Question for the writers out there

[simplyn2deep]

I have this fic that gnawing at my brain and I'm itching to work on it, but I have this weird...thing...where I can't work on a fic before I know certain things about it - characters, the BIG problem, overall flow, ending...TITLE.

And that's where I'm stuck. The title.

I think I have pretty much this entire story figured out, but the darn title. and leaving it as Untitled H50 AU Restaurant isn't an option. Like...at all. THIS NEEDS TO HAVE A TITLE. By May 1st.

Normally when I come up with a title, I use the line from a song that's the overall inspiration for the piece, or a line from the fic that's been simplified...but in this particular case, I don't think I can do that. And I'm not too fond of random titles that have nothing to do with the story either.

So my question to you fic writers is: HOW DO YOU COME UP WITH TITLES?



This entry was originally posted at http://simplyn2deep.dreamwidth.org/2975.html. You can comment here or there. Sometimes I lock entries. no biggie. add me as a friend if you want to see.
♥
comments

Comments

[geminilove-ca.livejournal.com]

It depends. If I'm doing a series, I may have a title in mind before I start.

For instance, I have my series (SPN) called "Ashes". But each story is a section of a quote that says basically, "Out of the ashes of the past, we shall rise and be set free." So the first three stories (which was intended to be a trilogy) are:

Out of Ashes
We Shall Rise
Be Set Free

Which makes *sense*, because the first story is about creating a turning point and leaving a past behind, the second is what becomes of that turning point, and the third is (although sad) setting free of the main character.

Sadly, the 4th story, a far later almost-epilogue, couldn't quite fit into the quote, so it's called "Maia's Song", which doesn't fit the story in any way except that the main character/driving force of the plot happens to be named Maia.



Other times, I will not name a fic until later, even completed, based on the themes or something that pops into my head when I was writing it.

"Kinda Like a Kiss" came from a line of dialogue, and I loved it because it referenced the two characters' lives. The flip-side story, "Knight in Tarnished Armor" came from a thought the character had when I wrote the same experience from her POV. She saw the other character and thought he was like an old knight, but not in shining armor. His was battle-scarred and tarnished, the way a true knight would live. The sequel, which ended up giving the series its title, was/is "Prodigal Girl", which I found amusing as a riff off the Buffy ep title "Prophecy Girl", and the parable of the prodigal son.


Sometimes, titles change. I have a working title and I get to the end and realize it just doesn't fit the tone of the finished product.

So, don't sweat the title at this point, I guess is what I'm saying....

[simplyn2deep.livejournal.com]

the lack of a title, even a working one, was keeping me from actually writing.

luckily something JUST came to me - thanks to a movie/book

I might change my mind, but at least NOW I'll be able to work on it.