Are there rules when it comes to naming your book?

Are there certain words that you can't have in the title of your book?


Can the publishing company you're working with tell you to change the title?




Are there rules when it comes to naming your book?
There are words and phrases that most publishers are very unlikely to use in book titles - things that are for the time period offensive or vulgar.





Generally, publishers will consider the author's preferred title, but ultimately they will want a title with the best market potential. They do not want to loose money on an otherwise good book because the title is bad. Often authors choose overly cryptic or bland titles (you can not imagine how many manuscripts are submitted every year with very similar titles like "Dark Mist"). If you really dislike the publisher's suggested title, your agent can help you find one the publisher will accept.





Cover art, too, is something the publisher has the final decision on. What the author envisions may not meet the current marketing trend. You may get to have an opinion on what they want to use, but again, unless you really dislike it, you're best move is to put your faith in their marketing expertise (this is their business and they hire knowledgeable people).





Self-publishers claim that the traditional houses somehow cheat authors out of the "big decisions" like title and art work choices, and they use that to bait new authors into their scams. Most authors do not have the required marketing skills and experience to make those decisions. Selfpublishers do not care if a book sells or not since they make their money off the author, not from actual sales (real publishers pay the author and make their profit from sales).


















Reply:Not really, unless you are trying to impersonate another book in order to trick consumers. You can't name your book Twilight 2, although you could name it Twilight as long as it wasn't about vampires (what is that book about?)





I would guess authors do choose their cover art based on a long-term relationships between authors and illustrators. Roald Dahl's illustrator is the only one I can think of right now, but that guy/girl did all his books.
Reply:The publisher will probably help with the title. They will also provide cover art. You'll have to be a best-selling author to have anything to say about the cover. You have to realize that the title, the cover art and the flap copy are all done to help sell the book. Publishers have people who know what will sell the best.
Reply:Publishing companies usually to change the title, actually, although the author usually has final say. Most of the time, cover-art comes from the publication company, too. They want something really eye-catching. I imagine that the author might have some choice, though.
Reply:My publisher had me send them the name that I wanted then told me that I needed to also list several other alternatives in case the title wasn't available or marketable.


As for coverart it depends on the publisher. My created my for me and ask if I liked it.
Reply:Most of the time the title is chosen by the publisher. Yet, you can make your own suggestions. For what I know, there are no rules, so to speak. Certainly a nice metaphor about current events or ways of saying is quite alluring.





Best of all!
Reply:Most of the time authors chose their own title and then their publishers or something "advise them" to chose something along those lines but more catchy if needed.





And as far as rules I'm not completely sure but I know it can't be any copyright or registered trade mark. Besides that I believe its free game