Question about using title in the body of a book

Pamster · Feb 27, 2007

So I am wondering, is it something any of you do? Or do you name a story and purposely NOT use the actual title anywhere in the book? Specifically I am wondering about a WIP I am wrapping up now, nearly at the editing stage after finally getting the body of the book out. Part of me wants to use the title in the wrap up and part of me thinks it's not neccessary. What do you think? Would that come across as cliche' to have the wrap up include the title?

Like my first novel Walk of Fire, it has a poem at the beginning that uses the title repeatedly to make a point, I have no problem with that whatsoever since it's a poetic prologue of sorts. But this WIP is different from Walk of Fire in that it's title is speaking about domestic abuse and the love of your children. Would using it in the ending wrap up be too cliche' and over done?

I don't know, I suppose it would have to do with how I went about it and I could always post the said paragraph I write with it in the SYW forum in the proper forum, but I wanted to see what my peers here think and feel about using titles in the body of a work.

Thanks for the replies in advance, I know I haven't been posting too much recently, but I am here every day lurking as I take breaks from writing this piece. I am finally getting to the end and trying to determine what the next WIP is going to be.

I might actually do a thriller/horror story next as I have a strong story in mind that I think would do well and stick with you, speaking of sticking with you, last night I had the WORST SHORT freakish nightmare I have had in a long time. I woke up with the blanket wrapped around my foot and for the first couple of seconds I could have sworn it was a person's HAND on my ankle, talk about freaky! I think it's gearing up to be written and that is why I dreamt about the story I want to write next.

Siddow · Feb 27, 2007

I guess it would depend on the title. My titles are typically one word, so they're in the book somewhere--the name of the town, the occupation of a character, the objective of the character, etc.

My NaNo novel had a 4-word title, but only two of the words made it into the book, because using the entire title would not have made sense in any context. Except the title page, of course.

TrainofThought · Feb 27, 2007

Hi Pamster,

I didn’t use my title in the body of the book. In my opinion, it’s cheesy and somewhat of an insult to the reader. The title should represent the story’s moral, plot, a character or reason to get from A to Z. Then again, if you are attached to your title you might want to put it in your book since the editor will most likely change it anyways. My opinion as a reader and writer. Good Luck!

Toothpaste · Feb 27, 2007

It really depends on the title. For example, "The World According to Garp" is a simple sentence, that is used a few times in the book and doesn't detract or distract because it fits into the structure of the novel.

However in the Enid Blyton Adventure series I would go nuts even as a kid when she would put in the title of her book ie: "The Ship of Adventure" and someone sometime says, "This is really turning out to be a ship of adventure!"

It seemed so forced and ridiculous.

Pamster · Feb 27, 2007

That is what I thought too, that it's kind of insulting to the reader in a way, kind of like if you have to explain a joke that someone didn't get that takes away the funny factor and makes it dull and unexciting. Thanks for the replies everyone. I knew I could count on you all to help my determine that it wasn't appropraite to use in the case of this current WIP that I am about to finalize.

Thrillride · Feb 27, 2007

Huh. I have a totally different take on this. While I don't think I would intentionally put the title in the book (say, to clue someone in one the joke), I love when someone takes say, something a character says or does that is already in the book and uses it as the title.

"Are you there God? It's me, Margaret"

Toothpaste · Feb 27, 2007

Yes but that makes all the difference. Often authors don't even have a title until they are done and then choose something from within the book. Of course when this happens the title in the book doesn't look forced because it wasn't. But if, like my Enid Blyton example, the title came first and the author feels obliged to put it somewhere in the text . .. well that's when it just sounds dumb.

johnzakour · Feb 27, 2007

I use the title of my next book (The Blue Haired Bombshell) in the text of the book. One of the possible killers says, "What can I say, I'm a blue haired Bombshell?"

Writing Pulp SF I can get away with it.

I think in Frost Haired Vixen, I mentioned, "she's quite the Frost Haired Vixen..." though I can't remember.

Thrillride · Feb 27, 2007

*nodding* Yes, I agree with you, toothpaste. Nothing looks good forced.

scarletpeaches · Feb 27, 2007

Do you know, this is something I seem to do on a regular basis.

On one occasion, Bird of Prey, it was the name of a game the MC played. Then I had her say to her friends, "Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer," and thought, hmm...Closer. That would make a better title.

I'm not dead set on any title for that work yet. Remains to be seen.

