The book that shall (not) remain nameless

/ Tracy Abell

I stink at making up titles.
But with FRAMED, I thought I’d finally done it:
created the perfect title
right from the start!

It’s been FRAMED through
every single draft
and revision.
I was so proud of my multi-layered title.

But now it’s been pointed out that
FRAMED is too subtle for a middle-grade novel.
Sadly, I believe that’s true.
So now I need something else,
perhaps FRAMED plus subtitle.

Or maybe something completely different.

Have I mentioned I stink at titles?

42 thoughts on “The book that shall (not) remain nameless”

  1. All you need to do is to put another word with the FRAMED.
    Of course that is my only tidbit for you. Sorry 😦 I can’t think of the magic word.
    But you are going to! :))

    Like

  2. All you need to do is to put another word with the FRAMED.

    Of course that is my only tidbit for you. Sorry 😦 I can’t think of the magic word.
    But you are going to! :))

    Like

  3. All you need to do is to put another word with the FRAMED.

    Of course that is my only tidbit for you. Sorry 😦 I can’t think of the magic word.
    But you are going to! :))

    Like

    • It was pointed out the most successful MGs tend to have self-explanatory titles that let a kid know what or who the story is about. I have tons of possibilities and the one I liked best is FRAMED: The Whole Truth and a Few Fabrications
      but even that isn’t specific enough. Close but no cigar.
      I’m trying the birthday angle, too.

      Like

    • It was pointed out the most successful MGs tend to have self-explanatory titles that let a kid know what or who the story is about. I have tons of possibilities and the one I liked best is FRAMED: The Whole Truth and a Few Fabrications
      but even that isn’t specific enough. Close but no cigar.

      I’m trying the birthday angle, too.

      Like

    • I think it’s true. As I mentioned to Laurie, it was also pointed out the higher selling MGs have longer, more detailed titles that let a kid know what the book is about (Diary of a Wimpy Kid; The Lemonade War; The Kid Who Became President). The suggestion came from my agent and as much as I’d rather she was wrong in this case, I think she’s right.
      Thanks for the luck! I’ll take all I can get!

      Like

          • I don’t recall, precisely – I think it was after acquisitions? I’m not certain she had her agent before she actually sold the ms. The publisher said that single-word titles tend to be a YA thing, among other rationales for wanting to change it. As it is, it has a different title in some of the other languages/countries in which it’s now selling.

            Like

          • I don’t recall, precisely – I think it was after acquisitions? I’m not certain she had her agent before she actually sold the ms. The publisher said that single-word titles tend to be a YA thing, among other rationales for wanting to change it. As it is, it has a different title in some of the other languages/countries in which it’s now selling.

            Like

    • I think it’s true. As I mentioned to Laurie, it was also pointed out the higher selling MGs have longer, more detailed titles that let a kid know what the book is about (Diary of a Wimpy Kid; The Lemonade War; The Kid Who Became President). The suggestion came from my agent and as much as I’d rather she was wrong in this case, I think she’s right.

      Thanks for the luck! I’ll take all I can get!

      Like

  13. It was pointed out the most successful MGs tend to have self-explanatory titles that let a kid know what or who the story is about. I have tons of possibilities and the one I liked best is FRAMED: The Whole Truth and a Few Fabrications
    but even that isn’t specific enough. Close but no cigar.

    I’m trying the birthday angle, too.

    Like

  14. I think it’s true. As I mentioned to Laurie, it was also pointed out the higher selling MGs have longer, more detailed titles that let a kid know what the book is about (Diary of a Wimpy Kid; The Lemonade War; The Kid Who Became President). The suggestion came from my agent and as much as I’d rather she was wrong in this case, I think she’s right.

    Thanks for the luck! I’ll take all I can get!

    Like

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