Titles, Titles, the Woes of Titles
Now then, before I begin this post I need some serious help. I'm seriously considering changing the titles Melody's Song and Melody's War to something more....erm....I don't know. Right. Because the first story (of which I'm intensely editing at this point) isn't really about the song so much as it is about the emerald necklace and the conspiracy that a certain character is plotting. So I need some title ideas...for some reason right now the title The Amulet of Stone just popped in my head...hmm...not horrible. It's more fitting since the necklace is not just a necklace. It has astounding properties in fact. For the sequel to this (of which I already have ideas spouting from my head like a geyser) it is sort of Melody's own little war she's fighting, but I feel like it's not just the war, it's the warriors who are fighting it. And since the kingdom of Royaume de L'eau has a specific number of people in their army, perhaps the title 921 Warriors would work... Anyway, please offer suggestions whether you like these titles or if you have a better idea that you think would work much better.
And since we're on the topic of titles, let's explore it, shall we?
Ah, titles. It's what you see when you're browsing the library shelves and the bookstore shelves as well. Sometimes it's the title itself that catches your eye, other times it's the font they chose. For me, it's both. If I see a font that catches my eye, I'll read the title, and then I usually come to a conclusion of whether I'd rather jump into a vat of boiling jello than read it, or whether I'd run around shrieking with joy to read it.
When you yourself are writing something, and finding a good title is stumping you to no end, what I always do is write a bit of the story, get a plot working in my head, and usually (but not always, sadly) a title will pop into my head. Sometimes I ask a friend (or a reader of this blog, meaning YOU!) for advice, and sometimes this works as well. It's really up to the author of the story to decide what fits the best and what will catch people's eyes in the bookstore.
To decide a title for your story, you really have to delve deep into your book like a deep sea diver. Sift through all of the non-important items first, because you really don't want to title your book Tommy and the Color of the Tabby Cat Next Door since that is neither catchy nor does it have anything to do with the plot. And on a related note to that, try not to do a title of [insert main character's name] and the [insert main event in the book] because this is often a cliche way to name your book and doesn't sound quite as nice and intriguing as a title of The Spying Feline might.
There.
Now I've got that all out of my system.
<3 Seana
And since we're on the topic of titles, let's explore it, shall we?
Ah, titles. It's what you see when you're browsing the library shelves and the bookstore shelves as well. Sometimes it's the title itself that catches your eye, other times it's the font they chose. For me, it's both. If I see a font that catches my eye, I'll read the title, and then I usually come to a conclusion of whether I'd rather jump into a vat of boiling jello than read it, or whether I'd run around shrieking with joy to read it.
When you yourself are writing something, and finding a good title is stumping you to no end, what I always do is write a bit of the story, get a plot working in my head, and usually (but not always, sadly) a title will pop into my head. Sometimes I ask a friend (or a reader of this blog, meaning YOU!) for advice, and sometimes this works as well. It's really up to the author of the story to decide what fits the best and what will catch people's eyes in the bookstore.
To decide a title for your story, you really have to delve deep into your book like a deep sea diver. Sift through all of the non-important items first, because you really don't want to title your book Tommy and the Color of the Tabby Cat Next Door since that is neither catchy nor does it have anything to do with the plot. And on a related note to that, try not to do a title of [insert main character's name] and the [insert main event in the book] because this is often a cliche way to name your book and doesn't sound quite as nice and intriguing as a title of The Spying Feline might.
There.
Now I've got that all out of my system.
<3 Seana
ooooh i HATE naming stories! i HATE IT i HATE IT i HATE IT I HATE ITTTTTT!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteon a less angry note, maybe you should call your story simple The Emerald Neclace, since it would be understating and the unfrilled sorts of titles are usually best, in my opinion. Or Melody's Necklace? Melody's Amulet? Not that 've read the book, but still! just lending a friendly blogger hand (:
Thanks for your ideas, Rose! I hate it when I get a writer's brain cramp and cannot think of any good titles. xD.
DeleteI'll write down your title ideas so that I can look through all of the ideas that I have, and then pick the one I like best or maybe I'll do a poll...we shall see!
Don't do the Amulet of Stone. It just sounds like a cheesy medieval princess novel with lots of political intrigue and a certain spunky girl solving mysteries by herself. Ick.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I like one-word titles, plays on words, anything clever but not too revealing about the story. Fathoming Egression is a good example-- the two biggest characters are Fathom and Egress. Wise is an example. I've been trying to find a story to entitle Nevertheless, but that's just because it has twelve letters and looks cool. It doesn't work to think up a story based on a title, let me tell you.
So in summation, I'd say Melody's War sound nice and cryptic, yet... poetic. Sort of. I think it's a fairly good title, but if it doesn't fit, find something else. Just not the Amulet of Stone. (It sounds like Bartimaeus Trilogy 1, does it not?)
You're right. I hadn't thought of that...
DeleteWell, you have my immense thanks for your advice. I shall now delve deep into the northern regions of my brain in search of the perfect title.
Yes, that's right: you want the North here. Something cold and unforgiving... Whereas in the South you'd get something warm, in the East you'd get something Oriental and in the West you'd get cowboy boots and railroad tracks, the North always sounds better.
DeleteExactly my point. Although, cowboy boots are actually somewhat fun. Except I'd probably get a hold of some of those spurs and accidentally skewer someone in the shin...
Delete