Does this sound like a dumb idea?

kathleen_grant · Dec 10, 2009

My Dad has passed down his passion for music to me and I can't help but think of songs that match the mood of an event or particular chapter in my story...

What do you guys think of naming the chapters each the title of a song? For example...

Chapter One: Easier To Run
Chapter Two: Are You Happy Now

Blah blah blah...

(In case you were wondering, Easier To Run = Linkin Park... Are You Happy Now = Michelle Branch.)

I wouldn't name the artists or anything, but it's something the reader doesn't even really need to know... or something they can figure out later...

Juneluv12 · Dec 10, 2009

Nope, it doesn't sound dumb to me at all. I had tinkered with the idea in my UF The Guardians, but I didn't end up doing it. I've always thought it would be cool, and it seems like one YA Contemp author did it...well, Ann Brashares Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants has a version of that with Song lyrics, poems, etc.

Sage · Dec 10, 2009

Not only have I done that for a particular WIP, but it really helped me when editing. I make soundtracks for every novel, and the chapter names matched up to the soundtrack order. If I needed to find a scene, it was easy to go through Document Map, find the right song, and go straight to the right chapter.

Kitty27 · Dec 10, 2009

I do that for my Urban Fantasy series. Blues artists make for some great inspiration.

I have a soundtrack for every series that I write. Music really helps.

kathleen_grant · Dec 11, 2009

Thanks everyone!

I think I'll do it then!

Stunted · Dec 12, 2009

I think it's something to be VERY careful with. If it's a story about music, or music is central to the story, then it could work, but if it's not, then you run the risk of a) seeming derivative b) distracting people from your work c) inflaming people's music tastes ("she listens to what?") and d) laying on the table too clearly how people are supposed to feel about certain scenes.

Personally, I'd discourage you from doing it.

jfreedan · Dec 13, 2009

The Supernatural TV show has numerous episodes named after songs, usually in a tongue-in-cheek way. I think it adds character.

I don't think it would detract from the mood or put pressure on the reader. It's just a chapter name. Anything that isn't "Chapter One, in which Mr. Anderson learns an important lesson" is good in my book.

Quossum · Dec 14, 2009

It's fine. But if the songs are all popular songs of this very moment, it might date your novel. That's not necessarily a bad thing; I've read many YA novels full of trends and catchy fads that were *very* current when I read the book...but in five years, they'll seem dated.

--Q

Geek_Pride · Dec 14, 2009

Would you have to also put the artist down as well? Or can you leave it just as the title.

Hittman · Dec 14, 2009

Sounds like a fun idea, as long as you don't actually quote lyrics. Quoting lyrics, even just a line or two, requires a substantial payment to the song's publisher.

Amynta · Dec 14, 2009

Karen Healey's done that with Guardian of the Dead, with the twist being they're all New Zealand songs (GotD is NZ urban fantasy). I liked it then, and I'll like it again.

In a non-book context, True Blood has each episode named after a song that features in it.

bobcat22 · Dec 14, 2009

Disdainful Soul said:
Karen Healey's done that with Guardian of the Dead, with the twist being they're all New Zealand songs (GotD is NZ urban fantasy). I liked it then, and I'll like it again.

In a non-book context, True Blood has each episode named after a song that features in it.

'Gossip Girl" does the same thing with book titles.

kathleen_grant · Dec 15, 2009

Oh I would just put the song title. No lyrics or anything.

Rufus Coppertop · Dec 17, 2009

kathleen_grant said:
My Dad has passed down his passion for music to me and I can't help but think of songs that match the mood of an event or particular chapter in my story...

What do you guys think of naming the chapters each the title of a song? For example...

Chapter One: Easier To Run
Chapter Two: Are You Happy Now

Blah blah blah...

(In case you were wondering, Easier To Run = Linkin Park... Are You Happy Now = Michelle Branch.)

I wouldn't name the artists or anything, but it's something the reader doesn't even really need to know... or something they can figure out later...

For a reader who's not into music written after 1750, the significance would be completely lost.

Rufus Coppertop · Dec 17, 2009

Stunted said:
I think it's something to be VERY careful with. If it's a story about music, or music is central to the story, then it could work, but if it's not, then you run the risk of a) seeming derivative b) distracting people from your work c) inflaming people's music tastes ("she listens to what?") and d) laying on the table too clearly how people are supposed to feel about certain scenes.

Personally, I'd discourage you from doing it.

It would be the equivalent of a baroque and renaissance music freak giving names to chapters such as: Sonata K 517, or Capriccio Obligo di Cantare la Quinta Parte and expecting people to somehow "get it".

Sage · Dec 17, 2009

I don't thinks so, Rufus. If people don't "get it" then they don't get it. You don't think people can infer a meaning from "Are You Happy Now?" even if they don't know the song.

If a baroque and renaissance music freak was writing something about the baroque and renaissance periods, then I imagine that the book would be read by others interested in those times, so they'd either know the songs, or they would be interested in learning about them. If not, then they miss out on the added layer the title brings (because I assume the title does bring an added layer and relates to the chapter)

As a teen (even as an adult), I would probably eat this up. I'd start out recognizing a few song titles. I'd look at the other chapter titles and see if I recognize any more. The ones I don't recognize, I'd look up to see if I could see a deeper meaning in that chapter.

But then again, I create soundtracks for my novels, and derive meaning from playlists that some authors put in their YA novels these days. Some people, I'm sure, don't.

jasonleeward · Dec 29, 2009

Naming Chapters after Song Titles

In the Canadian produced TV series Degrassi this is what they did for the titles of numerous episodes for about every season. Check it out at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Degrassi:_The_Next_Generation_episodes

Does this sound like a dumb idea?

kathleen_grant

Carpe Diem

Juneluv12

Steel Magnolia & Snarky Pants

Sage

Our Lady of Parentheticals

Kitty27

So Goth That I Was Born Black

kathleen_grant

Carpe Diem

Stunted

Ich heiße Superphantastisch!

jfreedan

Quossum

Geek_Pride

Fight For Your Right To Party

Hittman

Amynta

bobcat22

kathleen_grant

Carpe Diem

Rufus Coppertop

Rufus Coppertop

Sage

Our Lady of Parentheticals

jasonleeward

JasonLeeWard