What's in a Name?

You may or may not know that I'm writing a book. I thought it would be simple and easy because I love to write and I have a million and one ideas. Well, there's nothing easy about it!! And to any published authors, YOU ARE AMAZING!

One problem I didn't anticipate was how difficult it would be to choose a title. I had two working titles but learned this week that there are already nonfiction works with the same titles. My book is fiction and there is no law saying more than one work cannot hold the same name. And let's face it, I need to publish before it's a real issue. But to avoid confusion, it would be nice if my book was the only, or at least the first, with the title that I select.

I am a lover of analogies, symbolism, and representation, and for me, the title is more than just a name. I want it to mean something and to be significant. I want the title to be more than just a way to identify the book.


One of my very favorite books is Break the Line by Allison Mullinax. If you haven't read it, you should! And while you're at it, read ALL of her books ☺


Here is the summary, used with the author's permission:

       As a pro-fisherman, Benson Howell's days are spent on murky lake water, reeling in largemouth bass and winning first place trophies. At twenty-nine, life is easy and carefree. His only job is to stay in the top rankings during the fishing circuit, and keep the sponsors happy. That is, until he meets hot tempered, fiery haired Danni-Rose in small-town Alabama. He has never backed down from anything too big to reel in.
      Danni-Rose has spent the past six years of her life burying her past. When Benson Howell literally plows his boat right into her life, armed with simmering anger, she fights the current pulling her closer to him. With a past she can't let go of, and the sexy fisherman breaking down all her walls, Danni-Rose does everything she can to break the line connecting her to Benson.
     Will Danni-Rose be able to let go of the past? Can Benson change her mind about him? Or will they both miss the catch of a lifetime?

Not only is this a great story, but the title is so fitting for the book. Of all of her books, this is my favorite title because it carries significance to the story in multiple ways.


If books aren't your thing, try music. I LOVE MUSIC! And most songs are written with a particular story in mind - yes, songs are short stories.

I remember walking into a 9th grade US History class one day and our teacher had a boombox on the desk with a CD inside. Our assignment was to write a one page paper supposing the she in the song he played was the Statue of Liberty. The song was Invisible Touch by Genesis. I'm not a huge fan of Genesis or Phil Collins, and I SUCK AT HISTORY and pretty much any other social studies class. Don't believe me? I repeated US History and the best grade I earned for the course was a C. UNITED STATES HISTORY. I live here!

Anyways, while most of what I learned in there was forgotten, I will always remember this assignment. It's not every day you hear a rock song in a social studies class. I'll also remember because it was the only one of two assignments I ever got an A on in that class.

On the surface the song and the monument don't seem to have any connection and I really doubt Phil Collins wrote it about her. However, if you go back and listen to the lyrics, and think of the Statue of Liberty and what she means to America, it's a beautiful interpretation of the song.

This assignment combined my love of music and writing with symbolism and I'll probably remember it forever. And I still don't have a passion for history or know who she is. But if this paper taught me one thing, it was that sometimes a love for one thing can be enough inspiration to make something else great. I enjoyed US History a little bit more that day, and had the assignment been given any other way, I certainly wouldn't remember it today.

I hope to finish my book. I hope to publish my book. And I hope to someone, somewhere, the title will be enough to make my book unforgettable. So I'm going to use my love of analogies, symbolism, and representation to choose the perfect title for my book.

And while you're waiting to read my book or for me to stop talking about it, find something you love and use it to help you learn something new.