tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post5875001550155603184..comments2023-10-11T09:22:33.136-04:00Comments on Paperback Writer: Playing with TitlesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-35516500896649122332010-10-23T14:54:07.085-04:002010-10-23T14:54:07.085-04:00I obsess about titles, changing them a dozen times...I obsess about titles, changing them a dozen times at least. <br /><br />I did think of a great title for one of my plays, but now I can't use it... since REMEMBER ME is a movie. Darn! The plot is completely different, but now the title is taken. Can I say "Darn!" again?Dr. Cheryl Carvajalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15323455180953109460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-23359802785098134572010-10-22T23:35:01.010-04:002010-10-22T23:35:01.010-04:00Great post! And some awesome links here too.
Usua...Great post! And some awesome links here too.<br /><br />Usually I go with a working title until it's time to send my story out or until I get hit with a flash of inspiration. My titles generally come from a phrase somewhere in my story that resonates with the whole.<br /><br /><a href="http://critterproject.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">The CRITTER Project</a> and <a href="http://nakedwithoutapen.blogspot.com/" rel="nofollow">Naked Without a Pen</a>Lemurhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05310054223012003724noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-91515639729918388062010-10-22T14:56:24.939-04:002010-10-22T14:56:24.939-04:00For me the titles come out of the blue, in reality...For me the titles come out of the blue, in reality, I'm thinking about them quietly, until they run outside for a walk and I catch them.Jamiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02710267000852647660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-71067308453803612262010-10-22T13:07:01.705-04:002010-10-22T13:07:01.705-04:00Thanks! It helps a lot! I'll do some major bra...Thanks! It helps a lot! I'll do some major brainstorming this week.Didiehttp://www.lunatic-extraordinaire.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-19681481785777046152010-10-22T12:54:21.755-04:002010-10-22T12:54:21.755-04:00Didie wrote: How do you find the suitable title f...Didie wrote: <i> How do you find the suitable title for your books serie if you're not sure yet where the serie is heading to?</i><br /><br />I think in a situation like that it's best not to title the series until you have an idea of where you're going with it (and it doesn't hurt to sit down and think about what you want to do with the series, how many books you want to write, and in what direction you want to take it. Unless you're under contract, you can always change things if something in the series shifts.) <br /><br />You might also consider going with a thematic series name that relates to the specific area of genre you're writing in, or some unique aspect of your world-building. Look for any common elements all the books share and use those as your keywords. If you have one protagonist for the series, you can even build something on him/her name, occupation or situation.the authorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03220786472896283714noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-21809317531751299472010-10-22T12:27:36.680-04:002010-10-22T12:27:36.680-04:00Oh mi gosh. I thought I was the ONLY one with this...Oh mi gosh. I thought I was the ONLY one with this (not-so-crazy-after-all) obssession. Most of the time, I title my story before I even have the story. And once I name it, I can't change it because it changes the whole story (same thing goes for my characters... If I even dare to change one letter in their names, they're not the same character anymore. It's so weird).<br /><br />I have a quick question for you. How do you find the suitable title for your books serie if you're not sure yet where the serie is heading to?Didiehttp://www.lunatic-extraordinaire.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-65944194512505393332010-10-22T10:30:48.635-04:002010-10-22T10:30:48.635-04:00Thanks for this posting. I'm editing the first...Thanks for this posting. I'm editing the first draft of my first novel--it's title-less. This hasn't concerned me, but the closer I get to wrapping it up, the closer I get to the point where I do need a title. <br />Thanks for tools and ideas--they look like fun and hopefully will push me in one direction or the other.<br />KristenAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-32887915525830704552010-10-21T10:52:06.410-04:002010-10-21T10:52:06.410-04:00I have a beef with titles. I really can't stan...I have a beef with titles. I really can't stand the abstract ones. I reread books so if I'm scanning my shelves, I want to instantly remember what the book was about when I read the title. In order to do that, it's got to be about the main hook in the story. The repeating concept or the one thing everyone's desperate to get.<br /><br />John J. Nance's Orbit is a million times better than his Medusa's Child. I remember Orbit because it took place in a shuttle orbiting the Earth. I'd have to read a description or scan the book a bit to remember what the heck Medusa's Child was about. It's a clever title but it tells me nothing.