Problems with Story titles?

[deathlynx]

And thread titles apparently

Then again, I haven't caught much in Erotic Couplings, Novels, T&M EV or anythign else lately.. Authors! PLEASE!!!! Get some creative titles going, hey?

So does anyone else have problems trying to come up with interesting titles? I've often heard that the hardest part about writing a story is giving it a title...So, anyone have any suggestions for how to write a catchy title?

 

[Liar]

Problem with titles...yah, I have bloody problems with bloody titles. Because I want my titles to be witty, different and, for some reason, tasteful.

Which means "Deepthroated by Dentist" is not a title you'll ever see from me. Even if that's what the story is about. I'd probably end up calling it something totally obtuse and non-sexual, and you'd have to read the whole story to go "Ah-ha, so that's what the title was all about!" at the end.

Problem is, "Deepthroated by Dentist" sells. With that, I'd actually get people to read my stuff once in a while.

 

[Aurora Black]

..........................................................................

 

[deathlynx]

Well, one nice thing about the Halloween contest is that I don't have to worry about thinking up a title!

I completely agree Liar...Although I think my titles are usually pretty bland I haven't usually named them anything as banal as "Deepthroat. . ."

 

[AchtungNight]

Usually titles come easily to me (most of the time I do the titles before the actual story), but right now I'm having a little difficulty.

My suggestion is for you to sit down with a pen and paper and think about the story as a whole. Think about the message that you want to convey. Jot down everything you come up with, both good and bad, and look at the list. Go over them one by one and ask yourself if they capture the spirit of your story. If so, narrow them down. If not, toss them.

That's how I usually come up with titles.

 

[kendo1]

Nope. No problem.
Titles? I've got titles.
It's the writing...

Ken

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

"The 10,000,000 Pound Cock". See how easy that is? The problem is coming up with a title that is appropriate to the story, however.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I hate coming up with titles, and I am not happy with any of mine.

My working titles are always the names of the protagonists- sometimes I can't get away from them.

 

[CharleyH]

And thread titles apparently


So does anyone else have problems trying to come up with interesting titles? I've often heard that the hardest part about writing a story is giving it a title...So, anyone have any suggestions for how to write a catchy title?

Hm well I am dull, but my stories are not and they are much more difficult than their titles. I like two word simplistic titles for the "THE STORY" Cool title, even cooler story.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

Hm well I am dull, but my stories are not and they are much more difficult than their titles. I like two word simplistic titles for the "THE STORY" Cool title, even cooler story.

The problem, Charley, is that the title is the "hook" that gets the pervs on Lit to read you work. You can have a cool title of any kind but it's a guessing game to come up with one that works both with your story and catches the reader's eye.

 

[AngeloMichael]

Nope. No problem.
Titles? I've got titles.
It's the writing...

Ken

Aye.



Creating a title is usually one of my most favorite parts.

 

[AngeloMichael]

The problem, Charley, is that the title is the "hook" that gets the pervs on Lit to read you work. You can have a cool title of any kind but it's a guessing game to come up with one that works both with your story and catches the reader's eye.

I usually let myself be as creative as I can with the title and rely on the subject line to be the hook and try to make that as suggestive as possible.

 

[CharleyH]

The problem, Charley, is that the title is the "hook" that gets the pervs on Lit to read you work. You can have a cool title of any kind but it's a guessing game to come up with one that works both with your story and catches the reader's eye.

But Jenny J? Do you want pervs to read your sex or do you want people to read your stories? Why garner the common denominator with a title? Why complain when pervs read your story and comment badly if you are writing for pervs?? (not you - its a general statement).

 

[sethp]

titles have to sell

Well that's hard. You want the title to sell so that more people read..and if your story is well read than they'll read the rest of your stories. I had two good, sexual titles and both are read more than the boring titles. What I want to do next is be a little more tasteful and thoughtful with my titles but still generate that sexual curiosity that makes people read them.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

But Jenny J? Do you want pervs to read your sex or do you want people to read your stories? Why garner the common denominator with a title? Why complain when pervs read your story and comment badly if you are writing for pervs?? (not you - its a general statement).

I understood the comment, Charley

Isn't the answer both? That throws another dimension in and raises a question: How many readers on Lit are intersted in the STORY and how many are reading with the soul purpose of jerking or fingering themselve?

I don't know. But I doubt it would change the title.

 

[deathlynx]

Hm well I am dull, but my stories are not and they are much more difficult than their titles. I like two word simplistic titles for the "THE STORY" Cool title, even cooler story.

Mine tend to be very simmilar...I mean "The Demon"? To be honest I think most of my stories titles are actually the WiP titles rather than the finished titles but I never can figure out the finished ones so they end up staying...

 

[Guest]

.....

 

[deathlynx]

Latest Submission (due out any day) :
Title: Tryst of Fate
Tagline: Two's company, Three's a fine corporation.
Howzzat for creative?

See? THAT's what I'm talking about! Great title and even better tagline!

 

[CharleyH]

I understood the comment, Charley

Isn't the answer both? That throws another dimension in and raises a question: How many readers on Lit are intersted in the STORY and how many are reading with the soul purpose of jerking or fingering themselve?

I don't know. But I doubt it would change the title.

you are right for now

 

[rgraham666]

Nope, never had major problems with title or tagline.

However, I don't know if they're any good for Erotic Couplings, which is where I believe most of the strokers go. My EC stories are my worst rated.

I guess 'Fucked by a Hairdresser' would have worked better than 'A Treat for Halloween'.

 

[CharleyH]

I guess 'Fucked by a Hairdresser' would have worked better than 'A Treat for Halloween'.

lol good one - lol

 

[English Lady]

titles are not my forte, vella has named one of my stories and logo came up with the tag line. My husband often comes up with my titles, he's very good at it.

 

[Jenny_Jackson]

titles are not my forte, vella has named one of my stories and logo came up with the tag line. My husband often comes up with my titles, he's very good at it.

I think what Charley is driving at, English Lady is that Titles and the first few lines of text are all you have to grab the readers attention with the competition on Lit. If you don't grab him/her in the first one or two minutes he will go on to the next story and leave your's unread.

That's a sad thought since many readers miss good stories because of that fact.

 

[English Lady]

I think what Charley is driving at, English Lady is that Titles and the first few lines of text are all you have to grab the readers attention with the competition on Lit. If you don't grab him/her in the first one or two minutes he will go on to the next story and leave your's unread.

That's a sad thought since many readers miss good stories because of that fact.

well that is probably quite true, but then a book on a library shelf only has it's title, picture and blurb on th back to attract folk. I guess it's part of the challenging of doing this authorly stuff!

 

[deathlynx]

well that is probably quite true, but then a book on a library shelf only has it's title, picture and blurb on th back to attract folk. I guess it's part of the challenging of doing this authorly stuff!

Yeah, but we don't even get the cool picture! I'll be honest and admit it...there have been a number of books I've picked up simply because the picture on the cover grabbed me...now granted I wouldn't have bought it if not for the author or the description but for me in a bookstore (a dangerous combination to be sure) it's all about the authors, covers and descriptions...Heck I usually can't remember the names of most books I've read, but the plots stick...