What's On Your Mind About Your Writing?

[gettingby]

Do you have a process for coming up with titles? Or does it just occur to you, or leap from the ms. pages?

Mine sometimes come from the pages, but when those pages refuse to reveal it, I have a process. We can talk about it if you need to come up with something and don't know where to begin.

I would be interested in hearing about your process. Titles are something I struggle with sometimes.

 

[Maryn]

Do you have a process for coming up with titles? Or does it just occur to you, or leap from the ms. pages?

Mine sometimes come from the pages, but when those pages refuse to reveal it, I have a process. We can talk about it if you need to come up with something and don't know where to begin.

Oooh, I'd be interested in that too, if you would share. Some titles just come to me at one point in the writing process, others I really struggle with. It's always hit and miss, though, so I'd love to hear what I could improve.

It's a slow slog, the way I force a title when nothing is coming to me. I start with a list of key words. So if my imaginary novel is about, say, a woman who bartends in the tasting room of a craft brewery, where she meets The One--or is he?--I'd write brew, brewery, beer, ale, lager, bar, bartender, keg, hops, bitters, drunk, saloon, tavern, and similar words, as many as I can think of.

Then I get out books of quotations, indexes of poetry, nursery rhymes, Shakespeare, the Bible, mythology, and similar reference works, both print books and online. Whole lot of tabs open!

Then I look up my words. Most of what I find won't produce a title, of course. Some of it is also protected by copyright or trademark.

Next I copy the complete quotation of anything with title potential. Usually I end up with two pages of quotes, and somewhere on those pages lies the title. I just have to find it.

 

[gettingby]

If people truly understood that a "good idea" or "shocking twist" represents only 2% of the process necessary to produce a truly readable piece - there would be far fewer people ever attempting it.

I think this is so true!

 

[JoeySL]

Then I get out books of quotations, indexes of poetry, nursery rhymes, Shakespeare, the Bible, mythology, and similar reference works, both print books and online. Whole lot of tabs open!

Thank you, Maryn! I've always just tried to come up with something off the top of my head, but I can see how there is much more inspiration the way you do this. I will definitely try this next time.

 

[benbenberi]

I would be interested in hearing about your process. Titles are something I struggle with sometimes.

I think there have been a couple of threads about titles in the recent past here.

I know there was at least one, because I trotted out my facetious-yet-actually-sometimes-useful titling method -- open a Compleat Shakespeare at random, pick a random phrase from somewhere on the random page, and Voila! A Title!

Maybe @Maryn should consider adding a sticky about titles to the new set.

 

[Nether]

Meanwhile I just try to think up either a wacky pun or a pop culture reference

And, speaking of wacky, yesterday I realized I need to start querying at least 5 manuscripts per year... if I want to have everything queried within the next 6-8 years.

 

[Sage]

And, speaking of wacky, yesterday I realized I need to start querying at least 5 manuscripts per year... if I want to have everything queried within the next 6-8 years.

Does that take into account the new novels you’re going to write?

 

[Jazz Club]

Meanwhile I just try to think up either a wacky pun or a pop culture reference

And, speaking of wacky, yesterday I realized I need to start querying at least 5 manuscripts per year... if I want to have everything queried within the next 6-8 years.

Puns are also pretty popular in romance titles! I'm using one for another future title

It's a slow slog, the way I force a title when nothing is coming to me. I start with a list of key words. So if my imaginary novel is about, say, a woman who bartends in the tasting room of a craft brewery, where she meets The One--or is he?--I'd write brew, brewery, beer, ale, lager, bar, bartender, keg, hops, bitters, drunk, saloon, tavern, and similar words, as many as I can think of.

Then I get out books of quotations, indexes of poetry, nursery rhymes, Shakespeare, the Bible, mythology, and similar reference works, both print books and online. Whole lot of tabs open!

Then I look up my words. Most of what I find won't produce a title, of course. Some of it is also protected by copyright or trademark.

Next I copy the complete quotation of anything with title potential. Usually I end up with two pages of quotes, and somewhere on those pages lies the title. I just have to find it.

