tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post2593538375421062751..comments2024-02-12T17:59:33.534-06:00Comments on RAZORED ZEN: Titles RevisitedCharles Gramlichhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comBlogger36125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-71627017144121363992008-02-22T13:22:00.000-06:002008-02-22T13:22:00.000-06:00Fancy, thanks for stopping by. I think you've put ...Fancy, thanks for stopping by. I think you've put it a good way, the title as "filling" up, in an emotional way at least, the cup of the story.<BR/><BR/>Writtenwyrd, that is definitely true for me. A good title can shift me into a mood and take me where I need to be to write a certain kind of story.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-48411430990479586612008-02-22T11:21:00.000-06:002008-02-22T11:21:00.000-06:00Oh, and regardless of the wisdom that says the tit...Oh, and regardless of the wisdom that says the title doesn't matter until the publisher determines it, I need a good working title to help set the mode (or mood) of the tale. I suspect I am not alone in that!writtenwyrddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02280711822302493122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-46977581624881909002008-02-22T11:20:00.000-06:002008-02-22T11:20:00.000-06:00I think that a good title is often the inspiration...I think that a good title is often the inspiration of the story in my own idea-making process. The present WIP novel, The Beauregrave, came from me simply asking, what's a good name for a creepy fairy-type critter? And from there, the story.<BR/><BR/>The skewed view of language provided in poetry is very evocative for titles, lol. <BR/><BR/>I like "The Girl with the Seashell Eyes."writtenwyrddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02280711822302493122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-8011265704736853702008-02-22T10:18:00.000-06:002008-02-22T10:18:00.000-06:00Hello Charles...I think the title sometimes fill u...Hello Charles...<BR/><BR/>I think the title sometimes fill up what the meaning of the text is about. The lyric in the song is something I really try to hear. <BR/>I often combine music lyric picture and text in my posts in some way they are connected ;-)FANCYhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02608983168583167889noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-72389642709910053682008-02-22T08:45:00.000-06:002008-02-22T08:45:00.000-06:00Shauna, you must have been commenting at the same ...Shauna, you must have been commenting at the same time I was responding. An evocative title really does set off my imagination.<BR/><BR/>Travis, I don't always have a title for a piece either, and that has been happening more as I've gotten older. I've also changed titles to something from the text once stories are done and that often works well.<BR/><BR/>Christina, that is a great book. The movie from that was also good.<BR/><BR/>Sidney, I seem to have an affinity for 3 and 4 word titles.<BR/><BR/>Christineeldin, I titled the chapters in the Taleran books and really feel it adds something.<BR/><BR/>Sandi, thanks for stopping by. Pedigree dog names are like titles. We had a miniature dachsund named Silken Fudge Brownie.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-50585277819626882932008-02-22T08:18:00.000-06:002008-02-22T08:18:00.000-06:00Titles have always fascinated me, as well. And Pe...Titles have always fascinated me, as well. And Pedigree Dog names...and here I thought I was just weird, lol...great post...oh and David sent me!<BR/>SandiSandi McBridehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09033518416111957858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-21243039778279928262008-02-22T06:17:00.000-06:002008-02-22T06:17:00.000-06:00The titles you chose as examples are very compelli...The titles you chose as examples are very compelling! And I also listen to music for inspiration in my writing.<BR/><BR/>I love titles. I title my chapters.Chris Eldinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11794946908789120139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-18079535345077299842008-02-22T06:03:00.000-06:002008-02-22T06:03:00.000-06:00Speaking of songs, I wrote a story once based on "...Speaking of songs, I wrote a story once based on "Johnny We Hardly Knew Ye" about a man walking home from a nuclear war I need to dig that out. <BR/><BR/>Those are good titles you cited and I love "Still Life With Skulls." I went through a phase in high school where I wrote really long titles because I heard the full name of "Marat/Sade" but I moved past that, happily.Sidneyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16284680909152676159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-54408931409566237882008-02-22T01:04:00.000-06:002008-02-22T01:04:00.000-06:00I finally picked up a copy of, "Something Wicked T...I finally picked up a copy of, "Something Wicked This Way Comes." That title is catchy and eerie. It makes me want to know what is coming. Titles are important, I'm starting to realize that now. If I can't find a title that fits the story, I feel like a little stuck at that moment.LoveRundlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01177659277273835858noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-57865975628188180332008-02-21T20:41:00.000-06:002008-02-21T20:41:00.000-06:00I'm not very good at titles. My projects have wor...I'm not very good at titles. My projects have working titles, but I've never been able to write from the title down. It always starts with some kind of scene that can go forward, backward, or both.