Titles can be between one word and a phrase. It can be just about anything. It can be a phrase from the book, it can be the character's name or a place in the story. It can be a single idea that relates to the story. It doesn't even have to relate to the story--just something that grabs your attention.
Here's what I've got between what I've written already and what I have planned to write in the future (the titles are ready to go for the stories).
Finished books include: Home, Stolen, Mistaken, and Broken.
Waiting to be written include: Forgotten, S.O.S., Bezulub, Switched, Azeract, Mendevil, Eternal, Cinder, Delusion, and Tomorrow.
Stolen, Mistaken, Forgotten, and Switched are part of a "collection" called Identity so you have Stolen Identity, Mistaken Identity, and so forth. I thought it was a clever way to title the books. It's a series that isn't a series. And you can do that--there isn't a rule that says you can't. If there is, then I guess I broke it. Not sorry.
Bezulub and Azeract also belong to a series. Those are character names, the main character of that story. I always wanted to write a story with the character's name. When I wrote Alien Taskforce, I realized that each of the main characters had their own stories to tell and thought it would be a waste if I didn't share their stories. It was one of those a-ha moments for me.
The other books, the word summed it up and just made sense. Cinder is my version of Cinderella with a unique story that is original. Delusion is about a delusional character that lives a double life and the woman who takes back her life. Tomorrow is a science fiction time travel story (its going to be permafree once it's written). Eternal is about a woman who can't be killed. And so forth. Sometimes, you just have to go with what makes sense for your story. There's no science for it, it's just preference.
Since there isn't a copyright for titles, you're going to see a lot of stories with the same title. Sometimes, one word makes your story pop. Sometimes, you want to avoid it and go with a phrase. The more words, the harder it will be replicated by another book. Of course, that isn't always true but most likely. I mean the odds are in your favor, the longer the title. So, it's up to you. Just go with something that moves you and draws you in. If that happens to be one word--go for it.
What one-word titles do you have?
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