Great Titles. (Unlike the title of this post of course)
seriousfic wrote a post the other day about titles. This is the post, by the way. Now, the post is more focused on titles for fanfics, but it did remind me of something I like to think about and wanted to discuss here: AWESOME TITLES!
So what makes an awesome title? I am not sure, but I love those titles that just flow right out of the mouth and just sound mysterious or maybe I am just confusing "mysterious" with "incoherent". Well, between pretentious or bland, I'll rather settle with pretentious.
Anyway, I think the best title writers are usually great short story tellers. I guess a title is a very, very short story in a way.
Harlan Ellison, when he is not grabbing tits, can write some good titles.
How can anyone not love this title? I wanna read the story (which I haven't) just because of the title. It is entirely probable that Ellison just throws darts at a bunch of words on a board until he comes up with something that sounds good, but Hey, it works.
A fitting creepy title for a creepy short story. Really, you practically know all you need to know about the story from the title.
I love this type of title, the "blah blah blah," the dog-catcher said. I am glad there is not an over abundance of these, because they would quickly become formulaic and I would have to hate them. My favorite title of all times is like this one, but a bit better. More on that one later.
Another old coot with great titles? Ray Bradbury, although Bradbury only stole lines from other writers and used them as titles. Can't complain, they work wonderfully.
Makes me wanna scan through the entire works of Shakespeare in look of for potential titles before someone else does it.
I think this one is from a Walt Whitman poem. A bit incoherent as a title, but it sounds beautiful.
Here is another title I like.
Incoherent? Probably. Pretty? You bet.
And here is one from Clive Barker.
I think I love this title because it hints about something greater beyond our reach and gives it a pretty name. Yes, it's just a horror book and not even one of Barker's best, but it has a pretty name.
And here is my all time favorite title:
Yes, good old "yadda yadda yadda" the kazoo player said. But come on! This one is just glorious, melancholic and sounds beautiful when you say it! Just don't say it out loud where other people might hear or they will think you are talking to the voices in your head again.
So what are your favorite titles? They don't have to be of books. Heck! There are a few nice comic book titles I could have put in here.
So what makes an awesome title? I am not sure, but I love those titles that just flow right out of the mouth and just sound mysterious or maybe I am just confusing "mysterious" with "incoherent". Well, between pretentious or bland, I'll rather settle with pretentious.
Anyway, I think the best title writers are usually great short story tellers. I guess a title is a very, very short story in a way.
Harlan Ellison, when he is not grabbing tits, can write some good titles.
How can anyone not love this title? I wanna read the story (which I haven't) just because of the title. It is entirely probable that Ellison just throws darts at a bunch of words on a board until he comes up with something that sounds good, but Hey, it works.
A fitting creepy title for a creepy short story. Really, you practically know all you need to know about the story from the title.
I love this type of title, the "blah blah blah," the dog-catcher said. I am glad there is not an over abundance of these, because they would quickly become formulaic and I would have to hate them. My favorite title of all times is like this one, but a bit better. More on that one later.
Another old coot with great titles? Ray Bradbury, although Bradbury only stole lines from other writers and used them as titles. Can't complain, they work wonderfully.
Makes me wanna scan through the entire works of Shakespeare in look of for potential titles before someone else does it.
I think this one is from a Walt Whitman poem. A bit incoherent as a title, but it sounds beautiful.
Here is another title I like.
Incoherent? Probably. Pretty? You bet.
And here is one from Clive Barker.
I think I love this title because it hints about something greater beyond our reach and gives it a pretty name. Yes, it's just a horror book and not even one of Barker's best, but it has a pretty name.
And here is my all time favorite title:
Yes, good old "yadda yadda yadda" the kazoo player said. But come on! This one is just glorious, melancholic and sounds beautiful when you say it! Just don't say it out loud where other people might hear or they will think you are talking to the voices in your head again.
So what are your favorite titles? They don't have to be of books. Heck! There are a few nice comic book titles I could have put in here.