Titles: A Necessary Evil or Why Can't They All Just be Called "Untitled," Anyway?

[argosy]

So I posted my Rodney/Teyla fic yesterday called This Is The Song That Goes Like This. Poor, poor little non-otp fic--no comments. That's okay, because it was a repost from sticksandsnark--so everyone who wanted to read it presumably read it over there already. Still-- poor, poor little orphan non-otp fic. It looks so sad and lonely. *pets it

Comments

[amberlynne]

It's not the het! It's the OTP!

[argosy]

You're right, I know. I said het as short-hand for non-otp, but I should change that. And it got a reasonable amount of comments at sticksandsnark, so it's really fine. Tell me about your favorite title now, plz. :)

[amberlynne]

I know. I just always feel bad. I want to read it but I can't. Heh.

I don't really pay much attention to titles, actually. Is that weird? I mean, I guess I notice if it's particularly "punny" but other than that, it doesn't make much difference to me.

Aaaaaaand I can hear all the authors that spend hours thinking up titles crying right now.

[argosy]

I know what you mean about not paying attention to titles. Truth is when I'm reading a story I hardly ever even *remember* what the name is. But then when I like it, and I want to find it later, that's when titles are really important. :)

[argosy]

I'm glad you like your titles. Me, not so much. My titles! I don't like *my* titles so much. "Using Words" has a nice ring to it. I once wrote a drabble called "Dangerous Words In A Foreign Language," and someone expanded it into a full-length soty and liked the title so much they kept it, so I suppose that was a successful title.

You do have some nice titles there, and I think they work because they are not immediately associated with songs, but that they are from songs brings a whole new level.

[pixiequeen10thk]

Sorry I have McShep blinkers welded in place, silly I know!

[argosy]

Believe me, I understand. ♥

[sgamadison]

Oh titles are a weird thing with me. I really prefer one or two word titles for my stories. Most of the time, a story is a barely formed conglomerate of random ideas until the title slams into my head and then--boom! The story unfolds. So I am almost superstitious about them. If there is a word play that I like (for example, I really got a kick out of calling the story where Rodney thinks he's dying of cancer "Alternative Medicine")then that is just icing on the cake.

Because my titles are so short, they are often duplicates of other titles already used or sound so close to someone else's stories that readers often get confused. I've heard the complaint that people should be more original in naming their stories and there should be less duplication. I can't help it. There's some sort of thing between me and titles and I'm not going to fight it or try to change it. I just hope it keeps on coming

[lavvyan]

I've heard the complaint that people should be more original in naming their stories and there should be less duplication.

And that pretty much sums up everything I find distasteful about entitlement. Because, yeah, anything else? Maybe tell me I shouldn't use certain words like, say, "Broken" in my titles because they're too popular? *rolls eyes*

[sgamadison]

I agree...I shouldn't call a story "Blindsided" because it's used too often? Despite the fact the title fits on so many different levels? Oh, c'mon.

On the other hand, I may have gone overboard on the "Second" series. I'm starting to get cutesy in order to fit the word 'second' into the title. Maybe that also means the series is reaching a natural end. ;-)

[lavvyan]

I once got an email from another author asking me not-quite-politely to change the title of a story because they had posted something with the same title just a few weeks earlier. They started citing the historical implications of said title and ended with "just a heads up" and I was all, "Dude. If you want me to change the title so our stories don't get confused, just tell me so and don't get all passive-aggressive about it."

[lavvyan]

I had that darn song stuck in my head all night, so I don't like the title at all. *glares*

Actually, that's true for most titles that are from songs I recognise. I get earworms so easily it's just not funny.

As for the titles-of-my-own thing: It's rare that I have to think about them, though I guess that shows. They're hardly original. *shrugs* I hardly ever choose titles from poems or songs because doing so can appear pretentious far too easily.

My own favourite title is "The Trees on Memory Lane" because I have this whole picture in my head of how the longer you know someone and the more memories you share, the taller and fuller the trees will grow, except ultimately their beauty will be a sad one because they'll stand for something you'll have lost. Talk about pretentious, huh? *g*

My least favourite title is "Mermaids are Dead, Anyway" because while that sentiment would have fit fine into the story in question it's just too klutzy for a title.

[quasar273]

I know what you mean about earworms -- I'm extremely susceptible and sometimes go for weeks at a time avoiding music because of it. Given that I am a musician myself and at one time played professionally, that's kind of a big deal (I think the musical training might also be related to why my brain latches onto tunes so eagerly).

This past Christmas season I had lunch one day in a cafe that was playing many tunes which tend to stick in the brain. Unfortunately one of those songs (I won't say the title...) involved Grandma and reindeer. I then went to work for a 16-hour night shift, and that song was running through my head ALL NIGHT. I ended up developing this elaborate theory that "me" and "Grandpa" actually murdered Grandma and framed Santa for it. It totally makes sense! And now all my friends think I'm completely crazy, just because I was thinking about that song for hours on end.

[argosy]

"The Trees on Memory Lane," sounds very Twilight-Zone-y to me, for some reason (by which I mean that I really like it.)

I'm glad titles come easy for you--and also jealous. :)

Sorry for the earworm. "As Sharp As Any Thorn" is from a song, too (a Christmas Carol). It was actually my first fic and it had an open ending. I get asked to write a sequel a lot, and the only thing that tempts me is that if I did, I would have another title ready to go --"As Red As Any Blood" -- from the same carol.