Anyway, the IWSG is the creation of Captain Ninja Alex so we writers can have a safe place to air our insecurities, triumphs etc. More info and the other awesome participants are here.
Today I am talking about giving that story a title. I have the hardest time trying to name my stories. I suck out loud and sideways at it, going through pages and pages of notebook paper or staring for hours at a blinking cursor to try and figure out my titles. Even after all that, I STILL dither and tinker, only settling on a name at the midnight hour/last second before hitting SEND.
I just don't know what my problem is. Why is it so hard for me to give my stories names? Man, even my working titles don't help. Dream On was Contemporary Story, Maxie Briscoe: Werewolf was Werewolf Story and my steampunk story was, you guessed it, Steampunk Story. And I do officially have a title for it now. The Physician's Lieutenant should be out in February. I guess this is something that I will struggle with until I die. Do you all have problems with generating titles for your stories?
Cool News
My sister friend Robyn at Life By Chocolate has her first book out, yay! Go check out Just The Right Time and give her a big congrats. :)
Fellow writer, friend and kick ass babe extraordinaire, Morgan H has a great new writing blog called Write Drunk, Edit Soberer. Head on over and give her some props.
Writers 4 Writers starts tomorrow so head on over to Christine Rains' blog or Stephen Tremp's get all the pertinent details. Nancy S. Thompson is the first writer spotlighted.
Looks like there's a LOT going on! I have to check out that Walking Dead quiz :)
ReplyDeleteHi CHarmaine! Do that walking Dead quiz, it is really fun. The questions are so original awesome.
DeleteThere is so much going on so I've got to get my rear in gear for sure. :)
I suck at titles! If I hadn't named CassaStar when I wrote the first version as a teen, it wouldn't have received a name. The second two titles were both my publisher's ideas.
ReplyDeleteBig congratulations to Jamie - gave him a shout out as well.
Ready to support Nancy on Thursday.
And my copy of Robyn's book should arrive today! She totally rocks.
Fist bumps for sucking at titles. :) That's awesome that your publisher helped with the titles.
DeleteJamie is awesome and the W4W is going to be incredible. I've got my order for Robyn's book ready. Can't wait to have it in my hands.
Congratulations on finding a title! I don't usually have too much trouble coming up with one. Tell us more about The Physician's Lieutenant!
ReplyDeleteThanks! I'll be doing a post on The Physician's Lieutenant as soon as the publication date draws closer. :)
DeleteI think it's a wonderful thing that you writers support one another. That's one of the nicest things about the blogosphere-finding people to connect with.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes!
Thank you, Anne! I love our community very much and I have met the nicest people, like you and Dezz. :)
Deletewhy am I not surprised that you're Daryl? :) I'd probably be Ricks, but Godforbid that they give me Lori for wife...
ReplyDeletethe test says I'm Dale LOL
DeleteYes, you would kill Lori yourself or maybe have me do it. ;))
DeleteI could totally see you as Dale, the humanitarian of the group keeping us from being complete savages. Though I think you'd love us to be brutal when it comes to Merle. ;P
How did you get so sweet and sassy at the same time? Actually, we're of the same blood, so I know. You're wonderful, Melly. Thanks so much for the shoutout. And it looks great. (I don't know how you did the black outline. Love it.) Writing the book is the hardest part. If you can do that (and you can do that repeatedly), you can find a title.
ReplyDeleteI love ya,
xoRobyn
LOL we are definitely of the same DNA. What would I do without you I tell you. :)
DeleteThe outline was put in when my friend was redesigning my blog. It really makes all the pics stand out. Yours looks really cool because of the white on the cover.
True, writing is the hardest part, but sometimes I swear I'd rather write a hundred chapters than come up with one stinking title LOL.
I think titles are so hard too. But when I see the titles of your books I think they are great. Love The Physician's Lieutenant.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you're ready for the zombies LOL.
Thank you, Julie! High fives for having a hard time with titles, I feel you. :) The Physician's Lieutenant was one of the most difficult aside from my first one. I thought I would never ever get a title for my steampunk tale. I think the added pressure came from the fact it was a genre I'd never tried.
DeleteYep, all ready with my crossbow and other defenses so come on over. :)
I couldn't even think of a title for my post today!!!! I tend to suck at that as well. But you do eventually come up with some winners, so maybe that's just your long, tortuous process. :D
ReplyDeleteFist bumps and a huge hug for you, my fellow tortured titler. ;) I have a hard time with blog post titles, too. Ugh!
DeleteThank you, I'm happy you love my titles. It makes me feel better about the process.
Well...I'm Glenn. I don't know if that's good or bad, since I've never seen the show!
ReplyDeleteYou're not alone. I suck at titles and blurbs.
Glenn is great! We are really rounding out our zombie crew. My friend is Rick and Dezz is Dale. We are ready to roll when the zombies come. :)
DeleteHigh five for you my fellow naming sufferer. I don't know why it is so hard. And yes, the blurbs are also killer. :)
I am definitely sticking with anybody who is Darryl Dixon- esque. And Glenn is great too. If I took that quiz, I'd be "random person who was too slow and got eaten in the pilot"
ReplyDeleteAnd I also have trouble giving stories a title. Everything I write usually goes through three or four titles before I find one I don't hate.
Sometimes I start with snippets of song lyrics, just to help me focus.
Come on down, I'll save you a spot on my zombie team. ;)We will own the apocalypse.
DeleteSong lyrics...That's an awesome idea, thanks! I'll have to try that next time.
I love Daryl, but I'm Rick, lol! Oh, damn...but not demented Rick, lol.
ReplyDeleteI think we are good, unless someone turns into a Meryl-that will be a problem~
I think I could come up with titles, if you need help!
