Comments on: The Terror of Titles

By: Maya M.

Maya M. — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 16:06:43 +0000

Hi Jamie, I found you via the Nanwrimo site. Your idea of the halo giveaway is fab, I'm going to post about it on my blog. Sadly, I can't donate this year (though I think it's an eminently donatable cause) but I don't want to take away from someone else's potential halo so I won't fill out one of your forms. My Nano handle is 'mommika' (something my eldest used to call me) -I'll look out for you on the boards! Ref topic - 'the terror of titles', indeed. I think maybe the one to top them all was 'A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius'. I didn't read it, mind you, but I thought the author was brilliant. Maya M.´s last blog post..Experiment: THE BIG H, Report #3

By: 10/23/2008 Writing Jobs and Links | PoeWar

10/23/2008 Writing Jobs and Links | PoeWar — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 15:14:20 +0000

[...] The Terror of Titles: They scare the bejeebus out of me too. [...]

By: John Hewitt

John Hewitt — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 14:58:03 +0000

I generally have a working title for my articles or stories, but nine times out of ten I change them once I’m finished. Some of my favorite titles:

How to Win Friends and Influence People: Hey, everyone wants to do that, right?

My So Called Life: A perfect expression of the lead character’s teen angst

A Fish Called Wanda: An absurd movie with an absurd sounding title that actually made perfect sense once you saw the movie.

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: How can you help but pick up a book with that dark a title?

By: Deb

Deb — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 14:58:08 +0000

Okay, my journalism background is leaking here. I tend to write ledes or headlines to work from and then carve out a title after I find out what the story ends up being about. I guess I'm weird that way. Deb´s last blog post..Ohio wind storm of September 14

By: Jamie Grove

Jamie Grove — Fri, 24 Oct 2008 01:54:11 +0000

@WriterDad Stories are like that. You get rolling and they get on with a mind of their own.

@Karen Nothing like a bit of scream to get the juices flowing, eh? You are totally going to make it and I am going to help you.

By: Karen Swim

Karen Swim — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 21:46:29 +0000

Title, yes, *moment of sheer terror* I need a title! I have been trying to prepare myself for WriMo, reading and learning and not once did I think of title. *thunking head* I am not going to get through this thing without help. Thank you for being my buddy. Now shuffling off to think of title. Karen Swim´s last blog post..Influence and Responsibilty on the Web

By: Writer Dad

Writer Dad — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 18:35:31 +0000

I don't know what my Nano book is about, other than it takes place in the future. That doesn't stop me from having a title. It's called "Redbook." I'm sure the story will lend me a reason. Writer Dad´s last blog post..At Least I Don’t Have Zits

By: Jamie Grove

Jamie Grove — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 16:52:32 +0000

@Sherri Thanks! I’ve read quite a bit about how titles can change while going through the process of publishing. In some ways, I think that would be quite painful though perhaps not as painful as some covers discussions.

@Dan That’s a good point. Coming up with book titles is often an issue of scope for me. I guess that’s why they change so much during the process.

@Joi Some stories are like that aren’t they? They just sneak up and bash their way in titles and all.

By: Joi

Joi — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 15:10:58 +0000

I love coming up with titles for my novels! It totally helps me get into the mood of the story. The one for this year is “Powers and Principalities.” I came up with the idea almost a year and a half ago, was going to write it for NaNo 07 until I was blindsided by the random epic that was “A Million Sunsets,” then decided to write it for NaNo 08. It’s gone through a lot of revision as to what the plot actually is, but the title has remained constant.

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 14:34:33 +0000

I find it’s a lot easier for me to come up with titles for short stories than it is to come up with titles for novels–maybe because I feel like there’s a little less at stake.

I’m not afraid to fall back on calling a project “BOOK” or “NOVEL”…sometimes I’ll even spice it up a little and call it “MYSTERY NOVEL” or “ADVENTURE NOVEL.” But, there’s no greater feeling than actually being able to call something by a real name.

Even if it’s only temporary.

Dan´s last blog post..Just Because I Can