’t feel right, forget it. Run a mile. And don’t look back.

Copyright Cheryl Wright -­ Used with permission. All Rights Reserved.
Cheryl Wright is an award-winning Australian author and freelance journalist. In addition to an array of other projects, she is the owner of the Writer2Writer.com website and the Writer to Writer monthly ezine for writers. Her publications include novels, non-fiction books, short stories, and articles. Her upcoming release is “The Write Resources” from Central Avenue Press. Visit Cheryl’s website www.cheryl-wright.com