Title that made no sense.

ZannaPerry · Nov 2, 2007

Okay, a while ago I asked whether you thought my current title would catch your eye.

That whole, Kill for me, Cry for me.

Well, since my story has been progressing over the last few weeks, I was thinking that title does not fit the story at all. It's all about control, and controlling others.

So, I need to come up with creative ways with the word "Control" in it. This is what I've come up with so far:

Control
Control Me
Control Issues --ick!
I Control You

or...

Mine
Only Mine

I see those aren't the best, but could you all let me know what you think? I'm leaning towards "Only Mine" and "Control Me."

THANKS! :hooray:

maxmordon · Nov 2, 2007

What about "Only me, Control you"?

Serena Casey · Nov 2, 2007

The word "control" doesn't work for me. But then, I didn't see your previous thread. What about "Mine Alone"?

ZannaPerry · Nov 2, 2007

Control is a hard word to work with. Not many choices you can get with it.

a_sharp · Nov 2, 2007

Try playing around with "power" and see what happens.

Just make sure you're grounded.

ZannaPerry · Nov 2, 2007

and not go crazy? Gotcha!

benbradley · Nov 2, 2007

I'd say you need something that indirectly implies control, or the desire to control, without using the word.

Your avatar reminds me of that Police song "Every Breath You Take" (most think of it as a "love" song but the writer says it's about stalking) and the line in it that you might use for the title: "I'll be watching you."

Enzo · Nov 2, 2007

That song is setting me thinking here.

What about 'Every Move You Make'?
It's about control, and it sounds rather ominous. If that is the tone of your novel, it could work. Just don't use the word 'control' itself, only imply it.

J. R. Tomlin · Nov 2, 2007

benbradley said:
I'd say you need something that indirectly implies control, or the desire to control, without using the word.

Your avatar reminds me of that Police song "Every Breath You Take" (most think of it as a "love" song but the writer says it's about stalking) and the line in it that you might use for the title: "I'll be watching you."

I have always had a hard time seeing how anyone could consider that song a love song. It is SERIOUSLY creepy.

I think "Watching You" might be a good choice or something along that line.

ZannaPerry · Nov 2, 2007

Watching you, and every move you make are really good titles to consider. The story is about control, and I'm not really getting the meaning behind those titles that would go along with what I'm trying to write. Not necessarily looking or watching.

Power. Control. Triumph. Fail.

It's not a stalker kind of book, but I will think on "Watching You" because it does and doesn't feel right.

I think just one word could mean a lot. "Control" but that word is kind of blah to me.

triceretops · Nov 2, 2007

If sombody is doing the controlling, then somebody is being possessed. Is it possible that you have a female MC in a controling relationship?

Possessed/possession are good words to work with. Which might lead to:

Nine tenths of the Law

The Possession of (MC character) Actually kind of common.

The Possessor

Suffocation

This is kind of hard. Perhaps if we read your synopsis, we could get a feel of the tone and theme.

Tri

Shadow_Ferret · Nov 2, 2007

I'm wondering if "every move you make" might be considered a Police song lyric and thus a place you don't want to go.

How about:

Control for me, Death for you

?

Just came to me, but I have no idea if you're writing a thriller or not.

benbradley · Nov 2, 2007

How about combine it with another word, as in: Desire and Control

Jo · Nov 2, 2007

If your MC was named William, it could be Will Power.

Wolvel · Nov 2, 2007

How about DOMINANCE?

Voyager · Nov 2, 2007

Did you ever consider taking a snippet from a quote about control? Here, as an example, is a bit from a speech by Napolean about mind over matter.

"The strong man is the one who is able to intercept at will the communication between the senses and the mind."

Then call the book, Between the Senses and the Mind, or shorten even more down to, The Senses and the Mind.

Not that this fits your story, but try googling 'control quotes' and playing with them. Then you can insert the actual quote anywhere from the title page to within the body of the text.

ETA: Oh yeah, go for something in the public domain and save yourself a lot of grief.

just a suggestion.

