Title First?

SimonDoom

Kink Lord
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Apr 9, 2015
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Has anyone had a title pop into their head first, and then decided to write a story around the title? A story title came to me a few days ago that I just love, but when it came to me I had no plot or characters worked out. Thinking about the story has disrupted my previous writing plans. I'm completely sold on it, though, so I'm determined to write a story to live up to it.
 
Yes. Just finished it. Took me eight months to write it. The story, not the title. ;)
 
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It's happened to me a couple of times, but usually I at least get a character or a plot snippet to go along with it.
 
Several times. But even though the story gets written, the original title usually is changed by the time it gets published.
 
Yup. When the title” A Slut’s Triangle” and “Best Friends Forever” popped in my head, I immediately started working on both stories, recently finishing “AST” after almost 2years. It’s funny, but having a title up front makes writing a story much easier, but that’s just me🌹Kant👠👠👠
 
Sometimes but not always.

Recent ones in which the title started the idea for the story:

You who know
English Lane

There are some others in my long list but most of my story ideas start with imagining the ending.
 
Not only does the title pop in there, I sometimes just open Paintshop Pro and create a cover for the story once the title is firm. Whether our not I use the cover depends on where I publish the story.
 
Sometimes the title comes first, which makes it easier at the end when I have to decide what to call the story.
 
I need the title, it helps me focus, then I need the cover(when its an e-book) that helps even more.
 
Has anyone had a title pop into their head first, and then decided to write a story around the title? A story title came to me a few days ago that I just love, but when it came to me I had no plot or characters worked out. Thinking about the story has disrupted my previous writing plans. I'm completely sold on it, though, so I'm determined to write a story to live up to it.

Every time - the title and almost always a song to go with it plus some images of the main characters so I have them embedded in my thoughts when I'm writing.
 
my problem is the exact opposite. i get an idea, it grows in my head, i start writing with a one word dummy title. then, when the story is done, i have a hell of a time coming up with an interesting title. in my own estimation, i usually fail.
 
My normal pattern is to think of the title shortly after I start the story, but after I've developed the basic plot and characters. The title helps me focus on the essential concept of the story. But in the most recent case I thought up a title without a plot or characters in mind -- just the vague concept suggested by the title. So I am in the process of coming up with a plot that makes sense of the title. Kind of backwards, I think.
 
Has anyone had a title pop into their head first, and then decided to write a story around the title? A story title came to me a few days ago that I just love, but when it came to me I had no plot or characters worked out. Thinking about the story has disrupted my previous writing plans. I'm completely sold on it, though, so I'm determined to write a story to live up to it.

Not me, the two hardest chores in writing for me is coming up with a title, and the character names. A title is so important, and I suck at it.
 
Nope. Story idea always first, usually something tiny; then a working title usually emerges from the story itself.
 
Nope. Story idea always first, usually something tiny; then a working title usually emerges from the story itself.

I have stories that didn't get a title until I gave them to Laurel, but in most cases the title arose from the story while I wrote it. My stories usually start with characters and plot.
 
Happens to me frequently. Story first to title first, I'd say 70/30.

Sometimes, catching titles inspire stories.
 
Bisque-et! (spoken with a French occont)

What's your favourite title-in-waiting atm?

Le hmmmm...

Either 'Jo'sama's Apartment' or 'My Pet Valkyrie', methinks. There's another called 'Maul In The Family', but if I write it, I probably won't post it here on Lit...
 
my problem is the exact opposite. i get an idea, it grows in my head, i start writing with a one word dummy title. then, when the story is done, i have a hell of a time coming up with an interesting title. in my own estimation, i usually fail.

This is me as well. All of my stories are "some character's name" until I get ready to submit and then I try to come up with something. Most of my good titles were suggested by my muse :eek:
 
I’ve got a few titles looking for stories to crown, but there’s only one I’m hellbent on using: The Male Glaze
 
Let's see... a quick run down of a fraction of the title first ideas with incomplete, abandoned, or no story yet. I'll just go with the ones I've at least mocked up covers for...

Air T-N-A, Angel On Top, At Heaven's Bate, Jessica's Rabbit Hole, Latecomers, Not All That's Wet, Plowed, Hooters, Gates of Enchantment, Something Familiar, A Thief N' the Knight, Violet Valentine, When He Moves On, Restoring Faith

Two that just got finished stories and are in editing: Coming In Third, Smooth Operator.

I've got much larger lists of titles that are nothing but titles.

So, yeah :D
 
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