So, you’re writing a fantasy novel? Have a plot in mind and characters? The good news is you’re almost done writing your novel. The bad news, for most people: Now comes the time to think up a title. When picking a fantasy novel’s title, or any title of any book, grabbing the reader’s attention is important immediately. After all, when your reader’s in a bookstore looking for something to read, most bookstores shelve the books so only the title is visible on the spine. In which case, cover art won’t catch the eye, so the title of the book has to be catchy. It could mean the difference between mediocre sales and gigantic sales.
The title of a novel can reflect several things: theme, motif (if part of a series), or a character or item that features prominently.
Theme, not to be confused with plot, is the message meant to be conveyed by the story. Plot, on the other hand, is the situation that brings that theme to light. In fantasy novels, common example themes are “Magic is an evil force.” (most JRPGs – not novels, but still) “Good always triumphs.” (ALMOST EVERYTHING IN EXISTENCE) “Even the most lowly person can make something great of themselves if they follow their destiny.” (LotR) “Love is the most important virtue one can have.” (Harry Potter)
Motif is a common thread that runs throughout a series of fantasy novels. In the Harry Potter series, each novel’s title starts with Harry Potter and… This implies that the motif is the adventures of Harry, and the other thing is whatever the other object is. Philosopher’s Stone is a given shoo-in, because of the legend. Chamber of Secrets? In a fantasy novel, people naturally love to read about secret things, so that’s a hook. Prisoner of Azkaban, with Prisoner, implies a severe danger. So this thread continues through Deathly Hallows. Half-Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows had people asking “Who is the Half-Blood Prince/What are the Deathly Hallows?”
Characters are obvious: the beings that are written about in a fantasy novel. Elves, humans, angels and other races – these are the actors of the play. Involving characters can be a good start, especially if the fantasy story is focused on them. The title works even better if the name sounds like something that could be other than a person’s name, like Eragon. Though I’m loath to use that novel as an example for anything, it makes sense because the word could be anything: a weapon, the entire world, or the character himself. Try not to be too obvious – something like The Adventures of Luke Starkiller (the original title for A New Hope‘s novelization) sounds completely bleah to me. Thank Heaven Lucas changed it. On this note, you can also use exotic-sounding words from our actual languages for your novel titles, like Jacqueline Carey did for the third novel of the Kushiel series: Kushiel’s Avatar. If a potential reader of this book knew that definition (and also knew about Terre de Ange being watched/governed by angels) they’d infer that Kushiel the angel was likely going to show up in Terre de Ange and do stuff.
Titles of fantasy novels can also feature objects, like the Rings of Power, or the various magical items in the Harry Potter series, or The Sword of Shannara. If there is a magical weapon featured in a novel, consider what effect or importance it has to the plot. If the plot centres around it, use it as a title.
Place names are another possibility. In the Forgotten Realms series, some of the novels have titles like Icewind Dale. In which Drizzt meets Wulfgar, if I recall right. The use of place names as fantasy novel titles works best if the book is part of a series that focuses on a hero’s adventures.
Keep these factors and hints in mind when writing a fantasy novel and choosing its title, and it will be easier. An important caveat though: Don’t expect to keep the first title. It will, more than likely, be changed or requested to be changed by your publisher or agent.
