Saturday, June 03, 2006

Q & A 32 Title Explanation?


As a general rule, should a query have something that explains the title? Something that the reader can at least figure out how the title might relate?


Obviously you're referring to the recently critiqued query for Life, Love, and a Polar Bear Tattoo. The query made no mention of the tattoo. We don't know if the tattoo's on Ian, Kegan, or Candice. Or a polar bear. There could be a polar bear in Bangladesh with a tattoo of a butterfly on its thigh. Ian captures it, brings it home as an anniversary gift for Candice, finds her in bed with Kegan, and locks the bear in the bedroom until it devours both of them. Evil Editor thinks a blood-drenched polar bear would look cool.

I wouldn't leave this information out of a query just to pique the interest of the reader, but most likely it's a minor plot point, and there's no room to work in an explanation. You wouldn't want to work in why The Catcher in the Rye has that title in a two-paragraph plot description. And vague titles like The Sun Also Rises, Light in August, or Heart of Darkness don't cry out for explanations. So, as a general rule, I don't believe there's a general rule. Still it would be nice of the author would spill the beans. Where's the tattoo?

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Don't books frequently get re-titled by editors or agents anyway? How important is the title itself at the query stage?

Bernita said...

Even if they change the title, I think a good title is part of the "hook."

Tawny Taylor said...

I agree, Bernita. When taking a book to an editor, IMO it helps to present it as a package. A really catchy title makes it easier for an editor to see the book as marketable, especially if it lends itself to some unique promotion.

Anonymous said...

Thanks Evil Editor. I feel relieved to hear you give some leeway on titles, since coming up with good ones is my biggest weakness!

Heather Wardell said...

The tattoo is on Candice's cat Ninja.

Why not, right? :)

Heather, who hopes that her book gets published and entertains as many people as its query has!

Heather Wardell said...

OK, the fact is, the tattoo is on Candice's lower back. She gets it done during the early part of the book, and it's showing it to Kegan that sets off the 'drunken encounter' part.

Oh yeah, and our beloved EE is one sick puppy. Blood-drenched polar bear??

Heather