Nathan Bransford - The Forums

I'm having a lot of trouble coming up with a title, so I'm wondering if agents really care whether you have one or not. Would an agent be annoyed to see "UNTITLED" or something?

Do most of you have working titles (if you're finished or close to finished with your MS)?

Thanks!

A few working titles have come easily to me. However, I'm currently on my second draft of the cleverly-titled Book 1 CS, V2, so...

If you have gone through the trouble of writing, revising and polishing a manuscript, you cannot submit it to an agent or editor without at least a one word title. If you simply can't come up with anything out of your main character's journey, a snappy line from dialogue, or the overall theme, then go browse your local bookseller and check current title trends for your genre. Just don't send it nameless into the world. That would be sad.

When you put it that way, it does sound quite sad... It just seems SO important, but I guess the agent will always know it can be changed. Hmm...

I agree. Just pick a name. Anything. It can always be changed later. Not naming it seems like it's unfinished.

I know what you mean. I have two MS that I'm working on that are saved with just the MC's name as the title.

I agree with the others. Try to pick something that involves the MC. Maybe even a two-four word phrase in the book. The odds are high whatever you choose will ultimately be changed on the publishing end of things ... but if you don't come up with some sort of name it may send the signal to an agent that you don't care enough. We know that isn't the case, so just pick something.

I don't think UNTITLED really flies as a title, but I also wouldn't see a title as a make-or-break decision. A good title can help and a bad title can hurt but ultimately it's your work itself that is going to be the difference-maker.

Thanks Nathan :)