This is topic Titles---the good, the bad, and the ugly in forum Open Discussions About Writing at Hatrack River Writers Workshop.


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Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :
 
I have found that a good-solid title can really draw the eye of a reader. Whilst a dull, barely adequate one can help a passerby pass by a potentially excellent read.

A lot of authors like to use patterns in their titles. An obvious example is Paolini who seems to have a fetish for single word titles beginning with the letter "E."

I have always had a liking for one letter titles, based on books I have written and am working on. Hybrid. Wasteland. Republic. Exile. Zero.

Then today the thought struck me, I don't know how other people see my titles. I've always really liked them, personally. But I'm not sure that a single word title, like "Zero," really grabs people's attention.

Now a poll:
Which title grabs your attention more,
Zero
---or---
Point Zero
---or---
Memory
---or---
Point Blank
---or---
Identity
---or---
Identity Crisis (at the risk of sounding Hollywood-cliche)
---or---
Fallen
---or---
Vanishing Point

Possibly (dare I say probably) none of them grab you. However, I like all of them. Order them, please, in order of likeability.

Of course a valid point is the genre your story belongs to, the kind of story you are telling will affect the likeability of the title, I think. So, for the record, the story in question is a science fantasy on a separate world than earth with its own unique and independent history. There is futuristic technology, mixed in with traces of magic, and the theme of the story is finding and establishing identity.

[This message has been edited by Zero (edited April 04, 2007).]
 


Posted by ChrisOwens (Member # 1955) on :
 
I cast my vote for the multi-word titles. Then again, that's just me. I'd like the title to give me a hint of what the story is about. Ender's Game. Red Prophet. Lord Of The Rings. The Eye of The World. The Sum of All Men. Nine Princes In Amber.
 
Posted by kings_falcon (Member # 3261) on :
 
Let's see, for me:

Zero - nothing there to really sink my teeth into.

---or---

Point Zero - a bit better

---or---

Memory - I'd be expecting some type of memoir or Total Recall type story

---or---

Point Blank - reminds me too much of Gross Pointe Blank or a Bond film.

---or---

Identity - possible

---or---

Identity Crisis (at the risk of sounding Hollywood-cliche)- Sounds like a mid-life crisis novel.

---or---

Fallen - I like this

---or---

Vanishing Point - I like this the best as long as the story some how corresponds to the concept. Also there is a 1971 movie by that name.


 


Posted by pantros (Member # 3237) on :
 
Single word titles are so ambiguous that I avoid them.

Two words can flavor the piece and make it a hundred times more interesting.

Now a single word can have more meaning if I know the genre, so it might work in a magazine that limit's the genre expectations.

I would not read any of those titles, they all looked cliche and boring.

I would probably go with something more like:

Identity Zero


 


Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :
 
I take it you mean cliche or boring. As "Zero" isn't cliche, as, it's never been used before. At least, I've never seen it.

You would not read "Vanishing Point?"

[This message has been edited by Zero (edited April 04, 2007).]
 


Posted by pantros (Member # 3237) on :
 
The exact titles are not cliche, the style is cliche.

In the last 8 years there have been 6 movies and 3 novels titled "Zero"

No, I would not read vanishing point because I've already read it.
 


Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :
 
touche
 
Posted by mfreivald (Member # 3413) on :
 
All of this is totally kneejerk reaction. So you are seeing just how I immediately react to it - not a thoughtful reply. I figure that is more valuable in the pursuit of a title that tries to get immediate responses.

I personally don't like anything that sounds cliche, although it can be very appropriate sometimes if it evokes the right feelings. Like a detective novel, or something.

These ones seem cliche:
Point Zero
Point Blank
Vanishing Point

Zero - There are too many possibilities with this title, I think. Zero as a number? Zero as the amount of accomplishment in my life? Zero as in the candy bar? There are so many questions - it evokes no focus or curiosity.

On the other hand, I like titles with zero in it:
Zero for Pritchard (Pritchard isn't getting something that he wants/needs)
Zero Sum Magic (What kind of trade-off am I going to read about?)

Point Zero - Besides being cliche, it makes me think of math.

