Titles are NOT important

[LeeEyeLa]

Zechs Merquise

Until you're done writing.

Sorry. gonk


I'm horrible with titles. I never feel like the ones I come up with do my story any justice. But thank you for making this thread- anyone wandering into the WF to ask for title help need to see this.

[-Resurrected Writer-]

Catchiness is a good perk, though. While it doesn't factor too heavily into the actual content of the book, it is still part of marketing.

[Klaark]

Amateur writers do tend to obsess over retarded things. Maybe it's easier to worry about the title rather than fix core writing problems like description, pacing, and character development and portrayal.

[Zechs Merquise]

The Sunset Plague

It matters.

A title is what captures people's interest in the first place. If you're writing a story online, like on mibba, or something like that, there's no way to really pick through stories. You pick the title, then read the description. And if the stories called, "How To Lie To Your Parents, Skip Town, And Have Fun With Your Bestfriends All Before College" or "falling for you" it doesn't exactly make me want to read it. Yes, there are definietly exceptions, but really. A lot of people wont read it if your titles too long, to ridiculous, or spelt too bad.

If it's an actual book as in 'Let's all go to the book store to buy books!', titles are STILL important. For me in books, the most important things are cover art, title, and description. Possibly author. It has to steal your attention when you see it, or else you'll never read it.

Good job at not reading the post. rofl

[daire oakenbrand]

i name a story when the right name comes to me. not before. that's all you can do, really?

[daire oakenbrand]

Klaark

Amateur writers do tend to obsess over retarded things. Maybe it's easier to worry about the title rather than fix core writing problems like description, pacing, and character development and portrayal.

yup. that it is.

[Zechs Merquise]

Klaark

Amateur writers do tend to obsess over retarded thingsl.

Not because it is easier, but because they don't know. So they focus on what they think is important like knowing how many freckles are on their characters face instead of the details that matter.

[Alanora Calaran]

For the longest time my novel was simply named The Aphis Project. After I came up with a title (about halfway through writing the first draft) I began calling the trilogy what I had originally called the novel. Then I figured out what I was going to call the trilogy, even though I have only just started the second book, which I already have a title for as well. The only thing I haven't named yet is the third book in the set, but I've got a couple ideas, since books two and three are very nearly planned out.

I guess it depends upon the book idea. Since my inspiration largely comes from random dreams that I've had, I tend to find the right title right away. And if not, I'll name it The [insert whatever the book is about here].

[Xilna Kithrin]

Titles mainly don't matter, because often, the publisher chooses them for you anyways.

Even if you really like your title, if the publisher doesn't think it will sell well, they will most often change it.

You, as the author, only have control of the words INSIDE the book. The rest, you have a say, but not 100%.

[Belladonna Crest]

Titles and me do not get along. stressed I have trouble with them, be they story titles, names or groups. Being that as it is, I don't find them particularly important... it just drives me nuts when the perfect one continues to elude me.

[Rasabon]

I disagree, though. I think a title can be very important. I often name my stories and use the name as the umbrella that the story falls under. I'm very partial to my titles, and I hate working on a project that doesn't have one.

[Alberic of Krufton]

I have an idea of what I want to call my world-building stories, but for the most part I don't really give it much thought. They'll usually just end up with titles like "Untitled 14.2," which works fine for me.

Though I did once write a short story with a title in mind, since it was the word that inspired the whole premise. I should revise it one of these days...

As far as school assignments go, I'll either go with the generic or the slightly sarcastic. Depends on my mood.

[iLL iNTENT]

To me a title is something that can evolve just as much as the story. Maybe even more. I never worry about WHAT I'm going to call something because chances are I'll come up with a title I like by the time I'm done writing it.

Like this book series I'm in the process of laying out. My initial idea was 'The Darklands,' just to have something to call it. But in just my first series of notes I came up with something I like so much better, 'The Crescent Sun.' And who knows, I might think of something I like even more further down the road.

The first book I'm nearly done outlining, and all I'm calling it is Chelsea's Story, just to have something to title the document. I don't even know if I'm going to keep Chelsea as the protagonist's name. It's just something to call her for the time being.

So titles change. It's not like once you name a piece it's set in stone. Documents have the 'Rename' option for a reason after all...

[Savant01]

Zechs Merquise

Until your done writing. A title is a mere label for the story. Until it's done, you don't know what you are titling. It's going to change.

So many stress over it. I understand why. They want it now so they can call it by it's true name, but it's true name doesn't exist yet. I call my stories by whatever the thought was to write it was. School, Torture, Bunnies. Just something to label it until I'm done. Then I spend my time coming up with a title.

Discuss:
Titles and you.
How you feel about titles: before, during, and after writing.
Why my first topic on gaia ever is a stupid one.

Unless you leave the title vague and like episodes of Chuck, with multiple meanings

Then the story follows the title.

Your inflexibility with writing makes me wonder as to the actual quality of your titles.