tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042924928725513001.post7276048359467442385..comments2024-03-09T07:09:11.885+02:00Comments on Rachel Morgan: Title TroubleAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06181241692016438730noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042924928725513001.post-51980350229755749772010-11-20T05:32:59.181+02:002010-11-20T05:32:59.181+02:00Not sure if you'll find it useful but I bookma...Not sure if you'll find it useful but I bookmarked this from an agent blog earlier this year:<br /><br />http://cba-ramblings.blogspot.com/2010/03/how-to-title-your-book.html<br /><br />Personally I'm not beyond sneakily going back and tweaking the manuscript to fit in with a cool book/series name. In fact I did that both for my individual book and for the trilogy name.<br /><br />I definitely research names on Amazon to see who has already used the same/similar book title though.Adina Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08860528131098237473noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042924928725513001.post-16148473575874727992010-11-19T16:51:18.040+02:002010-11-19T16:51:18.040+02:00I don't think it bothers me too much that my n...I don't think it bothers me too much that my name is already out there. I just felt stupid for not connecting the dots! Cos the first time I looked up the series (ages ago) I only noticed the character's name. The second time (last night) I only noticed the titles. Silly me didn't pick up that they were one and the same till you pointed it out!<br /><br />Besides, I like my name. And I like the fact that I like my real name enough to use it :-)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06181241692016438730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042924928725513001.post-58255929878642654832010-11-19T16:37:10.129+02:002010-11-19T16:37:10.129+02:00I hope the name thing doesn't bother you too m...I hope the name thing doesn't bother you too much? I'm not sure if there are rules against having a character name as your own. You really shouldn't feel stupid- Its an awesome name- I just associate it with Harrison's books. :)Summer Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08122694893668693244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042924928725513001.post-26237380276613895182010-11-19T07:10:45.459+02:002010-11-19T07:10:45.459+02:00Can I just say..."Gemyner"
:)
RachCan I just say..."Gemyner"<br /><br />:)<br /><br />RachRachael Harriehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16764930101064527321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042924928725513001.post-37161649217155090262010-11-19T03:45:23.757+02:002010-11-19T03:45:23.757+02:00I tend to list elements of the novel I want to emp...I tend to list elements of the novel I want to emphasize and morph them into phrases or words that sound catchy. Sometimes, like for my current WiP, the title came without much thought. But most of the time, I go back and forth a lot, and have to narrow down a list of dozen titles. :)Emy Shinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08109925009902220083noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042924928725513001.post-29709151953632820962010-11-19T00:37:14.576+02:002010-11-19T00:37:14.576+02:00Rachel- actually whats even funnier is Kim's m...Rachel- actually whats even funnier is Kim's main character has your name on this blog. LOLSummer Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08122694893668693244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042924928725513001.post-76636756889750149972010-11-18T23:43:21.551+02:002010-11-18T23:43:21.551+02:00I am equally bad at titling so I let my CP do it s...I am equally bad at titling so I let my CP do it since she has read the book, dont sweat it though most titles get changed by editors or agents.Joanna St. Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06180782095853911283noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042924928725513001.post-48568519417163148212010-11-18T23:28:42.023+02:002010-11-18T23:28:42.023+02:00Hi,
I am sooo bad at titling anything. I really h...Hi,<br /><br />I am sooo bad at titling anything. I really hate doing this. <br /><br />Roland had a very helpful post a few days ago about titling and things to think about when doing it...<br /><br />http://rolandyeomans.blogspot.com/2010/11/titlesor-bestseller-by-any-other-name.html<br /><br />One of my crit partners has really great titles for her books. I'm sure she'd be happy to answer some questions for you.<br /><br />http://blog.stephaniemloree.com/<br /><br />I have heard, that with series names, you should think about the 'common element' or theme that holds them as a series (aside from the main character)<br /><br />Kelley Armstrong writes adult fantasy about women of the otherworld and that's the series title. Her books all have differnet MC's but they are all female leads and supernatural (witches and were's)(she also has a spin off-men of the otherworld- which has the MEN as the MC's)<br /><br />Also, once you come up with a snappy title google search it to see how recently the title has been used. I've heard you shouldn't use a title if it has been used within the past forty years. But have you seen how many books have the title of Twilight that were written before Stephenie Meyers book and less than forty years before...<br /><br />Good luck. <br /><br />JJodi Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03216373059861459896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042924928725513001.post-58575038158435970802010-11-18T22:54:13.072+02:002010-11-18T22:54:13.072+02:00I kept seeing the phrase "Kids Eat Free"...I kept seeing the phrase "Kids Eat Free" here and there, and thought that would make a great title. Maybe a story about teenage zombies or something. And from that, came my current WiP, a revenant tale about delinquent teens seeking revenge for their death in a school bus accident. <br /><br />I'm about halfway done, and it's really become a three-dimensional, fleshed-out world. All besed on a relatively common phrase I kept seeing.