Memory - Vague, but I'm actually okay with this. It isn't quite as broad as Zero, but it's still pretty broad.

Point Blank - Makes me think of sports or shooting.

Identity - Honestly, I think too many books, movies, stories, etc. try to make a big deal out of "identity." Not that it can't be a great topic. It's just that the title makes me think. "Oh. Another one."

Identity Crisis - Funny that this on is obviously a cliche, but it didn't strike me as one. This still has some of the problems like "Identity." I could see you combining something with it to make it seem different. "Zero Sum Identity," or "Vanishing Identity," or "Crisis without Identity."

Fallen - This comes off as trying to be too big to me. It makes me think of the original fallen angels or the fallen state of *all* mankind. "Identity Falls to Zero" ?? Something with the more active "Falling" might grab me more.

Vanishing Point - Makes me think of a suspense novel. And - as noted above - it sounds very cliche.

Like I said - these comments are "for what they are worth" reactions from one measily reader. I hope it's helpful.

 


Posted by InarticulateBabbler (Member # 4849) on :
 
For me,

Zero lacks something. I immediately thought of a Japanese Zero, the WWII fighter. What is it really about? Though I don't necessarily think it's cliche, it has been used in a lot of titles.

Memory sounds like a kids' game. Maybe that's because I have a few. However, it seems lacking, too.

I agree with kings_falcon about Identity Crisis and Point Blank.

And speaking of evoking images of John Cusack :Identity.

I would like The Fallen better than just Fallen--of course, I have no idea what it is about.

Vanishing Point doesn't even look interesting. It reminds me of perspective drawing, and is the most monotonous part of it.

I don't usually have a problem with one-word titles--or the equivalent beginning with the word the.

[This message has been edited by InarticulateBabbler (edited April 04, 2007).]
 


Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :
 
how about Zero Fallen? Zero Point?

Identity is an excellent concept, there is, however, a shortage of words in English to express it. Ipseity, nobody will know what that means, singularity, sounds like star trek, etc, etc.

The trick is having a catchy title that is still true to the story and doesn't reveal any of the twists and turns

[This message has been edited by Zero (edited April 04, 2007).]
 


Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :
 
I think I'm going with The Unknown
 
Posted by InarticulateBabbler (Member # 4849) on :
 
What's it about?
 
Posted by Dubshack (Member # 5262) on :
 
When I first started working on the background to my story, I called it "Infinity Prime." I dunno if you'd call it cliche, but it was definately a terrible name.
 
Posted by trousercuit (Member # 3235) on :
 
Don't tell us. It'll ruin our objectivity.

I like "Vanishing Point" and "Point Zero". Ditto for everyone who said one-word titles are a no-go or a no-no.

If you're worried about sounding cliche, you should open a thesaurus. I think "Dematerializing Spicule" or "Acumination Whippersnapper" would be awesome.
 


Posted by Dulci (Member # 5051) on :
 
Oh goodness, no, don't pull out the thesaurus! Well, maybe, but not overly large, complicated and unfamiliar words!

For the record, I agree that the above mentioned titles were pretty cliche. I tend to be drawn to titles that not only catch the eye, but have a deaper meaning and infinite portent to the story. Something like Zero says nothing to me. Now, Ender's Game? That's just brilliant.

Maybe a good source for title-looking would be in reading poetry. Sometimes that *just right* phrasing can trigger that just right title. There's a poem called the Echoing Green - titles like that are just pure music.

I'll take a few stabs here, though goodness knows I have no clue what I'm stabbing at. But might inspire???

Holding Nothing
The House of the Shattered
Breaking the Dawn
The Overquiet Heart
Interline

Ach, they're probably on the ugly side too!
 


Posted by arriki (Member # 3079) on :
 
as a counterpoint -- what are some titles that did draw you to reach for a book?

For me some that just the title not the cover reached out to me are

Princes of the Air
Smilla's Sense of Snow
Cafe on the Nile
Snowblind
The Mamur Zapt and the Donkey Vous (the what and the who? I asked and reached out for the book)
Resonance
Permanence
The Fire Engine That Disappeared
Pushing Ice
The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril
Speak of the Devil
Parallel Lies (with a picture of a train track on the cover -- very effective!)