<BR/><BR/>I guess in my case, I need to know what's going on with a story and setting and characters before I can put everything underneath a title that strongly introduces what the reader is about to find.<BR/><BR/>For example, I wrote a story about two young boys who find a rusty tea kettle and convince themselves that it's a magic lamp. The story progresses and ends with a slight twist. It was only during editing that I realized that the story should be called Tea At High Noon.Travis Codyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06192526507760146748noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-63519076205004701662008-02-21T18:18:00.000-06:002008-02-21T18:18:00.000-06:00SQT, that is a good one, and I like "Red Dragon" a...SQT, that is a good one, and I like "Red Dragon" as well.<BR/><BR/>Steve Malley, I do hate it when the title isn't a decently accurate representation of the contents.<BR/><BR/>Lana, back at ya.<BR/><BR/>Sarai, they say in publishing that one or two word titles are the best for readers, but I generally like the longer, more poetic ones.<BR/><BR/>Ivan, a friend of mine from a writing group once gave me the perfect title for a short story, "Goodies."<BR/><BR/>Szelsofa, yes, it's unfair when a title misleads.<BR/><BR/>Candice, I know we've talked quite a bit out titles in our group. I like your St. Cyr titles a lot.<BR/><BR/>Gabby, plays on words can be great titles but my mind doesn't often seem to work that way and I don't get many titles from that process.<BR/><BR/>Bernita, "Death's Kingdom is the Night." I want to use that as a title sometime.<BR/><BR/>David, it sounds like that alliterative title is perfect for the contents of your book. It IS catchy.<BR/><BR/>Julie, that is one of Asimov's I don't believe I've read. Whoda thunk it?Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-15505533955567377202008-02-21T18:07:00.000-06:002008-02-21T18:07:00.000-06:00I'm one of those who has a terrible time with titl...I'm one of those who has a terrible time with titles. <BR/><BR/>I like your idea of starting with a title drawn from literature and then writing a story to fit it. Sounds like a double problem solver—you get an intriguing title and your creativity gets a kick in the pants.Shauna Robertshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03871768714926149114noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-56173765610764588272008-02-21T17:30:00.000-06:002008-02-21T17:30:00.000-06:00I dubbed a novella 'Figure of Eight' - (ice skatin...I dubbed a novella 'Figure of Eight'<BR/> - (ice skating motif)it wove through the story at different levels.<BR/><BR/>Suppose its stating the obvious, but these things have a subconscious pull...I always liked Isaac Asimov's Talking Stone - the silicony on the asteroid.virtual nexushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11955335598875413324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-17764906259332098862008-02-21T16:49:00.000-06:002008-02-21T16:49:00.000-06:00G'day Charles, What an interesting post this is. I...G'day Charles, <BR/><BR/>What an interesting post this is. Isn't it funny how a writer can churn out 150,000 words of prose but be completely and utterly stumped for a two- or three-word title!<BR/><BR/>I really like your idea “The Girl with the Seashell Eyes.”<BR/><BR/>When I wrote my first novel, it didn't have a title for several months, just a working title. Then the idea of `Vegemite Vindaloo' just occurred to me - it was two words of eight letters each, both words had a alliterative ring to them, the cadence was just right and each word summed up a different national culture. Penguin liked the title and stuck with it.<BR/><BR/>Cheers, mate<BR/><BR/>Daviddavid mcmahonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18009095220051075552noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-91816034398724982762008-02-21T16:25:00.000-06:002008-02-21T16:25:00.000-06:00PS- And just because I have a title, doesn't mean ...PS- And just because I have a title, doesn't mean it's good. I'm not good at coming up with titles, which, in the end, aren't so great. Ah, well, maybe one day, if I ever attempt to publish, I'll actually think about this more.Gabbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03450353611177198529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-61550558105448861472008-02-21T16:17:00.000-06:002008-02-21T16:17:00.000-06:00I agree that titles are tres, tres important.They ...I agree that titles are tres, tres important.<BR/>They are your first hook.<BR/>I can't really write too far into a story unless I have a title.