First Impressions
Your gaze randomly wanders over the crowded room until he catches your eye. You've never seen him before, but something about his look appeals to you. Then he smiles---not at you, but the parting of his lips and the way his head tilts nevertheless incites a small smile of your own. You're intrigued. Enough so that you wander closer, and soon the two of you are talking. You like him; he's interesting and he makes you laugh. So you decide to deliberately spend more time together...and if that goes well, you'll do it some more.
There you have my typical library/bookstore experience. What? No! I'm not picking up guys! Sheesh. I'm talking about selecting a book. The cover is what "catches your eye," right? And then you read the title---that's the smile. And if it intrigues you, you "wander closer," pick it up, and read the back cover. If it's "interesting," maybe "makes you laugh," then perhaps you "decide to deliberately spend more time together," i.e. read the first chapter. "And if that goes well"...you've found your next read.
The purpose behind my little analogy here is that I achieved my Writing Resolution 2011, which was to complete the first draft of my untitled manuscript (yay!) and the carrot I dangled was that upon finishing draft #1, I could begin to think about the title, a/k/a the smile. With Three Daves, the title was always just kind of there, so I never had to give it much thought, but this time...well, it's not so clear. So I'd love to get your input.
Without knowing anything else about the story, which of these three titles has the most potential to get you to "wander closer" and check out the back cover summary?
There you have my typical library/bookstore experience. What? No! I'm not picking up guys! Sheesh. I'm talking about selecting a book. The cover is what "catches your eye," right? And then you read the title---that's the smile. And if it intrigues you, you "wander closer," pick it up, and read the back cover. If it's "interesting," maybe "makes you laugh," then perhaps you "decide to deliberately spend more time together," i.e. read the first chapter. "And if that goes well"...you've found your next read.
The purpose behind my little analogy here is that I achieved my Writing Resolution 2011, which was to complete the first draft of my untitled manuscript (yay!) and the carrot I dangled was that upon finishing draft #1, I could begin to think about the title, a/k/a the smile. With Three Daves, the title was always just kind of there, so I never had to give it much thought, but this time...well, it's not so clear. So I'd love to get your input.
Without knowing anything else about the story, which of these three titles has the most potential to get you to "wander closer" and check out the back cover summary?
There's Something Wrong in Prairie Oaks
The Angel's Sin
Extraordinary Interventions
Any commentary you'd like to give regarding any expectations the title conjures would also be much appreciated. Thanks!
Comments
Hey, Nicki,
Congrats on finishing your first draft! YOU DID IT!
I am still waiting for that email and VISIT ... lol. It looks like it's going to be for our birthdays again.....
How are you? IT's been AGES...
putting them all together...
The Fallen Angel of Prairie Oaks...
way to meet your goals!