My experience is the same as Mammamaia - the only one that didn't have a title early on was Someone Else's Life and I am still not entirely happy with it. Its been through about eight titles - Angus!, First Cove, Royal Oaf, Great White Falcon, Soaring Peace, Iron Falcon, Becoming Dad, Walk Tall, Universal Balance, Combinations, Fly's Legacy, Children of Izanami, Heart of the Universe, Eternal Organs and I could go on lol What About Us I knew straight away, likewise Bad Romance when I combined the two it became - The Flight of the Swan. Socrates' Children was Stitching Time until i knew where the story was heading and that the title was too light. The moment the solution to my schizophrenic story came to mind the title did. Little Chicks my novella came very early as well. Stoned Witches came quite early on and has stuck which surprised me. Coffee Killer was what gave me the story from Cream and Black.
For me, the best route is to settle on a working title early in the project. When I do that, I'm able to forget about a title until the end. Otherwise, I used to find myself obsessing on what the title should be, and trying to create lines to write that would encompass the title. This, it turns out, was even worse than shoehorning the title into the prose. When I wrote a novel about a Catholic priest in an inner city parish, I called it "Fr. Lynch" right from the beginning. I got so wrapped up in the project that I forgot I needed a title, and I left it as "Fr. Lynch" when I started looking for an agent. I found one who expressed some interest in it and asked for the manuscript. He declined to take it, but made a number of suggestions, and I went back to work on it. I was halfway through my major editing project on it when I decided on the title, "Cathedral Under the El", which is what the MC ad called a drawing of the church that one of the children in the parish had drawn. I still like it as a title, and I still like the novel, even if I haven't been able to sell it.
Allan Drury did this in his "Advise and Consent" series. He wrote four novels of the series, with the fourth one ending in the assassination of one of two members of an American presidential ticket. Each represents an opposing side of the American political spectrum (the combined ticket is a compromise), so the assumption is that whoever survives will swing presidential policy his way. The only problem is that the book ends without the reader knowing who was killed. A few years later, he published "The Throne of Saturn", a book that is not actually part of the series story line but which uses many characters from the A&C series. Still no hint as to who was killed. Several years after THAT, he comes out with two novels in quick succession, each one the story of a presidency assuming that character lived - sort of a Lady and the Tiger ending writ large. I've always assumed that Drury couldn't decide how to end the series in a credible manner, and so he copped out with this ending. Perhaps the spinoff novel was a way to procrastinate. Even more interesting, his next novel, "A God Against the Gods" was set in ancient Egypt. But he never got back to the vibe he had in the original "Advise and Consent".
It depends on your 'professional' commitment to your readers. Are you obligated (say, by legal contract) to churn out books in the sci-fi series at certain intervals? Then, it is your 'professional' duty to complete the series and not be side-tracked by your new idea of a historical fiction. However, if your relationship with your readers is informal, then you can simply put out a memo after book 4 of the sci-fi series that the muses have 'possessed' your mind and are compelling you to commence a new piece. But that when released from their demands, you will return to the series. Or, you can simply take quick notes on the brainstorms you have for the historical fiction, getting a general feel for it, then continue with the sci-fi series. When you have then satisfied your adoring audience with the sequence of fantastical events, you can divert to the historical piece and expand on its ideas --flushing out the details. After these suggestions, if you're still in a dilemma, ... there's a bar around the corner. ----------------------------------------------------------- Be good, wise and strong --or don't be at all
One of my favorite books to read is the Bible --yes, the Bible! But nowhere in all its 66 (no pun intended) books and numerous chapters and verses is the word 'Bible' seen. What is 'Bible'? What the heck does that mean? But the title has come to stick with me and the name conjures up strong emotions. Have a main idea / theme / subject-matter / issue and adequately write on it (or them). Then put yourself at its core and 'wait' for the creative name / title of the work 'to come' to you. It's more intriguing when it's not 'given' directly from the words of the work. Good luck. ---------------------------------------------------- Be good, wise and strong --or don't be at all
I agree with Banzai's idea. Come up with the title last. Every time I have seen the title of a book snuck into the content, it always feels out of place and force. George R.R. Martin did it with A Game of Thrones. It felt corny because it was the one time in the entire novel when the rulership of the land was mentioned as a game. If he had mentioned it several times throughout the book, it would have felt more natural.
I also agree with Banzai if you are going to get published. Don't force a title into your story, especially since many story titles are changed if the publishers/editors/whoever don't like them. The story "Twilight" for instance, started as "Forks", which was obviously an incredibly stupid name for it, but a title Stephanie Meyer would have stuck with if her authors didn't force her to do otherwise. They change titles all the time to make them more marketable. Also, titles should, more importantly, reflect the overall theme of a book. Don't call a book "Secret Lovers" for example if you are writing about people who keep secrets for others and search out and find secrets because everyone who picks up the book will think its a romance. The title shouldn't be an inside joke or confusing. People should be able to glance at it and know the theme of the book instantly. Like the Stephanie Meyer example . . . ."Forks" sounds quirky and like something you'd find in the kitchen and like nothing the book is about. "Twilight" on the other hand hints that it contains something dark, like vampires. That's why they didn't let her keep that horrific title.
