| Anton wanted one of us to go with that title, so I took it. Primarily because I feel compelled to give a top quality answer, and give it the serious consideration and the respect it deserves. So, gather around, shut up and sit on your freakin' quiet mats. *sighs, lights up crack pipe (just to relax, nothing wrong with that)*  When a writer loves a story very much, like the way I love your mommy (yes. YOUR mommy), the writer thinks and thinks, sucks on pen caps, sometimes gets out of breath from all the strenuous thinking--sweat may be involved--and spits out words all over the top of the story's page. It can really be quite messy. Nine months later--give or take a week--a shiny new title is born.Now, go take your naps while the grown ups talk titles. Titles are a bitch, right? It seems like you can come up with a great title and then the story doesn't cooperate, or you've got a story you love and the title just won't pop into your head, or worse yet, onto the page. I can't help you with the first dilemma--the story either shows its face or it doesn't--but once you've got yourself a decent story, you've got yourself a title. You just have to look for it. Here's how... 1. Themes. Is there a predominant theme at work? Loss, grief, longing, revenge (oh, if it were only revenge), redemption? Can you work this theme into a title? 2. Character traits. Does your main character have some special trait that you can harvest for a snappy title? I'll bet they do. 3. Try a title generator like this one. Even if you come up with crappy titles, there might be something close to good. Even a little spark can catch fire. 4. Villains! Villains! Villains! They're a great resource for titling. Who you got? Can you elude to their dastardly scheme without giving away the plot? Then do it! That's it. It's late. I'm tapped. But, before I go...one more thing...  |
Blog Archives
Latest Entries
Coming Soon
I'm totally stealing "Villains! Villains! Villains!" for my cabaret-set urban fantasy. Which I'm not writing and in fact just thought of this minute, but the title totally would be awesome for such a book, no?
Hmm. Would work even better for a cabaret-set thriller...
Mark: I have a new title for you! And it's a good one- I came up with it in the shower. Oh, though it might be best for a chapter or short story... anyway, enough build-up. *fanfare*
For the Love of Brains
That title generator is awesome. Way too much fun. Like Mad Libs for writers!
Well, I'll say this for the title generator: its results were... unique.
My titling deficiencies cannot be overcome even with the use of technology!
Stacia,
maybe we should pitch an anthology with that title...? The LRA Presents...
Cabaret-set urban fantasy? Happy Hour has an intestine exposing burlesque show. In fact, scrolling down to Anton's comment, I think it's a good idea to go anthology. Cabaret is an awesome theme!
Fanboy Boy would work hard to get something in that anthology to be an associate league member!
It would be awesome if you guys did an anthology together... you could include your story here for us hanger-oners. :)
Missy. I. Love. Your. Title.
For the Love of Brains
Genius.
*checks halloween banner* But there's only three people in that pic! Where are the other two?
Have a lovely day! :-)
Does the picture look familiar?
It's the trick or treaters from Halloween 3: Season of the Witch!
God I hated that flick!
you want to hear something weird? At first, I thought that picture was the Magi on their way to Bethlehem. Think I need to get my eyes checked. >_< o_o
And my mommy loves you too, Mark.
Problem with themes is that loss, grief and revenge all apply to my books, but they don't make the best titles for romances. Hm.
That title generator was something: Throbbing Swords of Sex, anyone?
"Throbbing Swords of Sex"? I think I'd read it... ;)
Mark- glad you like it. How come I come up with titles more easily for you than me? :P
Grrr - don't talk to me about titles. Right now I have a title that it's driving me crazy on account of having no plot whatsoever to go with it. Most annoying.
It would be antho-rific!