Good and Bad Story Titles

[JennyCapricorn]

Something being connected to a larger collection of stories might be a turn off to other readers, because some of them will feel like they need to read the others before they read this one.

If its not a standalone having the titles be similar to each other in some fashion is nice.

But if it's a standalone that just so happens to be related to another story, then I make no mention of this until the end where I've put up authors notes pointing out other works in which you can find the same characters. I've not gotten any complaints about this.

(We also violated another taboo by having the chapters jump between the BDSM and Lesbian Sex categories based on content which I have been told does not help)

 

[NuclearFairy]

(We also violated another taboo by having the chapters jump between the BDSM and Lesbian Sex categories based on content which I have been told does not help)

I've heard it both ways. It's really hard to say on that one.

 

[Writer61]

And then I saw a comment on a story where the commenter said he knocked a star off because the title didn't reference the existing connected stories.

Does anyone have a feeling on both the protocol of this, or whether including the larger collection title makes the stories more or less enticing to the reader?

I have three series at the moment and have taken a different approach with each:

• The Fall of Laura: series name - part 1, 2, etc.
• Adam in Asia: series name - story title
• Adam in Public: story title (although most started Naked in)

So far, there have been no comments for/against, and there is no apparent difference in the ratings either.

 

[djrip]

I go for informative and a little titillating but not just a blatant statement of what happens.

Wrong Twin Rubdown
Bikini Barista Sleepover
New RA at the Girls' Dorm

But I have some that are more vague. They make reference to their stories but it might not be clear what they're referring to until reading them.

New Rules - this was for a song-based stories event and is from the song by Dua Lipa.
Moving Day
An Eye For Love
Scales on Skin

A name of a character or organization from the story can fit:

Sarah's New Job
Vixen Cruise Lines

How about informative of content, with a name from the story, and a little sexual innuendo on the side?

Massaging the Pussycats

 

[SkyBubble]

Some titles of mine. I'll leave it to you to judge whether they're good or bad. I liked them.

A Bed of Rosemary
Bed, Body, and Belinda
Christmas Carol
Dorothy Surrenders
Gretchen's Unexpected Passion
Hitting a High Note
Libby Takes a Ride
Love Is in the Cards
Seducing Betty Ann
The Deflowering of Rebecca
The Kiss
The Note
Virgin Mary