Lets talk "Titles"

[Green_Gem]

I don't know if it's only me, but often, I will be halfway through a story or even have one completed and not have a suitable title. I've written one or two stories where the title came to me as soon as I started writing, but more often than not I will refer to it, or think of it as " my legal story" or whatever the theme is about. When I'm finished, I then have to think up a title that appeals to me.

I recently read a book about creative writing and the author said that not having a title when you are writing a story or novel is like having a baby without a name, so in his view it was an absolute must to have a working title.

I'm curious about other writer's views on titles and how they come up with them. It would also be interesting to know what kind of titles make you click on a story and which are instant ignores.

Thanks,

Green_Gem

 

[dreaming_lilith]

Easier question first: the titles that seem a bit newcreative or myserious are the ones i usually click on - a title where the writer has managed to put an interesting meaning in just a few words.

When I write a story, usually I just open Word and start writing, without having any idea what will come as I just let the words come out. Then when I edit the first time i modify the story a bit and meanwhile I come up with a name that I think is suiting.

 

[lucky-E-leven]

I never have a title when I begin a piece. I normally find something within the story that I think works well as a title. Sometimes it's an idea, but many times it's a phrase or a few words that sum up the tale.

I feel restricted by titling a story too soon. Like I'm trying to fit into it or something.

Also, I do not choose a book by its title. I've been mislead so many times that I finally just stopped using the title as an indicator to what's inside. Much happier now and enjoy titles once again.

~lucky

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Usually the story gives me the title. A line, a point of reference something in the story will stick out. I rarely start with a working title.

-Colly

 

[Guest]

Unless it's a sequel,

I rarely have a working title.

Sometimes during the writing process an appropriate or even clever (hey - it could happen!) title will appear.

Other times I agonize and wonder and work and try to come up with something original. (The first three stories I submitted here have pretty lame titles. I'd really like to go back and re-name them someday!)

 

[pixiesjuice]

I use nonsense titles until i submit... then i get stumped. If nothing springs to mind then I usually give a one word title. It's a real cop out i guess.

 

[Guest]

 

[Sabledrake]

Usually, I know the title before I even start writing. There've been times, though, when I get all the way through a story and still haven't come up with a title that I like. Or the story will take some weird turn and no longer fit, so I'll have to change it.

And then there's the case of my first book (a fantasy novel), which was originally titled "Starlight and Shadow." The 'publisher' -- and I use the term very bitterly and loosely here -- didn't like it. I told my husband, "Watch, I'll end up calling it something like 'Curse of the Shadow Beasts.'" And, after a couple of weeks of fretting and thinking and rejecting other titles, lo and behold ... Curse of the Shadow Beasts

:: rueful head shake ::

Ah, well.

It's also tricky when I have a really neat title in mind and then can't come up with a story that does it justice!

Sabledrake

 

[Black Tulip]

I start writing with a vague idea in my head. Most of the times I have a title right away. The story comes after that. Then, when the story is finished I see if the title is still fitting.

Sometimes the story starts developing on its own, so I have to change the title because it no longer fits.

I try to come up with titles that are teasing, make readers curious. Not saying I succeed though.

 

[lewdandlicentious]

Edited to read:

Sorry,

I thought this thread was called:

"Let's talk titties!"

 

[pop_54]

The title's easy, it's the bloody story that's the nightmare to write.

I often just make one up as I go along to be honest about it, I start with a bit of a working title, but almost always change it by the end of the tale.

Just use a snappy line from the story if all else fails.

 

[Boxlicker101]

Most of my stories have innocuous titles because I am trying to show that the stories are part of a series. I believe the description is more of a grabber than the title because it is longer and there seems to be more leeway. Instead of titling a story "I Call on Lynn" I could name it "I Fuck Lynn in the Ass", which would be descriptive of this particular story but it doesn't seem right for the title to be X-Rated even though the story is.

 

[damppanties]

I don't know if it's only me, but often, I will be halfway through a story or even have one completed and not have a suitable title.

Not just you. I currently have a series in progress and have written two parts - about 10,000 words and there's no title. It sits on my hard drive, called 1,1 and 1,2.

Then I have one story which started as a title. I mean the title came to me first and I started writing the story based on those four words.

The majority of my stories however, are given titles after the editing is done and at the last possible moment. I hate the title and blurb part of the stories.

 

[A7inchPhildo]

I need to have the title to write.

First I find a story idea or several ideas compressed into a thought.

Then I need a title to stay on track.

Like sable mentioned the title may change if the story twists to far. But most time the title had more thought than just a hat pick.

People like to click on interesting key words jumbled together. I like to have people read the story long after it is off the new list.

Now the description and category I only pick as I submit the story.

Phildo

 

[juanjsojr]

not easy

sometimes it's not easy to find a good title for a story I had alittle hard time finding a good title for mine but it work out

 

[dr_mabeuse]

Everyone talks about how the first sentence in a story should be the best and should grab the reader. The truth is, the title is the first thing the reader sees, and should get at least as much attention as the first sentence.

That being said, I'm very lazy about titles, although it's something I always mean to work on. Normally I'd be happy titling my stories with the main character's name or some innocuous reference, but lately I've been trying to go over the top, using the title to do a little bit of advertising or attention grabbing. My most recent story started out as "Talia" but will be submitted as "Three Lizards in the City of Glass", taken from an image in the story. My novella "The House on Charlevoix Street" was retitled by the publisher as "Abigail's Awakening". It's trite, but when you're competing for readers it doesn't hurt to have something lurid and descriptive flying from the mast.

---dr.M.