Congrats, so exciting about your new book :D
Off to check out some links and beware of ZOMBIES, lol
Never demented Rick, Ella. You'll always be the sane one who pulled the group together. ;)
DeleteHugs for the offer of help. Titles truly do get the best of me.
Thanks! I can't wait to share more on The Physician's Lieutenant with everyone. :)
Did the quiz ... I'm Rick! Was actually just glad I didn't get Shane. I hate that d-bag. :-) I suck at titles as well. Usually the very last thing I do with a story.
ReplyDeleteBears need to finish strong--win 'em all--or I'm afraid the playoffs may be a short one. (Don't want to be on the road early.)
LMAO I hate that D bag too. Fist umps on the title trouble. It is the dead last thing I do too just because I can't ever think of a good one.
DeleteWe have to win them all. I don't want to be on the road early, esp with Packers. I want to beat them so they have to come here.
So funny! Big fight at my house, hubby likes Shane and I don't. He will freak when he finds out I'm Rick, lol
DeleteHi Melissa, I haven't been by in a while so I'm stopping by to say hello! And thanks for the W4WS shout out!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnytime Stephen! I'm so in awe of the work you, Mary, Christine and C.M. have done for this. Good to see you here. :)
DeleteFor sure have to take that quiz and I agree with you about finding the right titles :)
ReplyDeleteYes, take that quiz ASAP, Siv and let me know who you are. It's really fun.
DeleteThanks. The right titles are just so hard to me. I mean that's what the readers see first.
Aloha Melissa,
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by - and I appreciate the follow via that Seckman woman :)
I always carry a notepad and pen and when random titles pop into my head, I write them down... then when I need them - and it fits - it's well, a fit :)
Hi Mark, welcome to the Imaginarium! Elizabeth is wonderful isn't she?
DeleteNotebook for titles... that sounds like a good idea. Thanks!
Melissa, the title is the most important thing since that's what gets people to read in the first place. Sure plots, story, characters and setting helps, but first things first. ;) Great points and thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! That's why I think I get so hung up on titles. I think I will be plagued my whole LOL
DeleteGlad you enjoyed the piece today. I always love the titles you have at Geek Twins.
I've never struggled with titles... they've always been clear to me... but I'm sure I will in the future! Titles are important, like a cover, they need to grip you, hook you. And YOU, my dear, are SO AWESOME... *wink*
ReplyDelete:D
I agree 100 percent Morgan and I think that's probably the source of my struggle with them. The pressure to create the perfect one.
DeleteAww... Thank you so so much. :D You made my week.
I will cringe behind you, screaming, and let you take care of the zombies.
ReplyDeleteIf you want a feature in Feb for your new book, I only have one slot filled so far. Let me know. :)
I suck at titles, too. Some come a little easier, but so far Backworlds #4 is #4. My husband vetoed the one title I came up from and still makes fun of it. lol
LOL, I'll protect you, Mary. :)
DeleteOh wow, thank you so so much. I'll shoot you an email ASAP.
Vetoed the title? Oh man, fist bumps for having #4. Titles are way too hard. :)
I need to take that quiz. It would be a shame if I ended up being a Shane. For me, my title must be set in stone before I start drafting anything. When you least expect it, the perfect title will ring true for you. :)
ReplyDeleteOh you should totally take the quiz, it's fun and you get to discuss who you are with other fans like me. LOL I hope you're not Shane, either because then we would have to be on different teams. ;)
DeleteI never thought about doing a title first. It makes sense. Maybe I shall try that next time.
I've always had an easier time with titles and endings. My issue has always come in the midsection of a story.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, those middles can be a real wringer. I sometimes get lost in my plot and have to step back to figure out which direction I'm heading in.
DeleteMy titles come easy for my non-fiction, as they are based on pre-titled speaking topics. I have to give my husband credit for the title of my YA series though.
ReplyDeleteNon fiction titles come easier for me, too, unless it's my blog piece. ;)My fiction that gives me fits every single time, though. Your husband came up with a great title for the series, can I hire him?
DeleteBut...I thought your titles were so clever! Love Haight? No clue you agonized. I enjoy the title thing, and I think I do ok most of the time, but they just kinda pop in there. Sometimes I'll catch a better piece of popcorn and change it, and sometimes if it's a guest post, my host will come up with something amazingly clever...
ReplyDeleteOk, she had me at Write Drunk, Edit Soberer. Gotta go see her. Sounds like my kinda gal...
Tina @ Life is Good
http://kmdlifeisgood.blogspot.com/
Oh thank you so much! I'm always agonizing over titles and it makes me happy you think I'm clever. A big virtual hug for you. I think I need to try a different approach to titles...
DeleteYou are going to love Morgan's blog. She's awesome. :)
Titles can be tricky for me...unless I come up with the title first and am inspired to write a story to it. I feel so elated when I think of a good one, like I should be patting myself on the back.
ReplyDeleteShannon at The Warrior Muse
I have never known the joy of having a title first. I think that is so cool and wish I would. Heck yeah pat yourself on the back, titles are hard. ;)
DeleteI have the same problem. It seems to be my downfall. I don't know why I find it so difficult, but I do. If you ever find a way of overcoming this problem, please let me know.
ReplyDeleteHigh fives and hugs. It's hard not being able to come up with a good title. I feel so handicapped sometimes. If I find a good solution I will most definitely pass it on to you.
DeleteI'm with you about titles, they're the worst! Usually, I just find a vague line I like in my story and slap it on the front. Also, thanks for the shout out!! You're the best, my friend!
ReplyDeleteTitles really do suck. LOL I like that idea of a vague line from my story.. I just may have to do that. No problem on the shout out. I was happy to give you the awesome props you deserve, my friend.
Delete