Title Survey
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Figuring out the genre of book you’re writing is pretty important. One might even say it is essential. If something isn’t categorized, it can’t be marketed or sold easily or found by the people who should be reading it. Marketing might be one of my least favorite parts of the publishing process, but it has its place and ignoring it never ends well. In order for readers to get their hands on books, they have to know what they’re looking for and where to find it.
So what is this book I’ve written? The one I’m so close to finishing the editing process? Well, it’s a Christian book. God is one of the central themes within the words. It’s one hundred percent a romance. It’s all about a man and woman fighting for their relationship to survive amidst insurmountable odds. But is it a clean romance? There are some pretty heavy topics explored in the book, including minors having sex, drug-use, and abortion. Personally, I don’t think these things will detract from the wholesome message I want to communicate, but I’d definitely put some trigger warning labels on it. The book is based on a true story. Does that make it a biography even though it’s a fictionalized version of real-life events?
Finally, it’s set in the mid–late 1970s. That’s almost fifty years. How long ago does something have to be in order for it to be considered historical fiction? Times were certainly different then. I had to research so many things in order to remain accurate to what these characters would have experienced. This involved things like geography and what real-life places were like. It also included when was that piece of technology invented? When did that movie or song come out? What was the weather like in that time and place? Los Angeles in the 70s had to be different than Prescott, Arizona or a small town in Oklahoma, right?
Part of the reason I bring any of this up is because I want people to start thinking about what the story will entail and if it’s a story they’d find worth reading. Does any of this pique your interest and, if it does, why? Where would you go to find a book like this and how would you describe it when looking for it?
In the meantime, just know these are the kinds of things I’m working on right now. I could, however, use your help on one more important thing: title selection.
I’ve got a lot of options workshopped, but I need more input. That’s where you come in. Which of the below titles do you like the best? Which fits the description I gave above? No guarantees on using any of these, but feel free to offer your unbiased opinion and win my undying gratitude.
A Season to Belong
The Struggle of Grace
Struggling With Grace
God in the Waves
Waves of Faith
Sand and Serenity
Waves of Grace
Oceans of Redemption
Tides of the Heart
Waves of Change: A Journey to Love and Belief
Whispers of the Waves: Love, Faith, and Forgiveness
Shadows on the Beach: A Tale of Love and Belief
Seaside Promises
Love Against the Tide
Hearts at High Tide
Saltwater Salvation
A Love Not Afraid
Between the Waves and the Word
Tidal Hearts
Love’s True North
