Titles

[dotfic]

Does anyone else reach a state of mild panic after a fic is written because it looks like it's going to take longer to find a title than to write the actual fic

Comments

[sophiap]

I'm lucky if the title I start with is the title I end with. But then again, my stories often shift what they're about somewhere around the middle of the first draft, so that makes sense. I do tend to get my titles from all over the place. If something doesn't strike from the subconscious, I generally try to find a poem or play that has some element in common with the story, and pull something from that.

I wish I could ask my usual beta for help with titles. She's awesome at helping me kick my writing up to the next gear and she asks the questions that help me pinpoint what I'm really trying to say, but we have such different ideas about what makes a good title that title discussions usually end up with a lot of smiling and nodding on one side of the conversation.

[dotfic]

It's great hearing your inner process on this. Titles are really important to me but I'm not sure they're as important as I think they are. But when I've written a fic and find just the right title, it's such a lovely feeling. *g* I like the title to add a little something. But really, the fic is just fine without just the perfect title too.

[muccamukk]

I used to plug key words into the Babylon 5 quote archive. These days I just mull it over until something random and strange pops into my head. Which is why most of my stories have random and strange titles.

I also find that it helps to copy the format of the titles used in whatever canon I'm going off of.

[dotfic]

Babylon 5 is great for quotes. I should try that. Or just using Babylon 5 episode titles -- that show knew how to work episode titles!

Following the format of whatever canon I'm writing doesn't work for me since I think most TV shows don't pick good episode titles. Babylon 5, The West Wing, were superb at it. SPN is kind of hit or miss.

[torigates]

I hate titles, they are the bane of my writing existance. I always have a sense of panic after the story is done when I'm just staring at the word document HOPING something will come to me in a stroke of genius. Sometimes I try to use a phrase from the story, or a song lyrics that I listened to while writing the story. Usually I end up choosing something I hate. Sigh.

[dotfic]

Aren't they a pain in the neck? I've had a few fics where the title came first, or at the same time as the concept, and felt just right the story practically built itself around it. But it's much more usual to write the story and then rummage! Panic! Search for quotes!

[acidquill]

All the time.

But I'll admit to keeping a running list of possible titles/ideas. Some of them are lyrics, some from quotes/bits of words that stick in my head for some reason. When I get stuck I go browse through & see if anything hits me.

Sometimes the title comes before the fic, no worry, no fuss (which is always nice).

& then there are those fics that refuse to be named which leads to quite a bit of cussing and throwing things...

Never asked my beta though, as 99% of the time, I don't have one, lol.

[dotfic]

That's a great idea. I keep poems that seem like they might inspire a fic, or where I could mine phrases for titles, but I think I should start keeping a title list and then wait for the fics that match them.

[tigriswolf]

I have a word document full of nothing but possible titles I've grabbed from various places. If I can't think of one, I go skim it.

[dotfic]

That's an awesome idea, I'm going to try that. :)