Titles are NOT important

[Brodie Asturias]

I can usually come up with a title with a snap of my fingers right about the time I'm trying to name the document, and that's it. I like it and I stick with it. I've got a lot of examples of doing precisely that. Even my earliest stories, while the titles may not be astounding, are satisfactory and I wouldn't like to change.

For example, my first story ever was about two boys called Taiju and Mackie. I called the first part of the series Taiju and Mackie: Journey to Metsvar, the second part Taiju and Mackie: The City of Despair and the third part Taiju and Mackie: Spire of the Sun. It's simple, relative to what occurs in the story, somewhat childish, but I like it.

My second story ever has the same naming system. It was about a group of people who followed a certain religion based around twin gods. As such, it's two parts have the names Twin Gods: Rise to Power and Twin Gods: One Thousand Lives. Once again, they're simple, relative to the events in the stories, and I am entirely happy with them.

The stories in another series of mine are also simply labelled. They are Tobias Smith and the Archivist of Reality and The Black Dog of Daniel O'Halloran. The first is named in the same manner as the Harry Potter series, but I mixed it up a bit with the second one because Daniel O'Halloran and the Black Dog sounds kind of lame. Again, simple, relative and I'm happy with it.

A different story and personal favourite of mine is called Mercury. It's about a boy who thinks he has leukaemia but is actually suffering deliberate mercury poisoning. Simple and relative, I'm happy.

What I'm getting at is you can title your story right at the very beginning and it doesn't just have to be a label, because even right at the very beginning you have an idea about where you're going to go with the story. The thing about titles is that they do not have to be symbolic or obscure. You don't always have to put great deal of thought or time into them, because they don't matter that much. They just have to represent your story to a sufficient extent that it makes sense when someone reads it, and not sound too boring while going about it.

[Min Rei Sakato]

I don't title things at all really. I save things by random words or by the topic I'm writing about.
"my thoughts on...."
"fishsticksandbutterbeer"
"squiggly line"
"alkjfdlksfj"
I don't like titling most things at all. I think there has only been one thing I've written where I liked the title. "Surpassing Icarus"

[Coffeetailor]

JimmyTheGearGolem

- Never judge a book by its cover -
Meaning the title is nothing compared to the real story inside

Actually, the title is important when it comes to picking out a book because it's the first thing meant to appeal to the reader. But when you're writing the story, it's less important than belly button lint.

[Brilwen]

I Solemnly Swear

I agree completely, I used to agonize over the titles all the time when I'd start a new story, and then until I got older and realized that I was using up valuable writing time by trying to force myself to think up a title.

Anymore, I leave it blank if it's to hard to think up a title, I wait for it to come to me mid way, at the end or else at the beginning.



~ Aliyssa ~

That I, Am Up To No Good

[Corvus Enca]

Generally the idea comes with its title for me XD. But sometimes I change it when I have finished

[Berries and Kisses]

Titles are very important to me. I get a lot of ideas at once, and If I put them all into the story, it's gonna be,
(crappy example)
One day Bob woke up and walked outside, where suddenly zombie vampires who were atop great fire balls fell in his front yard.

--...-- I can get off topic easy, that's why a title helps me.

If the title of that really stupid example above was "Bob Bobbingman Goes To Work ", why again did it rain zombie vampires takeing a ride on meteor-like-things?


So, yeah, that's just me...

[SoldierInTheLordsArmy]

Personally, I come up with my title last. I go through dozens of titles before I come up with one I like. It always annoys me when a teacher tells me that a rough draft has to have a title because it's a look at what is to come in the story, which it does but not all titles can be come up with in one second.

[Xx_PrettyBoySwagg6_xX]

I always think it is important to get your title first because that bases yor whole story sometimes. And I should know bcuz I auditioned in my school for writing I also wrote a play.

[Prince Trase]

My Creative Writing professor had just told us about a book she is reading currently. She said it had a horrible title and a tacky cover, but the story itself was great! I feel that new writers stress the titles too much. I guess they feel that in having a title, they will have a good premise to work on. I mean, we all work differently but, we should remember that title doesn't make the story.