Now, of those listed above, not all of them were great reads, but the titles worked to get my attenetion)

 


Posted by KayTi (Member # 5137) on :
 
I liked Vanishing Point just fine, but I can't say that any of the titles struck me as "wow, I need to read THAT book." But then again, hrm...I don't think I usually shop by title. Maybe I do. I've been working on a reading list from friends' recommendations...I've got The Mote in God's Eye (excellent title), Forever War, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep, and a bunch of anthologies sitting on the shelf. They all make me want to read them. In fact, I hear them calling to me now....

I guess my one reaction is - if one word titles are limiting, two word titles can be too. Don't be afraid of using a longer title if it's meaningful.

And I'd be really suspicious of a title that gave away the secret in a book...maybe the secret/the twist/the fun part wasn't deep enough if it can be given away in a couple word title.

Other random comments - Identity Crisis sounds like contemporary fiction, not necessarily sci fi, though I could be convinced, I agree with others on some of the limitations of the other names. Zero isn't bad, I don't think there's a problem with it...but things like Zero Point or Point Zero - unless there's a geographical landmark called Point Zero featured prominently in the book, well, it seems like a silly string of words together.

Does the world your story is situated on have a cool name? What about using that?
 


Posted by darklight (Member # 5213) on :
 
I was drawn to Vanishing Point, I liked that one best. As others have said, I prefer titles of two or more words, a sentance even as are some of mine: The world, like a ball of Wool, for example.

Maybe try a mind map: put what is most important to the story in the centre (the main character's anme for exapmle) and around that, any important, relevent or interesting points, plots or names from the story. It worked for me when I was stuck for a title.


 


Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
 
Ah, another fast-growing thread to post to...where to start, where to start? Let me see...

I thought "Eragon" and "Eldest" were picked to give the series some sort of identifiable unity in titles.

I've bought a couple of books because the title spoke to me in some way...unfortunately, I can't remember any. Probably it's less important to me than writer's track record or cover art.

I'd go with "Vanishing Point" as the most dynamic of the titles.

I've sometimes (not as much lately) picked out titles by taking down books on my shelves, sticking my finger on a page-at-random, and writing down a list of what's what. Certain, er, writers of flamboyant style have provided the best titles. And they usually stimulate their own ideas. (There's a downside---one title I picked out about twenty-five years before has haunted me, but I've never been able to write more than two pages of the story 'cause it keeps dying on me.)

But if you're looking for something specific to a story already written, well...you can try a Book of Quotations. Figure out something about your story or characters, look that up, and see if Shakespeare or anybody has a few good lines about it.
 


Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
 
Should'a also mentioned, but might as well make a separate entry...Look within your story itself. Maybe one of your characters has made a nice turn-of-phrase that you can lift out and use as the title as well.
 
Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :
 
Good point. I think I have come up with a better title. "Zero is Fallen," how does that feel?

Maybe Zero has Fallen

Or less likely, but possibly, the Unknown Zero

Zero Unknown?
the Fallen Zero

ideas, thoughts, comments...?

[This message has been edited by Zero (edited April 05, 2007).]
 


Posted by Dulci (Member # 5051) on :
 
Maybe Zero Falling? I think sometimes the more immediate titles generate more energy, if that's what you're going for.
 
Posted by InarticulateBabbler (Member # 4849) on :
 
Just playing:

Zerofall

All the way to Zero

From Zero

The Unknowable

Falling to Zero
 


Posted by SharonID (Member # 5059) on :
 
Well, "Zero" (used figuratively) does score high on the LuLu title scorerer, fwiw.... (If anyone doesn't know about the LuLu title scorer, it's interesting to play around with and you can find it at: http://www.lulu.com/titlescorer/index.php I don't consider it to be an absolute oracle, but I'd be unlikely to go with a title that scored very low unless I had a compelling reason to do so.) You've got some high-scoring titles there (again, using the words figuratively), but the fundamental problem I have with them is that most of them imply to me a loss of whatever the plot involves (identity, in this case, though that's not obvious in some of the titles, but they all seem to indicate a point of loss or lessening rather than finding or increasing).

