The world of traditional book publishing is fascinating and inspiring, but it can often feel confusing and overwhelming. Taking a story and turning it into a finished picture book is a more laborious and time-confusing process than I could have ever imagined.
One aspect of publishing that I will admit I knew nothing about prior to becoming an author is the process of picking a picture book’s title.
My track record in this area is decidedly mixed. If we look at the three picture books I’ve already published, as well as the three that are coming out in 2022, three were published under the title I originally imagined, while the others had their titles either reworked or changed entirely before publication. Thinking up catchy titles is apparently not exactly my strong suit!
My first picture book, Wild One, was originally titled Wildest One, which my editor and I both agreed was a bit of a mouthful when read aloud. A Good Day for Ducks was submitted as Rain is Falling, which I think we can all agree is nowhere near as charming as the name Pajama Press came up with! Queenie Quail Can’t Keep Up, on the other hand, was submitted and published under the same name, as were two of my upcoming books, Animals Move and Wild About Camping. My unannounced third release of 2022 is another example of a story where the publisher completely scrapped my working title, and the new title is once again so much more interesting and evocative than the one I originally devised!
Working with a traditional publisher is an exercise in compromise, and that includes things like coming up with titles and designing covers (which deserves a post all of its own). Had I had any serious concerns with the titles my publishers proposed, I’m sure I could have brought the matter up with my editors, who have always been supportive and engaged and open to my ideas and suggestions. I tend to be pretty easy going when it comes to my stories, however, and I’m usually pretty happy to just let the experts take the lead!
With a smaller publisher, the process of picking a title can be relatively straight forward. Your editor might suggest a title, which gets approved by the publisher and author. In a larger publishing house, there might be more steps, and people, involved – meetings with the art department, the marketing department, the publisher, etc. Either way, a catchy title can make all the difference when selling and promoting a picture book, and it’s a decision that is typically given a good deal of thought and consideration, whoever ends up being involved in the selection process.
Compromise means trusting the knowledge and expertise of your team, and knowing when to stand your ground, and when to graciously concede. If the thought of allowing someone else to change the title of your story seems unbearable, traditional publishing might not be the best path for you, and you might instead prefer the level of creative control that comes with self-publishing (though of course that route presents its own challenges). Honestly, once I’ve finished writing a story I’m usually already thinking about the next one I want to work on, and I’m usually more than happy to hand control over to my skilled editors!
If you’ve had experience in this area of publishing, I’d love it if you shared your thoughts with us in the comments below!