Ages ago, I wrote a short story entitled Dinner With Dan, about a news reporter who gets to interview Death at his home. When he introduces himself as Dan, the reporter scoffs at it, until he says, "What would you rather tell your parents later? That you had an interview with the Grim Reaper, or that you had dinner with a guy named Dan?" So while not precisely shoehorning the title, the dialogue was just natural to the conversation and it happened naturally. I usually know how I want to tell the story before I write it, or I have it all played out in my mind ahead of time, which is why I usually pick a title first. But like another poster said, if I ever get to the publishing stage, the publishers may have a completely different idea.
I agree, I always find myself smile with a childlike excitement when I notice the title worked into the book! Obviously not all titles will fit within the writing inside, which is why I personally write the majority, if not all, of my work first and upon editing an appropriate title seems to just jump out at me!
To be honest, I don't think I can multi-task with stories. I get too flustered with the idea that there are a lot of first drafts floating around to be worked on. I like to work on one thing at a time, get it done, then move on to the next project. So I think it would be a good idea, if I were ever in that situation, to finish the sci-fi series before I got into the historical fiction. EDIT: I like bars. =)
In my current novel I actually came up with the title first, then weaved a story around that title. I've come to a point were it is literally impossible to change the title. I like it this way, it's almost like the title becomes the story's identity and essence
Occasionally, a title will pop into your head and a story will form around it. That's a natural growth. More often though, you'll have a story idea first. In either case, though, the real product of your work is the story, not the title. Don't fall so in love with the title that you have to force the story to fit it. The title should always be considered provisional. By the time the story is done, you will know your story so well, you may realize that there's an even better title than you originally envisioned - if you keep an open mind. You can always use the title in another story if it isn't the absolute best title for the current tale.
I just finished one novel, and I have another one that is more than halfway done. The one which I just finished, started off with one title, but as the book developed, the title didn't fit anymore. The novel which is still in development, still has the initial title, and I think it will stick throughout. For me, the initial title is often times just a thought or nugget that starts the process, sometimes it sticks and other times it doesn't. Part of the function of the title is to describe the book, but in business, it has to help sell the book (especially if you are an unknown). I think that, while it is fun if the title comes up in the book, it should not be forced.
Titles *do* reflect the contents of the book, more often than not, so it would be a bit strange to not expect any relevance to them at all... For directly quoting the title, I guess that depends on the title. I use tons of working titles and almost never settle on something I'd call the finished title. However, when I do have the title I definitely want to use it often gets worked in. Maybe a bit heavy-handed to some, but I try to make my titles very relevant, and something that could be understood from the first chapter, so the reference appears there more often than not. If the title was faintly ridiculous though - I use a lot of those, which are either quite long or strange, I won't even bother. Ones with heavy alliteration I usually skip referencing What sounds cute as a title looks awful on the page. For my current main novel I use the title early on, in dialogue, and it's natural enough that the reader could wonder either way if I got the title from there or put the line in because it was the title. From there, since it's a description of the main character, I use it a couple more times throughout the novel, the narrator using it almost like he's ironically quoting the girl who said it.
Sorry to those that like it, but I think it's a bit tacky. Whenever I read a book title within the story I . I feel it takes me out of the story.
A creative writing teacher I had once told his class to never name their stories before they were finished. Avoid the title, and finish it later. Personally my working titles were something that I had to try hard to get rid of but in the end his advice worked splendidly for me. Not once have I completed something I titled before the end. In fact, I once titled something I hadn't even started. I haven't put down one word that I intend to keep. How about all of you? Do you adhere to the working title or have you cast it into the wind?
I have to name something before I start. A good name is very evocative for me. It gives me the direction of where I am going with a story. To be clear, I have a story idea and the title comes along with it. Not just a name with nothing else. I find that I am thinking through an idea and a name just comes out of it at the outset. From that, I go forward.
It depends on the story. Whatever comes to me. Some get named early, some don't get named until they're done. I have two novels in progress right now and one has a name and one doesn't. They're both coming along at about the same pace I'd say, I try to split time equally, so I don't think title (or lack of it) is having any effect.
I definitely agree with the point that you shouldn't name your work officially until it's done. Two reasons: 1) the story might take an unexpected direction in which your title doesn't relate anymore, and 2) no matter how much you've planned, only by writing will you discover the perfect phrase/bit of symbolism/dialogue that will work as a title. However, I do agree with using a working title (with the mindset that you can change it later). For me, it's easier to keep writing something with an individual title than something like "dystopia novel #3"
To me, titles are like all things involved in crafting fiction, and probably going to change and be revised at some point anyway. And I'm not going to work on a story called "Untitled" so I usually find a working title from a They Might Be Giants song that may or may not remain as my final title.
Ooh, I like that, may I borrow it? It's almost as good as my short story titled "Cuz I'm a Writer!!! (chapter 1)" And yeah, it was a short story, the joke being most writers I know are working on novels, and haven't gotten past chapter one, so I figured I'd just stop there an make it a short story!
When I started writing my book, I saved the file as Booky. That stuck around for a bit until I changed it to something relevant. Whether or not the new title will stay, and if it will be the book title or the series title, I have yet to decide.
I use working titles, but they are just that, something to call it until I decide what I'm going to call it. I've had works called 'Swamp Monster Story' and 'Cop Story.' The names changed once the story was done. I've had other instances where I have a title before I start writing and it sticks.
My first novel was saved as Wordvomit.doc up until the 2nd draft--does that count as a working title?
After my experience with my first title yes I have a working title and I change it as necessary - the title comes when it comes. With my first book it has taken a lot of help and several month to come up with a title that I am happy with. Having a title has never stopped me writing it can always be changed if the story chanes.