<BR/>Poetry is always a good source and I don't think Shakespeare is mined out either.Bernitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05264585685253812090noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-35301452451295505682008-02-21T15:27:00.000-06:002008-02-21T15:27:00.000-06:00I am THE WORST with titles. I agonize over them, t...I am THE WORST with titles. I agonize over them, though truth be told, I don't play with them, if that makes sense. I'll think about them and think about them, but I won't commit one to paper until I'm sure about it. <BR/><BR/>I think it's interesting that your titles help you create the story. For me, it's definitely the other way around. <BR/><BR/>One of my fanfics is centered around 4 characters (only one original), and one happens to dance ballet. After some thinking, I came to call it "Pas de Quatre" - dance for four, a play on words and the story. <BR/><BR/>I really struggled with the title to my novel. Even after having finishing it, I still wonder if "The Carnelian Guard" is better suited for a sequel or a slight re-working. Ah, well....Gabbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03450353611177198529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-27291334228493320332008-02-21T15:05:00.000-06:002008-02-21T15:05:00.000-06:00Titles are soooo important, they're the bane of my...Titles are soooo important, they're the bane of my existence. I think having a poetical inclination helps. I love to read poetry, but I can't write it.cs harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13708705800818667923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-61850251471071834342008-02-21T14:19:00.000-06:002008-02-21T14:19:00.000-06:00titles are important, they really cn draw a reader...titles are important, they really cn draw a reader in.<BR/><BR/>But sometimes modern titles are so misleading.<BR/><BR/>I also hate when they want to offer so much, they end up offering nothing, but a greed for money.SzélsőFahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11600289147447182465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-63306569790955370542008-02-21T13:47:00.000-06:002008-02-21T13:47:00.000-06:00Well, I lucked out with a strangely prescient titl...Well, I lucked out with a strangely prescient title when I published my book, serial form, in l975.<BR/>It's title? The Black Icon.<BR/><BR/>Hey, this was well before Microsoft!...I'll let my impromptu focus group of painters and writers take the credit for that one. They laboured mightily and supplied me with a title.ivanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05662075375182633162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-74830566692607481992008-02-21T13:43:00.000-06:002008-02-21T13:43:00.000-06:00I suck at titles they do not form for me and my mi...I suck at titles they do not form for me and my mind blocks everything. That is why my stories are usually one word two at most: Cursed, Bounty Hunter? Gawd I hope someone helps when I have to come up with new ones.Saraihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00203551997160640352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-31986009852487015612008-02-21T13:37:00.000-06:002008-02-21T13:37:00.000-06:00Charles; No, you.Charles; No, you.Lana Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06975996208260144558noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-83487868544548583012008-02-21T13:22:00.000-06:002008-02-21T13:22:00.000-06:00Important too to make sure the title evokes the *a...Important too to make sure the title evokes the *actual* story. I once bought a book called Rules of the Knife Fight just because of that great title. Turned out to be a sorta dull courtroom drama.Steve Malleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17561234111786788616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-56056213919009631742008-02-21T13:03:00.000-06:002008-02-21T13:03:00.000-06:00I always liked "Silence of the Lambs," especially ...I always liked "Silence of the Lambs," especially in context with the story. <BR/><BR/>I like titles that directly relate to a part of the story. It may not always be obvious at first, but when you come across the passage in the book, it's great. <BR/><BR/>But those titles don't always grab you when you're browsing titles.SQThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04251030404220909306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28221839.post-347874771219335182008-02-21T10:53:00.000-06:002008-02-21T10:53:00.000-06:00Lana, I simply title all of your art pieces as "go...Lana, I simply title all of your art pieces as "gorgeous." Sometimes I add numbers. Gorgeous 2, Gorgeous 16 and 1/2 <BR/><BR/>Travis Erwin, it's probably a weakness of mine to depend as much on a title but it is like a part of my outlining strategy.<BR/><BR/>Monique, yes, I like that one. I'll check out the new post.<BR/><BR/>Billy, I'm certainly influenced by Bradbury's approach to writing down those evocative nouns and then riffing on them. And it's a lot of fun.<BR/><BR/>Erik, "journey to the end of the night" is a superb one.Charles Gramlichhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02052592247572253641noreply@blogger.com