Name!

[Zoombie]

What do you do when you just can't think of a name for your WIP? Cause I have a WIP, and normally I can think of a name in a half second...but this time, I just can't think of a single name.

What do you guys and galls and gender indeterminate pan-galactic beings, do to find a name for your story?

[Wolvel]

Most of mine just come to me, but in the few times they don't I either study my content for an idea, or I just wait until it pops in my head.

[CaroGirl]

Brainstorm.

I'm notoriously terrible at thinking up titles for my work. I throw out words that are related to the story, perhaps phrases lifted straight from the story itself, and see what sticks to the wall.

Don't spend too much time on it. A lot of agents or publishers will insist on a title change anyway. Good luck.

[reenkam]

I never had a problem coming up with a title until 2 WIPs ago...I made a post here about it and everything. I still don't have a concrete name for that book, or the one after it, or the one I'm working on now. It's like the title fairy has left me.

Anyway, a lot of people told me to look through the book for a line that seems uber important and to use that. Or list the major points of your book and see if any of the things you wrote down would either work as a title or give you an idea for one.

[MidnightMuse]

Just call it Half Second.

It'll get changed anywho.

[Stew21]

Here are the ten most recent threads on people needing assistance finding, changing, coming up with, using in the body of the novel TITLES. there's gotta be some good advice in them some where.


http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69957
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69503
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65646
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65080
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63023
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63149
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32324
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56839
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=55705
http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=51149

[maestrowork]

Keep writing and the title will come to you soon, as you delve deeper into the story, the characters, and the themes.

In the meantime, call it something generic. I called mine "Crap, the Novel" for a while.

[JerseyGirl1962]

LOL, I know where you're coming from. :) My latest WIP has gone through about 3 title changes.

I've always heard it's good to give it some sort of title. Why not just give it the MC's first and last name? It's as good as anything.

And as others have said, any potential publisher will probably change it anyway.

~Nancy

[Southern_girl29]

The entire time I was writing Psychic Straits I didn't have a title for it. The file on the computer was called Psychics. I told my first beta reader that I thought I wanted to name it something with Psychic and he told me to play around with the names of the characters. My MC's name is Gracie Strait, and while I was driving home from work, I thought of Psychic Straits. I looked up straits when I got home to make sure I had the defination right, and it fit. So that's how I came up with the title. Usually, I don't have a problem naming my longer works, but this one was tricky.

[HopelessDreamer]

I'm good at thinking of a storyline and writing it out, but as far as coming up with a title, I'm horrible. It really has to encompass the main themes in your novel, which is why I think it's so hard to come up with a halfway decent title. I had been done with my first book and working on my fifth draft of it before I thought of a good title, but when I thought of it, it just hit me and I knew it fit my book perfectly. Now I don't even try to think of a title, I just let it come to me, and it does, eventually.

[Azraelsbane]

Usually I do fine with titles, but I'm having a problem with one for my new split-off from my main wip. When I realized that the absolutely terrible Razing Justice was the only thing that my mind would come up with, I asked my friends and husband to come up with a few titles. I'm eagerly awaiting their ideas, because my brain is currently on vacation.

[Sassee]

When I come up with a name for mine, I'll let you know :P

[OverTheHills&FarAway]

For me, it either hits me immediately, or the thing gets called "New Story" "Jungle Story" "The White Honda Story" "Ficus Story" "Random Story" "Something"

This means whenever I want to read or work on one of these things, I have to search through tons of files that sometimes describe the story but more often than not is the first thing that comes to my mind. "Ugg" is one I see and immediately open the file just to figure out what it is.

But when it comes to good names that you're actually gonna keep, for me, it's not necessarily what it says (although something easy to remember is always a plus) it pretty much comes down to how it sounds. How it rolls off my tongue. Cuz don't you know I'm gonna be saying that title about a million times, and I don't ever want to hear someone go "What did you say? Huh?" when I tell them the name of my newest tome.

[JoNightshade]

Force Shady to read your manuscript and then make her name it.

[Azraelsbane]

Force Shady to read your manuscript and then make her name it.

This one wouldn't work in my case, as I've heard Shady doesn't read anything that includes female MCs. :tongue

[JoNightshade]

This one wouldn't work in my case, as I've heard Shady doesn't read anything that includes female MCs. :tongue

Psst... Just change all the "she's" to "he's." Shady has a spot for effeminate men. ;)

[swvaughn]

Make up something ridiculous...