<br /><br />And, of course, now I'm not sure I even like the title anymore.Danhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01103849952547613477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042924928725513001.post-21767441072251471612010-11-18T21:38:01.057+02:002010-11-18T21:38:01.057+02:00I can only go on my experience of naming short sto...I can only go on my experience of naming short stories so far, but generally they come from the story itself - a piece of the text or the theme. The titles just seem to tell me; they're a bit bossy like that. <br /><br />Why don't you list some of the ideas you've had already and see what your blog readers think?<br /><br /><a href="http://elliegarratt.blogspot.com/2010/11/christmas-tales-blogfest.html" rel="nofollow">Christmas Tales Blogfest</a>Ellie Garratthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03731071128348213067noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042924928725513001.post-79560333354318987902010-11-18T21:17:27.629+02:002010-11-18T21:17:27.629+02:00Just looked up Kim Harrison. She has some cool tit...Just looked up Kim Harrison. She has some cool titles!<br /><br />A Fistful of Charms<br />The Outlaw Demon Wails<br />Early to Death, Early to Rise<br />Dead Witch Walking<br />Once Dead, Twice Shy<br />Where Demons Dare<br />The Good, The Bad, and The UndeadAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06181241692016438730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042924928725513001.post-60880030451909860022010-11-18T20:58:34.987+02:002010-11-18T20:58:34.987+02:00Have you ever read any of Kim Harrisons novels? th...Have you ever read any of Kim Harrisons novels? they are a series about a witch and magic, but her titles are spoofs of old western movies...look her up.<br /><br />It might help if you post some titles you thought of and let your commenters brainstorm with you.<br /><br />My short stories, well my titles usually come from the plot, like my Story "Vanished Words" that will be published- the plot is about a journal with disappearing ink.<br /><br />My story "Mind fairy" Is about the plot in which mind fairies have come from an alternate universe to take over the world...<br /><br />I think you get the idea.Summer Rosshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08122694893668693244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042924928725513001.post-24998438454325963812010-11-18T20:21:35.118+02:002010-11-18T20:21:35.118+02:00Thanks, Gideon.
For what it's worth, I think W...Thanks, Gideon.<br />For what it's worth, I think Whispers: A Willow's Tale is nicer than Amber and the Whispering Willows. Well done :-)<br /><br />(Ooh, and I really the sound of the title Through Shades of Grey!)Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06181241692016438730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042924928725513001.post-83721094648300493882010-11-18T20:12:38.012+02:002010-11-18T20:12:38.012+02:00I am currently writing a series. The first book is...I am currently writing a series. The first book is written and I have started the second. My original title I choose from to use the Mc name flowed by <br />and the --- Like Harry Potter and the --- or Percy Jackson and the---<br /><br />Although I really love my title, some agents don't so I just recently changed it. Jessica has an orange tree, I have a Willow tree grove. My original title was Amber and the Whispering Willows. I changed it to Whispers: A Willows Tale. It's an M/G fantasy book. It is so hard to come up with the perfect title. Amber does continue in the series, but she is joined by another MC focusing her talent to save the Willows.<br /><br />Some titles write themselves. On my last short story the title came easily. Through Shades of Grey. It's about the blues one gets in the grey, cold winter.<br /><br />So, you just never know. <br /><br />MichaelMichael Di Gesuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17047267262428143113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042924928725513001.post-61778728403735926482010-11-18T19:37:24.141+02:002010-11-18T19:37:24.141+02:00Kittie - wonder is definitely good...
Jessica - j...Kittie - wonder is definitely good...<br /><br />Jessica - just LOVE how all your symbolism ties into your title :-)<br /><br />Melissa and Golden Eagle - hey, if it works for you, sneakiness is great!!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06181241692016438730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042924928725513001.post-84038359219442612242010-11-18T19:26:47.659+02:002010-11-18T19:26:47.659+02:00I was writing it out, and I got an idea based on a...I was writing it out, and I got an idea based on an object in my story--but I also went and tweaked what I'd already written, so I guess I did sneak a little.Golden Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08721520451194318436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042924928725513001.post-37302212817310842052010-11-18T19:24:21.426+02:002010-11-18T19:24:21.426+02:00My title just came to me... I mean the word has go...My title just came to me... I mean the word has gone into my book now but it wasn't before so I guess that's the sneaky thing....Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12096764010151024050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042924928725513001.post-11787542695672921232010-11-18T18:36:49.213+02:002010-11-18T18:36:49.213+02:00Ok, here's how I titled one of mine. My WIP is...Ok, here's how I titled one of mine. My WIP is called Bitter Like Orange Peel. It's about a girl who is in search of her father. She's never met him. She has an orange tree in her back yard. She always looks at it. When she looks at it she always thinks of her father. She associates the bitterness of the squashed peel on the ground with the way her mother feels about him. So it's all symbolic. Ack. Complicated. Perhaps you have something symbolic in your WIP?Jessica Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10889900730906728317noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1042924928725513001.post-34243889087931052652010-11-18T18:34:27.626+02:002010-11-18T18:34:27.626+02:00I think one word in a title must have a sense of w...I think one word in a title must have a sense of wonder, ie,the reader wants to know where this word leads. Other words have to corral that wonder. I don't buy books with one-word titles.Kittie Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07756250649095903317noreply@blogger.com