I am writing a novel about someone being chased by the Russian Mafia. A hitman is sent to save her and that's where the books takes off. I have way too many titles floating in my brain - three to be exact. They are "Slap-Dash", "Tooth and Nail", and "Hang Fire". What is the most marketable title? Why do you think so?
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1Reading this thread, it appears "hang fire" actually means something (in a firearms context). Be aware that most people have never heard it in any context, and will just think it's a nonsensical pairing of two random words.– MGOwenCommented Sep 22, 2011 at 7:44
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1@MGOwen: if I haven't heard a term before, I don't immediately think "nonsense", I may think "Sounds cool, no idea what it means, but..." Lots of SF titles are that way. Neal Stephenson's "Snow Crash"... nonsense? Yes, before reading the book. Sounds cool? Sure.– Jürgen A. ErhardCommented Sep 22, 2011 at 11:45
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How about "Nu, pogodi!"? (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nu,_pogodi!)– Lukas StejskalCommented Sep 26, 2011 at 12:19
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@Jürgen A. Erhard Oh yeah, I agree, but since the OP didn't explain what "hang fire" meant, it's possible she didn't realise that it isn't a well-known term, so I thought I'd let her know (FWIW, I think it's the best of the 3).– MGOwenCommented Jan 10, 2012 at 1:15
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"Hang Fire" by a mile. "Slap-Dash" makes it sound like your book is slap-dash -- that is, shoddily made. And "Tooth and Nail"... Ug. Cliche and generic.– PatchesCommented Mar 16, 2012 at 5:47
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7 Answers
I rather like "Hang Fire." Sounds mysterious and dangerous, it isn't quite grammatically correct as a phrase but it could be in the right context so it's got some tension pushing me towards exploring it, and it's visually evocative.
I also encourage you to find a phrase or proverb in Russian which makes sense when translated to English and see if that works.
answered Sep 19, 2011 at 20:43
Lauren-Clear-Monica-IpsumLauren-Clear-Monica-Ipsum
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6A phrase or proverb in Russian? Hmmm. In Soviet Russia, Russian Mafia is chased by you! How's that? :P Commented Sep 20, 2011 at 2:55
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Only if your hit man is later revealed to be Yakov Smirnoff. Or the Russia Mafia is run by Boris & Natasha. :) Commented Sep 20, 2011 at 12:19
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Should have read the answers first. You're saying basically what I did in my comment above :D Commented Sep 22, 2011 at 11:47
NOT Slap-Dash! Can you imagine the reviews of someone who doesn't like the book?
I too like the notion of a phrase that feels like colloquial Russian, and captures the dualism of the hit man's role.
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Find a phrase or topic that is relevant to your story. If any of these three pertains to something that happens or is stated in the story, then go with that. If none of them do, then try to think of something else. I like Lauren's suggestion to go with a Russian phrase that can be easily translated.
Personally, the first two sound more like titles for a comedy or a romance novel. Neither really sparks thoughts of murder and intrigue. Since the term "Hang Fire" refers to a failure on the part of a weapon, I could see it being relevant, considering that a hit man is usually associated with killing someone, not saving them.
answered Sep 19, 2011 at 20:51
Hit Man
Just kidding. Maybe "Guardian Angel" since the hitman is not exactly a saint.
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Or "Really Pissed-Off Angel Who's Only Protecting You Out of a Sense of Obligation"? Not as catchy, though. Commented Sep 22, 2011 at 18:32
I would definitely avoid Tooth and Nail - it's already heavily overused.
I confess, all three titles sounded very generic and indistinct to me. They tell me this is an action-packed thriller, but nothing more specific than that. I'd recommend you consider what you find to be the most interesting, important, and/or unusual elements of your book, and try to construct a title referring to one or two of those (even if the reference oblique, it's still individual!). Of the three, Hang Fire stands out most for me, but I would really consider it worthwhile to look for something a little less generic - a title that applies to your book, that wouldn't apply as easily to scads of others.
Without knowing more about your book - central themes, conflicts, characters, motivations, location - I'd have a tough time recommending anything suitably tailored to your particular work. Here's an article on title-choosing you might find helpful.
answered Sep 20, 2011 at 8:37
Often (not always) the publisher will suggest another title. They have a marketing group that does titles and covers etc. They may (or may not) give you a choice as to their suggestions. It is your synopsis and story that you have to sell. Agents understand this.
You are asking the wrong people. Ask a sample of people whom you have imagined would enjoy the book best. For eg. If you are targeting people who likes Tom Clancy type novels, find a few of them and ask them what grabs their attention the most.