Something like "Identity Point" might hint in the other direction. I'm sure there are other possibilities, but in general if the story is about finding something, I don't think you want your title to focus on the loss. Of the titles you gave, "Vanishing Point" is probably the one most likely to catch my eye (and, used figuratively, scores very well on LuLu), but if your book is more about finding than losing I don't think it's that great a title for it, even though it might be a very good title for some other work.

JMO, of course....

Regards,

SharonID
 


Posted by KayTi (Member # 5137) on :
 
Oh great, there goes another 10 mins of my life on a fascinating website.

Cool!
 


Posted by Tara (Member # 4638) on :
 
quote:
I would like The Fallen better than just Fallen

Already a book.
 


Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :
 
oooh, I really like "Identity Point," I just don't want to get banched in with the bourne identity
 
Posted by InarticulateBabbler (Member # 4849) on :
 
In regards to The Fallen being:
quote:

Already a book.


It would be more accurate to say that it's already the title of a book.

You're fooling yourself if you think all of us can come up with an original title. Seriously do you know how many titles there are???

I think, as far as a title goes, it's okay if a book of the same name already exists. So long as the plots are different, and it's not cliche.

I could get past it. And have. Both John Saul and Richard Patterson have used the title When the Wind Blows. One is a psychological horror, the other a mystery. How many times has Fire and Ice, or a variant, been used?

I've seen a lot of titles that that have been used more than once.

For me, a title isn't a synopsis; it isn't and outline; and it doesn't have to invoke a clear image of the story that I'm going to read. As long as the title is befitting, it'll be good. The blurb on the back sells the story for me more than the title, anyway.
 


Posted by DebbieKW (Member # 5058) on :
 
Zero, of the original titles, only "Vanishing Point" really catch my attention. Just my 2 cents.

[This message has been edited by DebbieKW (edited April 06, 2007).]
 


Posted by I am destiny on :
 
I like Zero Falling, I tend to personally have one word titles, of my seven books in my series 4 are one word, two are two, and one is three... However I went to a conference a few weeks ago and the published authors told us to not become attatched to our titles because MOST of them will be changed by the publisher/editor, agent. Oh well, I can dream right?

Edited bacause I can't spell conference Doh!...

[This message has been edited by I am destiny (edited April 10, 2007).]
 


Posted by sleepn247 (Member # 5312) on :
 
how about Falling to Zero?

also, I kind of liked Zerofall.
 


Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :
 
Memoryfall Zero ? no?
 
Posted by arriki (Member # 3079) on :
 
Zero And Falling --???
 
Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :
 
yeah IB and sleep that isn't bad at all "Zerofall"
 
Posted by Fuzzylogic (Member # 5384) on :
 

I think one word titles can work. Let's not forget that a title doesn't always need to invoke a "ooh I'd like to read that!" response. Sometimes it just needs to make you go "Huh!" "Whah!" (And to be perfectly honest...good cover art can more than make up for a less than stellar title. How many time have you bought a book because the cover was "Freakin Sweet!"?) Hehe.

One word can have so many different meanings and in the context of your story: all, some or none might fit.

I'm currently working on a short story titled "Birth". I'm not completely wedded to it yet; however, there are different elements to the story that could be considered a type of birth. Maybe, that's why I haven't changed the title yet.

I liked "Fallen". "The Fallen" is good too; However, "The Fallen" now implies that the story is about a group or individual rather than a state of being. So, it would depend on where you were trying to go with the story.

Generally I don't go for titles that are too wordy. I'd say between 1 - 4 words maximum is all you need as a general rule. Of course then there are the exceptions which is what I love about writing. Example: "The Hollow Chocolate Bunnies of the Apocalypse" By Robert Rankin. The sole reason I read that book was the title--how can you not want to read a book with title like that?

Only you can prevent forest fires...oops wrong topic. Only you can be the ultimate judge of what title works best for your story. Until its published and the editor decides "Zero Blank" works better. ;p

As Remo Williams would say..."That's the Biz."
 


