There was a discussion on someone else's journal about fic titles, and how she always waits 'til the last minute to name her fics, and I was thinking about how *different* that is for me
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Most of my titles are last-minute, "what the hell am I going to call this?", snatch something from the air affairs. I never start with a title - it's always an idea, a what if, a need to write out a particular scene.
Which is probably why most of my titles are pretty lame :).
That said, I rarely take much notice of other people's titles, either. I must admit that the ones that resonate are often quotations, although there seems to be a school of thought to the effect that this is "cheating". But if I see a story titled with a line from my favourite poem, of course I'm going to give that more time than I might otherwise.
I try not to use lines from songs as titles - they bore the fuck out of me - but sometimes I do when I'm lazy or I care less about the story. Lately, song titles have bugged me because I feel like they're such OBVIOUS choices. I would love to see that trend stop. (I know, I know, I'm not helping.)
ETA: I just dug through and EIGHT out of twenty-six of my stories have song-related titles. Ten, if you include poetry-related titles. See? I have no room to bitch! I JUST DO IT ANYWAY.
Interestingly enough, when I was thinking of a title I really liked on someone else's story, a title of yours came to mind, such a beautiful blank (but smooth it).
I don't think that much of other people's title - I like them not to contain SPaG errors but other than that, I don't make demands of them as I know how fiendishly difficult it can be to come up with a title. Usually I figure out the titles far into the writing process though I'm usually never finished when I've decided on the title. But I think my best titles are the ones that convey the spirit of the story the best and Life is Like a Box of Bulgarian Bon-Bons is just about as silly as the title suggests it is.
That title is from Sylvia Plath's Amnesia, and it was one that I had well before I had any actual idea for a story - I just knew I wanted it be about amnesia (and it ended up more Groundhog Day).
Life is Like... is a great title! I like titles that take pop-culture references and twist them around the suit the story.
*beam* Lucy is my title-fairy, so I never need to worry! She normally picks words/phrases from appropriate sayings/quotes/lyrics and they are always awesome - always after the fact, though, obviously. I never even think about the title till I've done writing.
Ahahaha CAM HAS JUST MADE ME SO PARANOID NOW, THOUGH! I like using poetry titles for my own fics best, or quotes, but I use lyrics a lot, too! :/ It's usually from something that is intrinsically related to the plot of the fic, though, and the feel of the line (even if the whole line isn't in the title) usually reflects on some theme in the fic. And it isn't all that easy! I love doing it, but sometimes it takes quite a while to find something that resonates and means something relevant.
For Sam obvs I do titles after the fact, but for myself, I always start with a title. Sometimes the title even inspires the story. Fine Wonderful Things, The Devil Really Does Wear Prada, and If At First You Don't Succeed, Suck Seed were all titles before they were even IDEAS for fics. I actually have a large number of Word docs on my computer that are just a title at the top and a quote I got the title from that I want to write a fic inspired by SOMEDAY.
I like using poetry as well, though I don't do so very often.
I'm the same way! I've written stories around a title, because I like the title so much! I love how some of your really long fics have developed that way!
Yeah, I would say anything that I title from a song is going to be from a band that's not remotely mainstream anyway, so very few people know it (though, then, I usually point it out, so.)
I prefer lyrical titles, as well, or at least - as you said - will probably remember them more clearly.
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Which is probably why most of my titles are pretty lame :).
That said, I rarely take much notice of other people's titles, either. I must admit that the ones that resonate are often quotations, although there seems to be a school of thought to the effect that this is "cheating". But if I see a story titled with a line from my favourite poem, of course I'm going to give that more time than I might otherwise.
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For some reason, lately in particular, if it's not a story I've written quickly, I can't write it without some sort of title - it's very annoying.
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ETA: I just dug through and EIGHT out of twenty-six of my stories have song-related titles. Ten, if you include poetry-related titles. See? I have no room to bitch! I JUST DO IT ANYWAY.
Reply
I don't think that much of other people's title - I like them not to contain SPaG errors but other than that, I don't make demands of them as I know how fiendishly difficult it can be to come up with a title. Usually I figure out the titles far into the writing process though I'm usually never finished when I've decided on the title. But I think my best titles are the ones that convey the spirit of the story the best and Life is Like a Box of Bulgarian Bon-Bons is just about as silly as the title suggests it is.
Reply
Life is Like... is a great title! I like titles that take pop-culture references and twist them around the suit the story.
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For Sam obvs I do titles after the fact, but for myself, I always start with a title. Sometimes the title even inspires the story. Fine Wonderful Things, The Devil Really Does Wear Prada, and If At First You Don't Succeed, Suck Seed were all titles before they were even IDEAS for fics. I actually have a large number of Word docs on my computer that are just a title at the top and a quote I got the title from that I want to write a fic inspired by SOMEDAY.
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I like using poetry as well, though I don't do so very often.
I'm the same way! I've written stories around a title, because I like the title so much!
I love how some of your really long fics have developed that way!
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I prefer lyrical titles, as well, or at least - as you said - will probably remember them more clearly.
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