<br /><br />I've got a million Phyllis Whitney books sitting on the shelf. I remember Black Amber because that was a secret signal in the book for opium shipments. All her other titles, like Emerald and Hunter's Green. I really can't say. (And I just now realize most of her books are based on colors. Weird.)Mandanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-88507397359288922612010-10-21T10:35:12.388-04:002010-10-21T10:35:12.388-04:00I'm like you. If I don't have a decent tit...I'm like you. If I don't have a decent title in place before I start I almost never find one I truly like, or become anxious and by the end can't think of anything I like at all.<br /><br />Perfect timing as I'm finishing up a book with a title I really like that fits the book, but is so bland I know I need alternatives. <br /><br />And I'll say it again: I HATE matchy-matchy titles. I can never remember which order they go in. Your Kyndred series is perfect in that it has a theme but I'm not about to confuse Shadowlight and Dreamveil.Jess Tudorhttp://www.jessicatudor.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-7545032863057207802010-10-21T10:23:06.216-04:002010-10-21T10:23:06.216-04:00This is exactly what I needed today. My current wo...This is exactly what I needed today. My current working title isn't...quite...right. Like the difference between lightning and a lightning bug, right?<br /><br />I suspect these links will help. Thanks. :)Selahnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-15193683712086376232010-10-21T09:18:04.548-04:002010-10-21T09:18:04.548-04:00Thinking up perfect titles is more stress than I n...Thinking up perfect titles is more stress than I need in my life. I think that books become their titles, the same way that children become their names. As long as I'm happy with a title, as long as it's good enough, I will title my story and move on.<br /><br />It's funny because I will work and work and work to make every word of the actual story perfect. I wonder why I don't consider the title worthy of that same labor?Margaret Yanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06464624057491288244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-32552553096719655662010-10-21T08:03:21.938-04:002010-10-21T08:03:21.938-04:00There is nothing worse than getting stuck with a g...There is nothing worse than getting stuck with a generic title. Generic title and generic cover together = kiss of death for sales. Unfortunately you can get stuck with both despite best efforts.<br /><br />Love the resources for titles here!Charlene Tegliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01483186891214783397noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-19878338803790489932010-10-21T07:49:45.320-04:002010-10-21T07:49:45.320-04:00I give my WIPs some kind of working title that tel...I give my WIPs some kind of working title that tells me which story it is, then I don't think too much about it until I'm halfway through or so. Then I start playing with it.<br /><br />I'm wondering if it isn't because I'm 98% pantser and 2% plotter since I know the beginning and the very end (last paragraph or two) and not much at all about the inside until I get going.nightsmusichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05984119792540771870noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-45893384989955434632010-10-21T07:46:14.882-04:002010-10-21T07:46:14.882-04:00I bang my head over titles. My RS trilogy with Ba...I bang my head over titles. My RS trilogy with Ballantine, we're going to be changing the titles, I suspect. I'm not in love wiht any of them and I want something... MORE. Maybe I'll try that keyword thing thing.<br /><br />usually I don't have this much trouble.<br /><br />What kills me is when I have what's THE PERFECT TITLE... and I can't have it. It's never been a problem with my traditional publishers-it seems like they are aware that titles will sometimes get reused-when I suggested BROKEN, my editor said, "I love it, but just be aware another author has used it before-it that okay?" I couldn't have care less, and she didn't seem to care either.<br /><br />Smaller presses, though, they have more trouble with it and the title for a book come out next year, I can't use. The title I'm using instead is so lame... bleh. I hate it.Shiloh Walkerhttp://shilohwalker.com/websitenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-64544692636863675012010-10-21T01:55:09.195-04:002010-10-21T01:55:09.195-04:00Great post. Thanks for the links. I am one of thos...Great post. Thanks for the links. I am one of those weird writers who don't obsess over the title while writing. I do think about it, and try to come up with them, but I have to know the whole story before I worry about the title. <br /><br />And it is a worry. For my current WIP, it's a nightmare finding the perfect title. I am hoping your links will give me some fresh inspiration.<br /><br />Thanks.Dollyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08144739453424963436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8343238.post-6509790950285993792010-10-21T00:15:17.913-04:002010-10-21T00:15:17.913-04:00Great idea.
It actually never OCCURS to me to come...Great idea.<br />It actually never OCCURS to me to come up with other possible titles for my stories. The first one is, to my mind, the RIGHT one.<br />Uh-huh. ;)rainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04258822737734173873noreply@blogger.com