What do you put in that space at the top of the manuscript that reads “Untitled”? One kind of title will sell and another won’t. In her Guardian blog, Meg Rosoff wittily considers the options.

I’m thinking of calling my next novel Sodomised Roughly by Pirates.

OK, it’s kind of a desperate measure. But the book is just about finished, edited, and out of my hands. I’ve tied up the plot, the characters ring true, the ending makes even me cry. People are starting to read it. My PR is desperate to build buzz. And at the moment, this deathless work of prose is called (wait for it): Great Title Goes Here.

I says, Arrrrr, Meggy. It’s funny, I spent the last four years writing a book with a title I chose early on. The title was a done deal as far as I was concerned. Then the book evolved and it didn’t really fit anymore, but it was like renaming your child at age four.  Neither easy nor kind. In the last days before I sent it to my new publisher, I changed the title. And despite the fact that I sometimes still think of the book under its old title, as does my editor, I’m told,  I’m immensely relieved that I did.