If you are writing a book, should you write the title first or wait until the end?

Answer 1

Just make an outline of the story and give a name. And as you proceed along with your story, you may get a good one. Final name should be given only at the end.

Answer 2

I write a working title that may change by the end of the story.

Answer 3

It depends. If you have a specific subject that you want to write about, maybe you should stick with the original title, it keeps you away from writing unnecessary words.

But, if you are just enthusiastic about writing, it's better if you wait until the end.


Although, if you write about a specific subject, and in the end you find a more appealing title, there is no reason for changing it

Answer 4

that is a very good question...in general I would say it is better to wait until the book is finished, so you know what is really about...

However, sometimes I title mine, just to get it going. Alot of times I begin with a title more as a project. Write a story to match the title...

Answer 5

Your title is the first thing people will see, so make sure it's good. A lot of books have very obvious titles that are general and efficient; those are fine to have ahead of time. Some have titles that allude to some motif in the book and are (to me) more interesting, but not as informative; those are best written after your text is finished.

Answer 6

If I was writing a book, I may want to write a title if I have a pretty good idea about what my story is about but you may come across other ideas that seem more interesting so you may want to alter the title. So, in conclusion, I would like to say that you should just have an idea in the beginning and then, if you want later, you can change it. :) I really hope this helps..

Answer 7

There's no rule against having a title in the beginning of the novel-writing process and then changing it later on. Sometimes you get inspiration from a title; sometimes it's easier to start writing without having any ideas for a title. Whichever works for you, and keeps you writing!

Answer 8

It doesn't matter when you come up with a title.

I have a friend who is a writer. For her first book, the title came midstream. The second title came to her at the beginning of the story. The third and forth came to her even before she set pen to paper. For the fifth book, the title came from a sentence in the first paragraph.

Answer 9

Give the novel a title if it is a strong idea or thought. Just as many on this site have said, you can always change it.

One important item to find out is that one-word titles seem to have become archaic and the publishing world prefers titles with more than two or three words for instant attention. This is a question you can toss around with other writers.

I can't recall where I read that so-called tip, but it is one that bears scrutiny.

Answer 10

I would wait until the end because you may come up with a totally different title once you finish the book.

Answer 11

I usually think of a title anywhere from the middle to the end of my stories. Something will just jump out at you. I never write it in the beginning because my story may change halfway through.