Titles

kaitie · Sep 16, 2009

I've noticed that a lot of people list their WIPs by title in their signatures, etc, and I got to wondering. How many people actually have titles for their works in advance? Do you tend to think of the title first? I have two stories that had titles in advance, but for the most part I actually have a really hard time with it. I always refer to the story by the main character's name until it's finished. When you do have one in advance, do you usually keep the same title once it's finished, or does it ever evolve?

JJ Cooper · Sep 16, 2009

I have the title in advance. I don't become attached though. My publisher will probably want to change it as they often do.

JJ

Mumut · Sep 16, 2009

My first book was easy. I had a name early in the process. It stuck until published in Australia but was changed by my Canadian publisher because it sounded too much like another of their releases. The second and third books were different. I called Gatekeeper 2 and Gatekeeper 3 and found it difficult at the end to come up with a meaningful name.

What I've found is that a good name, like good cover art, is a great advantage in selling the book. If you can think of a good name early and it passes the test of time - still sounding good when the story is written - you're really lucky.

Snowstorm · Sep 16, 2009

I think of the story first, then my title stems from the story. In my novel, Clear and Convincing Evidence is the second title. The first was a rather generic title.

When I was finishing the novel, I scoured a statute and found these the words "If there is clear and convincing evidence that the release of such information would jeopardize an ongoing criminal investigation ... ". That's where the title came from and I think is more interesting that what I had before.

I agree with Mamut that a good title will help sell a book. Of course, I have to actually get mine published ....

Ken Hoss · Sep 16, 2009

I tend to start writing first, and as the story developes I think of a title. Of course, it is usually just a working title, and does eventually get trashed as I get further into it. My current WIP, Dark Dreams, started out with a rather dull title. After looking at it, and getting my proofer/editors' opinion, I changed it. She said it was "too dimestore novel-ish".

*Most of you are probably too young to remember Motts' Five and Dime stores, much less penny candy. (Showing my age.)

Ken Hoss · Sep 16, 2009

Another fine article right here on AW!

http://www.absolutewrite.com/specialty_writing/titles_do_matter.htm

Enjoy!

cwfgal · Sep 16, 2009

I always come up with a title before I write. Out of the four books I've had published so far, only one of them kept the title I gave it. The publishers changed all the others.

Beth (aka Annelise Ryan)

love2write · Sep 16, 2009

I have never been published but for stories that I am trying to write, i usually think of a title first, and then after that i start to write incorporating the title into the story. The title for the one i am working on I changed though because I wanted a little more detail in it. Again, never been published so I dont know if this really helps.

Steam&Ink · Sep 16, 2009

I find that titles can be capricious little buggers. Either I know before I start writing what the title is (and the title is usually deeply linked with the storyline) or I start writing without a title, and then angst for months over the title. All my "titles' are just working titles, anyway; as others have pointed out, your publisher is just as likely to change the title.

Ken Hoss · Sep 16, 2009

steampunkette said:
as others have pointed out, your publisher is just as likely to change the title.

Cheeky bastards!

ToddWBush · Sep 22, 2009

I gave mine a title. Will it hold if I ever get an agent or publisher? Probably not. But that's okay. To paraphrase Will, "the story's the thing."

TooJoyful00 · Sep 22, 2009

Inspiration

kaitie said:
I've noticed that a lot of people list their WIPs by title in their signatures, etc, and I got to wondering. How many people actually have titles for their works in advance? Do you tend to think of the title first? I have two stories that had titles in advance, but for the most part I actually have a really hard time with it. I always refer to the story by the main character's name until it's finished. When you do have one in advance, do you usually keep the same title once it's finished, or does it ever evolve?

I honestly think the Title inspires the work to progress.

good~luck

Good Word · Sep 23, 2009

What about thinking of your title as the working title? It is certainly important, but don't sweat it or fret it or let it hold you back from getting some words on the page!

(Yes, the mod posted again--what will heyjude think?)

robeiae · Sep 23, 2009

If "E=MC2" is your working title, I'm assuming the publisher will go with something more like "Wild Nights in Bern, or The Girl at the Patent Office."

Ken Hoss · Sep 23, 2009

robeiae said:
If "E=MC2" is your working title, I'm assuming the publisher will go with something more like "Wild Nights in Bern, or The Girl at the Patent Office."

Good Word · Sep 23, 2009

Hah!

And if Sailors on the Ponds of Happenstance is yours, I can see the pub easily going with (insert drumroll here) Loose Lips Sink Ships...

badabadabadabing

(Actually, I have yet another unfinished piece called Lila's E=MC2 and I like the title)

panda · Sep 25, 2009

i've started with a title, it's one word and a verb. but a title is good thing to have beforehand because it reminds you that there's a cohesiveness to the story, a larger theme that the title should tie into/reflect.

jiner · Oct 1, 2009

nice article here. thanks for this discussion.

RJK · Oct 2, 2009

I didn't have a satisfactory title for the WIP I'm preparing to market until recently. With other novels, I had the title before I began to write. The Novel I just started doesn't have a real title yet. I'll keep working on it with the creative half of my brain, and hopefully come up with a good one.

Enzo · Oct 4, 2009

None of my works have been published yet, but usually I first have an idea for a story, and quite soon after that an idea for a title I pick from about five possibilities. They're based on the MC or the main location.
If I find a publisher and they want to change the title, I don't think I will ever object strongly. Unless they pick something outrageously bland.

Repartee · Oct 6, 2009

The story always comes before the title, and I'm not that great at picking titles, so I wouldn't really care if one of them got changed. All of my work in my signature is in production, so to speak, except for the first one. The only reason I name any of them early on is because I have more than one. It makes it easier if I'm talking to someone about one of them.

Jamesaritchie · Oct 13, 2009

I can't write a grocery list without a title. I can't even come up with an idea without a title. Like Ray Bradbury, it's the title that generates the story for me.

The advantage of this is that the title always fits the story, simply because the story is based on the title.

blacbird · Oct 13, 2009

I've had titles generate stories, a la JARitchie, but not always. I seldom have to fight to find a title, though. Allegedly Harold Robbins generated his novels from titles that came to him. On the other hand, F. Scott Fitzgerald was atrocious with titles.

caw

Steam&Ink · Oct 14, 2009

blacbird said:
On the other hand, F. Scott Fitzgerald was atrocious with titles.

You said it. Although I quite liked his working title for The Great Gatsby, which was Under the Red, White and Blue. I could dig that.

Titles

With great power comes

.

Well begun is half done...

Baby plot bunneh sniffs out a clue

Storm Rising A Kelli Storm Novel

Storm Rising A Kelli Storm Novel

On the rocks

Lost in thoughts....

sekrit superhero

Storm Rising A Kelli Storm Novel

TooJoyful00

still crazy after all these years

Touch and go

Storm Rising A Kelli Storm Novel

still crazy after all these years

its harders sto type withh paaws

Sheriff Bullwinkle the Poet says:

Queen of Hearts

sekrit superhero