This is great!! Sounds like a good way to get the creative juices flowing and think laterally

 

[Jazz Club]

Good luck. Titles can be hard. I've gotten used to the idea that editors almost always change my titles. And I've learned to just go with it. Still, I do often spend a long time trying to get a title right (even when I fail at this). Self publishing makes this harder because no one is there slapping a better title on the story or series.

Yeah, that's just it, exactly. In general, I love being in control of the whole publishing process, but that means it's also all on me. I'm lucky I have some great writing buddies who are always happy to help me brainstorm. Meanwhile, my family are like, 'You've got this', and I'm like, 'do I, though??'

 

[Fantasiawrites]

I’ve been reading through a novella I’m working on, and I’m noticing there is significant overlap between two characters. I’m wondering if I should merge them into one character. And that’s what’s been on my mind.

 

[Nether]

Does that take into account the new novels you’re going to write?

...I might've slightly* mathed that wrong, but I'm a writer, not a mathematician.

[*Wildly]

So, idk, maybe double all of those numbers. Or take the "at least" very liberally.

 

[Orange_car]

Are you trying to revise your old story or were you just taking a look back? The whole idea of letting a story sit for a good amount of time is that it makes it easier to see what's wrong and spot past mistakes or just areas that need more attention.

It started off as taking a look back. Then it turned into a case of, "Wow, I really don't like this after seeing how I implemented XYZ in a better way with my new story. Wow, there's more that's wrong with this. Oh this is going to be so much work to revise."

Maybe I'll rewrite it when I finish writing my new story.

For context, my old story was written from 2021 to 2023, while my new story's first draft was written from 2024 to a few months ago.

 

[Nether]

Long story short -- I'm on the fence over how much work to put into STMHB (the NaNo 2021 project) before querying it because I'm not sure I necessarily want to query it at all (which is where the story gets long -- see here, but among other reasons it's not representative of what I usually write).

The kinda big thing is it has three types of chapters. The first type moves well, although the writing feels a little sloppy at times. The second type is a bit slower and I worry it could slow the narrative too much, although I like the general concept and it ties everything together (and it was always central to the novel's idea, although I changed who those chapters were addressed to). However, the third type I really like for being more visceral. The pacing is a lot faster, too... although partly because that's generally where the killings happen. Reading through the second of those third-type chapters now where everything feels a lot stronger and shines. Plus, those chapters are really just fun. Of course, it's kinda easier because, again, those chapters are mostly action and usually have at least one death.

idk. Guess I'll to query regardless, but it's one of those things where I'm not sure I'd even want it as a debut novel because it sets the wrong expectations.

 

[Sage]

There's nothing wrong with having a novel that's just for you (or at least for now). You have lots of things to query, and if you have doubts about whether you should be querying this one, then I say there's no reason to put yourself through the stress of querying it. Save it for yourself for now, and after you have another novel establishing your brand, bring this one out and see if your agent/publisher want to pursue it.

 

[owlion]

Long story short -- I'm on the fence over how much work to put into STMHB (the NaNo 2021 project) before querying it because I'm not sure I necessarily want to query it at all (which is where the story gets long -- see here, but among other reasons it's not representative of what I usually write).

The kinda big thing is it has three types of chapters. The first type moves well, although the writing feels a little sloppy at times. The second type is a bit slower and I worry it could slow the narrative too much, although I like the general concept and it ties everything together (and it was always central to the novel's idea, although I changed who those chapters were addressed to). However, the third type I really like for being more visceral. The pacing is a lot faster, too... although partly because that's generally where the killings happen. Reading through the second of those third-type chapters now where everything feels a lot stronger and shines. Plus, those chapters are really just fun. Of course, it's kinda easier because, again, those chapters are mostly action and usually have at least one death.

idk. Guess I'll to query regardless, but it's one of those things where I'm not sure I'd even want it as a debut novel because it sets the wrong expectations.

I wonder if it would be worth checking the current market if you're on the fence about it. Is this kind of story around a lot at the moment (which might show saturation) or is it something where there are a couple of novels in that area that are selling well? Things like that can be helpful at times when making decisions - though the big thing is if you'll enjoy working on it. I'd struggle to spend ages editing a story I really didn't like much.

