A rose by any other name...

Last week I posted a review entitled 'Friends with Kids' it was about the film of the same name.  This post got the least amount of views of any of my previous posts EVER!

I could try an analyse this based on the content, but we aren't talking about those who read it and decided not to comment but why people didn't even read it or click on the page to get some idea about what it was about. I'm not complaining, just curious as to why. I think it was the post title.

You see, when I first read about a new film coming out starring current can-do-no-wrong actress Kristen Wiig I was curious, when I saw that it was called 'Friends with Kids', I let out a long groan. I most definitely did not want to see a film about friends with kids. Mainly, because as a single thirty-something without kids, I already have friends with kids. I wasn't sure exactly which angle they were going to take, whether it would be childless couples envying their friends or whether it would be couples with children envying their childless friends. Either way, it is common knowledge that we always think the grass is greener on the other side at times, regardless of what side we are on.

I received a comment from Annalisa who said she was put off from seeing the film based on the title too, and after reading my review is happy that she didn't see it. Well, at least that's how I interpreted her comment! lol

It got me to wondering how important names are in attracting people to your product. Particularly in the case of books. I read a post during the A to Z challenge about book covers and design and whether they were that important, and whether it is the cover that makes you pick up the book. I think the cover can be quite important but comes in second after the title.

When I go to a book shop, I will scan the spines and see what jumps out at me...fancy italic font is usually passed over as its harder to read quickly when scanning, really long titles again can be missed unless there is a single word emphasised (maybe in a larger font) to grab your attention. But generally, I think that the title should be no more than 4-5 words. I am saying all this as a reader as I don't know the industry's view on this.  But what has me thinking is whether it is beneficial to be as obvious as in 'Friends with Kids' or a better idea to be more ambiguous, thus the reader goes..'huh?!' , takes the book off the shelf and views the second important thing (the cover) and then decides whether it has peeked their interest enough to have the synopsis read.

I think that ambiguity is the way to go, especially if your book cover is kick ass and will gain their attention. The only examples I can think of when it is better to have a clue in the title is with biography's. I think in general that a title does have that power, many a book I have dismissed based on the title alone and I am sure I have missed out on reading a great many books.

My question to you is...if you are a writer, how do you come up with your book title? and at what stage? Do you put much thought into it or is it inspired? Would you consider changing your book title if it would mean more people would read it? If you're not a writer, do you think book titles are important?