WittyandorIronic · Nov 3, 2007

As someone mentioned, it is kind of difficult not knowing what genre your book, or having read a synopsis. But, I assume if one person is controlling, than they are controlling someone else. You could write the title with several different terms for surrender (submit, defer, prostrate) or the obedience that is required when one is controlling (obey, conform, execute).
Or if you really like the term control, Embrace My Control kinda sounds good.
Sorry if someone already mentioned that one.

PeeDee · Nov 3, 2007

Honestly, I wasn't crazy about any of the titles you suggested in the original post. I like Every Move You Make as a title, though.

Or something equally creepy/sinister.

You Only Have Eyes For Me. Or...um...

None Before Me. Or...Er....

It's early and I'm groggy. Those are my only suggestions.

Stew21 · Nov 3, 2007

i really like voyager's suggestion of using part of a quote about control. I'd also suggest waiting until you get to the end of the book, maybe something one of your characters says will jump out at you and become the title.

PeeDee · Nov 3, 2007

Stew21 said:
i really like voyager's suggestion of using part of a quote about control. I'd also suggest waiting until you get to the end of the book, maybe something one of your characters says will jump out at you and become the title.

Yeah, I think waiting until the end of the book is a good idea too. Heck, I'm nearly at the end of my book now and it spent the first 100k being called "Rome Novel." A title didn't appear for it until just a week or so ago. Some books are like that.

Wraith · Nov 3, 2007

PeeDee said:
Yeah, I think waiting until the end of the book is a good idea too. Heck, I'm nearly at the end of my book now and it spent the first 100k being called "Rome Novel." A title didn't appear for it until just a week or so ago. Some books are like that.

Really? And here was I thinking that I was gonna read "The Rome Novel" by Pete Tzinski one day. *shakes head*

I'm not fond of the word control in the title either. It tells a bit too much, especially if that's the main theme in your book. I agree that going with something implied might be better. And maybe something more specific - all that we can suggest is general stuff. Every Move You Make is a good title, but it might fit to a lot of different books.

I like the pronouns in the title, though. You, I...even Her/His. But I can't think of any suggestion now (I have a hard time with titles myself).

Prawn · Nov 3, 2007

Mission Control
Out of Control
Impulse Control
Control Freak
Control and Conduct

Bladder Control?

ZannaPerry · Nov 3, 2007

Thanks for all the suggestions and help!

I believe I will go what Voyager and Stew1 says. I'll look up control quotes and/or wait until a character of mine says something that could be the title. I will look at similar words of control. I like Possession, and power.

BTW: My story is a romantic suspense. And the mother-in-law is the control freak possessing her son to kill for her. She has to be in control of everything. She thinks she's God, basically. If she can kill once and get away with it, then she'll keep doing it to get what she wants. Neither mother nor son are the main characters, but very big-deal supporting ones, and the mother is the villain.

Jo · Nov 3, 2007

SuzyB said:
Thanks for all the suggestions and help!

I believe I will go what Voyager and Stew1 says. I'll look up control quotes and/or wait until a character of mine says something that could be the title. I will look at similar words of control. I like Possession, and power.

BTW: My story is a romantic suspense. And the mother-in-law is the control freak possessing her son to kill for her. She has to be in control of everything. She thinks she's God, basically. If she can kill once and get away with it, then she'll keep doing it to get what she wants. Neither mother nor son are the main characters, but very big-deal supporting ones, and the mother is the villain.

The first thing to pop into my head? Mother-In-Law's Tongue (hard to kill, aka snake plant). :tongue

Good luck with your title search.

jannawrites · Nov 3, 2007

What about Controlled? That sounds less blunt than just Control, and I like that it would lead the reader to the book, since they'd wonder what/who's being controlled. Might add to the mystery.

Or, since the mother uses the son for her dirty work, and he's got to be somewhat submissive... Tamed?

I just went with synonyms or related-to words for control. Don't know if they'll work with your overall theme.

She's In Control or Her Power

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