[LMB] A question about titles

[Lois McMaster Bujold]

[LMB] A question about titles
Asa Swain asa_swain at yahoo.com
Tue Dec 4 05:28:19 GMT 2007


Lois,

I'm impressed that you have such control over the
title of your books. From what little I know of the
publishing industry, I heard that often the editor
gets to pick the title. It's neat to think that you
could make such a change, perhaps even inspired by one
of your fans. (we'll try not to let the power go to
our heads) . The right title could certainly have an
effect on marketing and book sales. Have you always
had such leeway over your book titles, or is it
something you'd gain more control over recently? Are
there any early titles that you are less than happy
with?

-Asa


***  I've always had control over my own titles.  I have been asked for 
changes a few times (as when _Mirrors_ became _Shards of Honor_), but in 
all cases it was a matter of the editor coming to me and asking that I 
come up with something, not something imposed upon me.  Much scratching 
of penciled lists, whining to friends, and brainstorming, or in some 
cases braindrizzling, ensued.

In general, I find titling to be one of those things that's either easy 
or impossible.  Sometimes, the right title attaches to the book very 
early and sticks -- _The Warrior's Apprentice_, _Falling Free_, _Mirror 
Dance_ ferex.  Sometimes, nobody has any idea right up to the end what 
to title the blighted thing.  _Ethan of Athos_ was a working title that 
no one could think of an improvement upon.  _The Vor Game_ was a last 
minute we've-got-to-slap-something-on-it patch.  _Barrayar_, _Cetaganda_ 
and _Komarr_ were somewhat desperately named after their settings, 
because we didn't think the books could go out called _Having Babies on 
Barrayar_, _Miles & Ivan Go To The Cetagandan State Funeral_, or 
_Ekaterin_.   _Memory_ was a contraction of _Simon Illyan's Memory Chip 
Goes Glitchy_, but far more evocative for its curtailment.

_ACC_ spent its creation titled _ImpWed_.  The late great Mike Ford came 
up with the brilliant suggestion _Rules of Engagement_, and we thought 
we had it bagged, till it turned out Elizabeth Moon had a book of the 
very same title coming out from Baen a few months beforehand, oops.  
Back to the drawing board.  The final title was a riff on Heyer's _A 
Civil Contract_.  I forget what _DI_'s working title was -- might have 
been _M2K_, for "Miles 2000" -- but its real title was a late addition.

_Cazaril in Castille_, _Ista's Book_, and _Wolf & Leopard_ I trust you 
recognize.  _Ten_ was my 10th book, till it became I forget which.  _The 
Spirit Ring_ had been _The Enchanted Saltcellar_ for a time, but that 
Macguffin didn't last

The editor doesn't change a comma without approval, let alone a title, 
such approval "not to be unreasonably withheld" as they say in 
contractese.  We are all on the same side at this stage, trying to make 
the book as good and attractive as it can be.

Foreign titles are the exception to the above.  I have zero control over 
those, and the results often seem dire to me, but since I don't know the 
languages I perforce must withhold judgments.  (Foreign readers are 
under no such constraints.)

Ta, L.