We've got a new porch and landscaping on our old house. When I've seen pictures of the "before" house, I always thought it was nice enough. A big old house with character has always appealed to me. But the "after" pics are amazing, and seeing them side-by-side makes it clear which one has the best curb appeal, don't you think? That white railing just pops, and the new landscaping is super nice. I even have a Japanese maple!
The outside work made me think of covers for our books, the "curb appeal" of the novel, if you will. The cover is hugely important. Not just the visual images on it, but the spine, the back cover, and even the title. Often all that's seen of the book is the spine so the title is a huge deal. More and more we authors understand just how important the title is. And I stink at titles so this is a big handicap for me. :( Luckily, my team at Nelson is great at titles, but I wish I had a better method for picking them. I generally make a list of words that have something to do with the book. Right now I'm trying to figure out the title for a Rock Harbor novella. It has to impart a hint of mystery and setting. I'm rather stumped but I haven't had the brain power to sit down with my lists. I'm going to do that this week though.
How do you come up with titles? Some people pull known phrases and twist them. Some take Bible verses and play with them. What works for you?