Sage · Feb 27, 2007

Thrillride said:
Huh. I have a totally different take on this. While I don't think I would intentionally put the title in the book (say, to clue someone in one the joke), I love when someone takes say, something a character says or does that is already in the book and uses it as the title.

I think this is the better way to do it. Of course, there's no reason that, if it works with the context & doesn't sound forced, you couldn't take a title you thought of & put it in the novel. I know some people start with titles before they write the novel. But for me, I don't usually title before writing the novel, & I like taking the title from the text, if possible.

Thrillride · Feb 27, 2007

Yeah, I don't have a title that I am set on (wouldn't matter anyway, if hell did freeze over and it was sold, I have no idea what title they would give it anyway), but I find I have to have a working title.

Yes, I HAVE to.

It's in the Control Freak bylaws.

TwentyFour · Feb 27, 2007

I settled on a title long before my novel just a few chapters in...I used my title in the last chapter only.

Solatium · Feb 27, 2007

While I don't think I would intentionally put the title in the book (say, to clue someone in one the joke), I love when someone takes say, something a character says or does that is already in the book and uses it as the title.

Often authors don't even have a title until they are done and then choose something from within the book. Of course when this happens the title in the book doesn't look forced because it wasn't. But if, like my Enid Blyton example, the title came first and the author feels obliged to put it somewhere in the text . .. well that's when it just sounds dumb.

It's a question of gobbet vs. reverse gobbet.

(Clicky -- a perfectly ordinary article on titling, but those two terms are deathless.)

ChaosTitan · Feb 27, 2007

Another popular method of chosing a title is using the name of a character or location. Christine, Desperation, Pet Semetary, Dolores Claiborne, and Cujo all come to mind quickly. Or an object/item specific to the plotline (Dreamcatcher, White Oleander).

So far, I've yet to title a novel based on a catchphrase, or something that a character said. I have, however, used a....I don't think metaphor is quite the word I want. The title is "The Judas Factor" and there is a strong theme of betrayal in the novel, but no one ever utters those specific words.

IrishScribbler · Feb 27, 2007

I'm incorporating my title into the book.

The title is Deirdre of Sorrow. The protagonist's name is Deirdre, she is struggling with severe depression (she's sorrowful), and she discovers the Celtic myth that was the impetus for the novel (Deirdre of the Sorrows).

Dare I suggest it's a...motif?

maestrowork · Feb 27, 2007

I think you can go either way, depending on your title and how relevant it is to your story, etc. I don't think you should shoehorn the title into your story just because. My title is literal as well as symbolic, so it's perfectly fitting to show up, somewhere, in the book.

Bourbon Street · Feb 27, 2007

I agree the title shouldn't be forced, it should flow naturally from the story.
I write first, title second.

Though I know there are writers who have thought of a really great title and then wrote a story around it. A little gimmicky, but if it works for them then bravo.

jodiodi · Feb 27, 2007

In the book I'm currently querying, I use the title because the title is what someone in the book is seeking, asking for. In my next one, I don't think it's anywhere in it.

PeeDee · Feb 27, 2007

I use the story's title in the story every time, except for the times when I don't use it in the story at all.

Raphee · Feb 27, 2007

For me Titles are sort of hooks, to make me pick them up from the shelf and read the blurb.
They need not be a word from the novel. But just relate either to the theme, a character etc from within the novel.

Enzo · Feb 28, 2007

For my main WIP, I started out with 'The Lighthouse' when I wrote the outline. But then PD James came along with a novel with that title, so that sent me back to the drawing board. Right now I have a dull working title which I hope to replace with a turn of phrase from inside the story.
Whatever it will be, it needs to be relevant to the whole story, and not be too general: no 'The Island' or 'The Cloud' but something more telling.

Rhea L · Feb 28, 2007

'Chant of the Fallen' is a literal reference to... you guessed, a chant spell thing.

It shows up in the book itself, but only near the end of it.

I don't mind it either way - unless it feels forced, the title words in the story don't bother me at all.

Vandal · Feb 28, 2007

My working title of my WIP is The Memory Box, an object that shows up repeatedly in the story. I would have no problem changing it The Sixth Historian. Choosing the published title is another problem I can't wait to have.

Selcaby · Feb 28, 2007

My title used to be a 3-word description of one of the locations in the book. It felt pretty natural to use that same phrase in quite a few places in the text. Then I changed the title to a different description of the same place. The new title is not in the text (yet - I'd put it in if I found a good place for it, but I'm not specifically trying) but the old one still is. I wonder if anyone will ever guess that that used to be the title.

Question about using title in the body of a book

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