Posted by rcorporon (Member # 2879) on :
 
Not to be insulting, but I don't like any of them.

They remind me of some cheesy, summer Hollywood garbage where lots of stuff explodes and there isn't a lot of story.
 


Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :
 
rcorp I'm not insulted. If I was so attached to any of these titles this topic wouldn't exist. however, I'd like to see some examples of titles you like, to see if I can dismiss you as having completely separate taste in titles than me in general.

edit: are you including the other titles in the bulk of this topic or just the ones in the original post?

[This message has been edited by Zero (edited April 14, 2007).]
 


Posted by DesertComet (Member # 5414) on :
 
If I saw a book with the title Zero, I would pick it up. It reminds me of another story that I really liked so I would at least see what it was about. One word titles do tend to catch my eye more than any other kind of title. I think different titles appeal to different people. Memory or Identity sound good as well. I know of a movie called Memories of Nobody, maybe you could use something similar, Memories of Zero? I also like Identity Zero, the title that pantros suggested.
 
Posted by InarticulateBabbler (Member # 4849) on :
 
More dubbing around titles:
Zero Memory
From Nothing
From the Ashes of Memory
Finding Me
The Hunt for Zero
Good Zero Hunting Hey,<shrug> it worked for Matt Damon and Ben Affleck.
Memorywipe
The Awakening
The Nobody
The Empty Man
 
Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :
 
A spin of an idea by IB,
how about:
Memory Zero?
 
Posted by hoptoad (Member # 2145) on :
 
What about:

Deleters

or:

Bio-delete

or:

Ex-zero

and for a latin-bent:

ex-nemo

or even:

tabula rasa

How about:

Escape key

or one for the brainiacs:

the palimpsest

2c

[This message has been edited by hoptoad (edited April 16, 2007).]
 


Posted by hoptoad (Member # 2145) on :
 
heh heh heh

how about
brainiaxe ?

[This message has been edited because hoptoad is an idiot(edited April 16, 2007).]
 


Posted by hoptoad (Member # 2145) on :
 
seriously, look up 'palimpsest'
 
Posted by InarticulateBabbler (Member # 4849) on :
 
hoptoad that's AWESOME! As a title, I would be clueless to the definition (without looking it up), but as far as definition it rocks!

Can you tell that I've chosen a new place to babble?
More doodle-titles:

Blank Slate
Nothing to Lose
Mind of Zero
The Missing
Lost and Found
The Lost
Identity Lost
The Real Me

 


Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :
 
X Memory?

Memory X

Forsaken

[This message has been edited by Zero (edited April 16, 2007).]
 


Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
 
Zero, just write it.

Edited to add: You do know that if an editor buys it, there's a good chance the editor will want to change the title anyway?

Why such a big deal about something that may not be all that permanent?

[This message has been edited by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (edited April 16, 2007).]
 


Posted by InarticulateBabbler (Member # 4849) on :
 
I was having fun with it.
 
Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :
 
Seriously KDW, part of this exercise is to measure what people like and why, not just to find the perfect title

[This message has been edited by Zero (edited April 17, 2007).]
 


Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
 
Okay, but you don't need more than one topic in which to do it.
 
Posted by Balthasar (Member # 5399) on :
 
Zero -

If you're interested in why people like certain titles, then you're going about it all the wrong way. Unless it's a Harlan Ellison story, most titles aren't enjoyable in-themselves. It's only after reading the story that the title begins to make sense, to have any kind of meaning. For example, the title Lost Boys doesn't tell you anything about the story. The OSC story (and I've only read the story, not the novel) is really about lost boys, but the vampire movie that has the same title is about lost boys in a figurative sense.

The best titles are those that have deep meaning once you finish the story. James Joyce "The Dead" stands out as a great title because the story gives it layers of meaning. Another great title is Hemingway's The Sun Also Rises, which also is given meaning once you've read the novel. Another is Harlan Ellison's "The Whimper of Whipped Dogs."

But these are special cases. Most titles are nothing to write home about.