See my signature. :D

[scarletpeaches]

The title's one of the first things I think of; never had any problems there. Course, the publisher might want to change it someday anyway, so I try not to get too attached to whatever I choose, but it's not something I've ever dithered over.

[Raiyah]

I use my MC names for titles.

If I work myself up for a title, then I just get too attatched, which is a big no-no when I have to publish those babies. Can you imagine, someone tossing out your well versed-full-of-meaning-darling-title? I mean, it would feel like throwing your major character out of the story. Or like losing your Monolo Blahnik stilettos.

[Azraelsbane]

Psst... Just change all the "she's" to "he's." Shady has a spot for effeminate men. ;)

Hmm, then at least she'd like two of my MC men. There is no changing my female lead into an effeminate male. It was hard making her female. ::chuckle:: She's more masculine than most of my men.

Anyway, off topic. Sorry... How 'bout them titles?!

[RRK]

My first WIP was easy--the title was one of the first things that came to me, and was inspired by my first sentence.

The second I've yet to figure out. I've tried thinking of various variations on its theme, its characters, the setting, and the best thing I've come up with is "And Beyond," which is not only completely stolen from Toy Story, but it doesn't have much to do with the plot, either. So I'm still at the drawing board. If you figure out the secret, let me know.

[Zoombie]

Calculator Rain

Multidimensional Cats

Awake While Dreaming

Thrice by Pi

Entropic Torpedo

Beam weapons are good for the heart

Why Squirrels are harmful to your health

Starmash

Kekekeke Zergrush

Hmm...any one of these titles could work for my story. Now, which one is the best..

And has something to do with said story. Sorta like Awake While Dreaming, though

Thanks for all the advice, dudes.

[necia phoenix]

I dubbed my latest The Sooper Seekrit Project, I also have dubbed storys so and so's story.
Rayne's Story
Savahnna's story etc.

[Azraelsbane]

I like Thrice by Pi.

Awake While Dreaming sounds a bit too... I dunno. I have a thing for titles that include opposites, so I'm actually inclined to like it, but then again, I realize they come across as odd and "overly witty" or some such nonsense. I scrapped a title like that...but I currently have a novel entitled Elysian Flames...so I'm one to talk. :Shrug:

[eawhitt]

I usually just use a main character's name as a file name, or if I know the name of a prominent place or idea from the story I might use that. Sooner or later, a title surfaces - or else I come to the conclusion that the idea isn't strong enough to complete and need a title anyway.

[reenkam]

I like Calculator Rain. I liked Entropic Torpedo...but I've decided it sounds risqué ...unless that's what you're going for :Shrug:

[Zoombie]

I'd use Thrice by Pi...but I have no idea what It means. Awake while Dreaming refers to the fact that these are multidimensional cats and they sleep in their world and appear in ours. And change form, fight the powers of Entropy and so on, yada yada yada.

Also how is Entropic Torpedo risque?

[reenkam]

Also how is Entropic Torpedo risque?

It just makes me think of train->tunnel metaphors....but maybe that's just me.

I kind of like Thrice by Pi now, too. Though I don't know what it could mean, either. Maybe multiplying something by 3π ?

[Stew21]

Mostly I just like the word "Thrice", but it was my pick, too.
Reminds me of Pygmalion. "And the flame leapt thrice on the altar and Venus came, heard his prayer and before him turning ivory to wax, soft and pliable, she became real, blah blah blah... :D

[Esopha]

STARMASH.

Or Thrice by Pi.

Honestly, my philosophy with titles is: Just make something up because the publisher's gonna change it.

[JoNightshade]

Calculator Rain and Thrice by Pi are my two picks. I like the second one best. It's an awesome title so I think you're going to have to work it in somehow. :)

[Zoombie]

"Really important?" Clark looked at the three cats. "How important."

"Oh...thrice by pi, by my estimation."

[TheKnightWhoSaidNi]

I feel the pain when it comes to titles. My first two novels weren't too much of an issue. "The Three Gems," because that's what the particular story for that one involves. "The Skyborne Castle," because the castle in the sky in the first one is further elaborated on and plays a key part. The title that I have listed in the sig. for the third was originally the title for the second, and I still think it makes more sense there even though the said sword is key in the third. So, I'm playing with the titles of the second and third.