Forums » Smalltalk » Help Pick My Novel Title!

Hello friends, I am in need of input from people that are not me!

I'm trying to settle on a suitable title for my novel, and I'm having some problems, so I'd love your input. I'm looking for a title that will engage readers, make them curious or interested. So I'm going to do this in a very certain way.

1. Choose a novel title that you would pick up if you saw it on a shelf:

Tracking Terrorists: The Search for Molly Wright

Rogue Freedom

Unfettered Freedom

2. AFTER you have chosen which of the two titles above you like more, please see here for the plot:
Carson is your everyday guy. He enjoys mystery novels and DIY projects, and works a normal 9-5 desk job. However, after an attack on the Department of Defense, his life is anything but normal. Carson discovers that his wife, personal aide to the Secretary of Defense, has been kidnapped by terrorists during the attack. Together with some friends, Carson goes against all odds and undertakes a rogue mission to rescue his wife.

3. Now that you have read the plot, please choose the title that you like the most:

Tracking Terrorists: The Search for Molly Wright

Rogue Freedom

Unfettered Freedom


Thank you!!

Celestina the greatest

Tracking terrorists good luck on your writing endouvors.

At first, I was going to choose Unfettered Freedom... Until I read the plot.

I have to go with Tracking Terrorists as well: gets the point across while catching the eye!

I am going to go with Unfettered Freedom before and after. The Tracking Terrorists options to me sounds a bit biographical/documentary nonfiction. Since it appears to be a fiction novel, I think Unfettered Freedom sounds better. If I saw both options on the shelf of a bookstore or listed in ebooks to purchase, I would be more likely to purchase Unfettered Freedom and less likely to purchase Tracking Terrorists: The Search for Molly Wright because it sounds too much like nonfiction and that's not really my jam. Plus I tend to be drawn to more vague titles than very clear specific ones. I'm more likely to be like 'huh what's this?' with a vague but strong title and pick up the book and read the summary than I am with a title that's really point blank.


In the end, you have to pick the title that you like the best, but I hope my opinion helps.


Good luck with your book!

My choice before and after is...

Tracking Terrorists: The Search for Molly Wright

Or...simply

The Search for Molly Wright

I agree with damnationfromafar that it sounds like non-fiction, but I still think it gives more information than Unfettered Freedom and it has a character's name in it, and that draws me in.

I think the "Tracking Terrorists" part with the semicolon is what makes it come off as non-fiction more than anything. Trying to think of other options I'm thinking "Hunting Terrorists: the search for Molly Wright?" "Chasing Down Terrorists: the Search for Molly Wright?" "Hunting Down Terrorists?" Or "The Hunt for Molly Wright?" but those sound the same. I guess it's the semi colon. I dunno. Just brainstorming.

But I think "tracking terrorists: the search for..." is a very interesting book title. I would pick up that book (because nonfiction is my jam...sometimes...).

So I would pick it up expecting nonfiction and then be like "oh it's not a true story," but then I would read the summary in the flap and decide that that was interesting, and that I might wanna read it!

Thanks everyone for your input, this is all definitely helpful!

Peeps, please feel free to continue giving me your opinions.

My biggest concern is that 'unfettered freedom' won't match the novel well, but I suppose that's up to me to make it properly incorporated?

Can I offer a title I thought of when I was reading the summary?

I immediately thought that 'Rogue Freedom' would be a good one. Because he and his friends essentially by going out on their own to find Molly, I'm guessing break quite a bit of laws, follow their own rules and instincts to get information and track the terrorists, and what not, so they're essentially going rogue, becoming their own sort of Rogue Group in order to free Molly, to get her her freedom back.

Oooo that's a pretty good one! I'll add that to the list!

I would probably go for Rogue Freedom or Unfettered Freedom.

For me, the word 'Terrorists' is an immediate turn off in a fiction book. It gives the impression of a super American gun toting, fighting for your freedoms, good white Americans vs evil brown person style story. I think the other two (and especially Rogue Freedom) gives the impression of a story with a more depth.