In terms of writing, I finally finished the second round of edits on the MG horror, so I've sent it to a couple of early readers (my mum and sister, who are both very good at picking things apart) while I go back to work on a MG fantasy I need to flesh out more. I've seen a lot about hi-lo books recently for MG (high interest, low difficulty) so I'm going to look into those as well. It should be interesting!

 

[Nether]

There's nothing wrong with having a novel that's just for you (or at least for now). You have lots of things to query, and if you have doubts about whether you should be querying this one, then I say there's no reason to put yourself through the stress of querying it. Save it for yourself for now, and after you have another novel establishing your brand, bring this one out and see if your agent/publisher want to pursue it.

I mean, technically it might not interfere with my current querying. Large swathes of my agents list don't take MG, and portions don't even take YA. In fact, that's probably one area that's been a lot opportunity, since I really should've had one adult, one YA, and one MG novel to query at the same time... although apparently only five of my manuscripts are adult and two of those might be a bit of a wash.

Apparently six are MG (meaning the MG has already exceeded the adult... unless I re-classify the supervillain one as adult, which a few people had suggested), although two of those sequels, so technically it's four that can be queried.

I wonder if it would be worth checking the current market if you're on the fence about it. Is this kind of story around a lot at the moment (which might show saturation) or is it something where there are a couple of novels in that area that are selling well? Things like that can be helpful at times when making decisions - though the big thing is if you'll enjoy working on it. I'd struggle to spend ages editing a story I really didn't like much.

I'm not sure there'll be anything quite like it, although it's going to be a pain to confirm it. The easiest shortcut will just be looking into upmarket werewolf novels, then werewolf novels in general. The tougher bit will be trying to look through upmarket horror in general to see if there's anything like it.

The idea itself was decades old before I started writing. And I'm kinda realizing that's the one massive downside to having relied on all that stuff I'd meant to write, which had been a large portion of my approach in the first few years of getting serious about fiction-writing.

 

[tusenord]

After having felt so empty inspiration-wise, I suddenly had an idea that actually HELPED with the WIP! And it was a perfect scene to add after the scene I was working on, so now I've started on that! Working up to awful drunk boys being obnoxious and pissing off the MC.

 

[Jazz Club]

I just wrote chapter 1 of my new contemporary MM romance idea. Meet-cute at the renaissance fair! Well, not quite meet yet, one guy is still scoping the other out. But we're getting there. I had a bunch of stuff written for chaper one and two already, very rambling and badly written, but the ideas were there. Instead of editing it, I decided to start a new document and just start writing again from scratch with all that background in my head. It all flowed very fast. I like that technique I do it every so often... might start doing it more now that it worked so well this time

 

[buz]

I'm too tired to move and also 3/4 mentally inert but I have to do something so I am doing writing cos that's a good idea yup whatever

I can't make decisions. Can someone just decide for me: upstairs or downstairs

No context, no thought, just reflex answer, UPSTAIRS or DOWNSTAIRS, please and thank you

 

[buz]

I just wrote chapter 1 of my new contemporary MM romance idea. Meet-cute at the renaissance fair!

Gasp. Are people allowed to spell it "fair"?

(Either way I think it sounds fun )

 

[Sage]

I'm too tired to move and also 3/4 mentally inert but I have to do something so I am doing writing cos that's a good idea yup whatever

I can't make decisions. Can someone just decide for me: upstairs or downstairs

No context, no thought, just reflex answer, UPSTAIRS or DOWNSTAIRS, please and thank you

Downstairs

 

[Jazz Club]

Gasp. Are people allowed to spell it "fair"?

(Either way I think it sounds fun )

I hope so, because I want to put that in the title! How else should I spell it? Faire? Fayre? Open to suggestions

 

[Sage]

Faire

 

[buz]

Downstairs

Very good thank you

I hope so, because I want to put that in the title! How else should I spell it? Faire? Fayre? Open to suggestions

I've only ever seen it written Faire but I also haven't been to one in years and would defer to enthusiasts as to the propriety of designation

 

[Sage]

You could also say festival. Also, could be Ren Faire (or RenFest. And…I have an idea for a short story in my Paranormal Bromance-verse which is set near RenFest, BRB )