[This message has been edited by Balthasar (edited April 17, 2007).]

[This message has been edited by Balthasar (edited April 17, 2007).]
 


Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :
 
I still find it interesting.
 
Posted by InarticulateBabbler (Member # 4849) on :
 
You know, in a newer thread a planet so cold and dark as to eliminate heat and light is being discussed. It gave me another idea:

Absolute Zero
 


Posted by pantros (Member # 3237) on :
 
Let's not look at this as someone so lacking in creativity that they can't think of their own title. That's not what this is at all. So, just to avoid that concept, lets change the direction of the thread to where it should be.

No more listing potential titles.

Let's talk only about existing titles and what makes them great.
 


Posted by InarticulateBabbler (Member # 4849) on :
 
Yeah, I just realized that my last suggestion was in Fragments and Feedback as someone else's title. <shrug>
 
Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :
 
IB I like it, it's also darklight's story and I noticed the title too, I think it's going to be the tentative title, yes!!

And a special thanks to IB for humoring me with title ideas and giving me feedback, which I found very helpful.

Though I'm not sure why everyone else seems so opposed to a discussion on specific titles and comparing them. (Sometimes it is, believe it or not, helpful to get and consider outside points of view.) [I know, strange concept to digest.]

In any case I wasn't aware that discussing titles was somehow not related to writing, I thought a forum about writing would allow discussion on all aspects of writing, but I suppose I was somehow mistaken...

[This message has been edited by Zero (edited April 17, 2007).]
 


Posted by darklight (Member # 5213) on :
 
On this theme; I've read novels with titles that (as far as I can see) have little connection with the novel. Or I've read half of it or more and then said, 'that's why it's called that!' And there are some that seem to have no connection with the book at all.

Of course there are those that are immediately obvious (I've just finished Hyperion by Dan Simmons, no guess to why it was called that).

For me, they either come to me right away or it's very hard to find one that I like. For example, I wrote a kids novel for a competition here in the UK - did even make the cut but that wasn't suprising considering I rushed it and didn't edit porperly - point is, I couldn't think of a good title for it and came up with something stupid and pathetic - honestly - I hated it but it was too late, I'd sent it off. Then, weeks later on the train - not sure if that helped or not - I suddenly said, Ghosts in the Machine - Ok, not an altogether orignal title but summed the novel up exactly.

Point? Maybe you need to stop thinking about it - and it'll come to you when you're least expecting it.

 


Posted by InarticulateBabbler (Member # 4849) on :
 
quote:
...a special thanks to IB for humoring me with title ideas and giving me feedback...

No problem. I was having fun. Hell I might just come back here and type a few more doodle-titles.

Like:
Zeroed In
I Forgot
On the Tip of my Tongue
0
Put Title Here.................
The Rememberer
What Was I Going to Call This Book?
Oh, Yeah!
A Skip in the Rift
Who am I and What do I want?: Catching Fraudulant Psychics....

 


Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :
 
what is better "Zeroing in" or "Zeroed in" past tense?
 
Posted by pantros (Member # 3237) on :
 
that is a question that cannot be answered without the whole of the story in context.
 
Posted by RMatthewWare (Member # 4831) on :
 
I found that if you write the book or short story first, the title is easier to find. It seems you're putting the wagon in front of the horse.

Matt
 


Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :
 
OK in that case, considering the different titles, what directions (of kinds of stories) do they point you in?
 
Posted by Sunshine (Member # 3701) on :
 
Speaking of titles, can somebody please remind me of the title to OSC's book that discusses POV. I can't find my scrap paper that had the title (my office is a pit), B&N is not coming up on my computer right now, and amazon bugs me. Thanks for the help.
 
Posted by RMatthewWare (Member # 4831) on :
 
From Amazon.com:
Characters and Viewpoint, by Orson Scott Card.
(You should give Amazon another chance. It's nice enough to me
Matt

[This message has been edited by RMatthewWare (edited April 18, 2007).]
 


Posted by Sunshine (Member # 3701) on :
 
Thanks for the title and the Amazon plug.

[This message has been edited by Sunshine (edited April 18, 2007).]
 




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