Title problems - a poll or two

[mary_j_59]

Okay - I grant you, there are very few people in the world who have actually read my books! But this isn't about content. It's just about titles, and what you think is evocative or interesting. So here are a  couple of polls.

My first book for which I'm seeking an agent and/or publisher is literary YA SF. The working title is HONOR. It's a pretty good title, I think; it gets at what motivates the MC and drives his actions. But it's also just a little generic, perhaps. So-
[Poll #1959242]

Comments

[condwiramurs.livejournal.com]

I actually like His Mother's Sword best. Honor and Longsword do have punch, yes, but they are a bit generic. They don't really tell me much about the hero beyond what I'd already be expecting - they wouldn't stand out on a bookstore shelf or webpage to me.

Whereas His Mother's Sword is different - the nod to a mother-son relationship as central in some way stands out as unusual to me, and so interesting. That's a title that would grab my eye while browsing, and entice me to take a look.

Mind, I'm speaking with very little idea of the story itself, so take this for whatever it's worth. But given how much work a title has to do, I suppose you have to find a balance between accuracy towards the story and drawing power that works for you.

A Drive of Dragons for the second, yes. Funny, exciting, curiousity-making. The People of Stone just makes me think of that endless series about neolithic tribes where every book was titled The People of Lightning, The People of Water, etc. etc.

Hope this is helpful! Good luck with the publishing and all. :)

[mary-j-59.livejournal.com]

I quite like The People of Stone, actually - but I do see your point. And , too, like A Drive of Dragons better, to be honest. As to "His Mother's Sword", I'm happy you like it, but I do see litlover's point below!