How and when did you decide on the title of your story?

[Fidel]

I'm a bit curious on how you all came up with the titles for your stories. What inspired you to choose them? before the story or while writing?

 

[A. E. Lowan]

Story titles is actually one of those things that I'm weirdly good at. I think the reason is where I get them from. Our titles tend to emerge from the themes we visit in each story. So, we have the Books of Binding series, with titles like Faerie Rising, Ties of Blood and Bone, Beneath a Stone Sky, All the Devils, When the Cat's Away... we have titles for almost the entire series, all subject to change. All the Devils was Rosemary for Remembrance for years, but we decided we weren't going to have enough bodies on the ground to justify that quote. So, it's back in my pocket for potential future use.

I'm autistic, and the reason this works is because I can really look hard at the metaplot and follow the patterns that we form within each theme. Most autists I know are also pattern people. I'm not saying anyone else can't, just that it's easier when you look at the world just a little askance.

The only real rule to a good title is please, please do not make them on-the-nose. Those titles lack spark. We can all do better than that.

 

[Gurkhal]

I try to find something that captures the essence of the story to interest and tell the reader what its about. Sometimes the name comes when writing, sometimes when conceptualizing and sometimes I have to change the title half-way through the process.

 

[skip.knox]

I could not possibly come up with a book title before I had even thought about the book, so the answer is the title always comes while writing.

What inspires? I'm not sure inspiration's the right word. I know I need a title, so I keep an eye out for anything that seems like it might fit. Goblins at the Gates was pretty easy, as it's a modulation on the phrase "barbarians at the gates". OTOH, Forest of Haunts took longer because the ... well, I guess you could call it inspiration ... for the story was the setting == Geisterwald (or Gespenserwald). That translates, somewhat loosely, as "ghost forest". But ghost did not resonate quite the way I wanted it too. Most people have a fairly clear notion of what is meant by that word, and I had something a bit different in mind. It took a while to settle on "haunt" as a noun, but once I did, it felt right.

For me, finding the right title (book or chapter) is rather like trying on sets of clothes. You just keep at it until it feels right.

So now I'd like to know: what is your own process, Fidel?

 

[Prince of Spires]

I gently place my head on my keyboard and cry...

I tend to have 2 titles. One is a working title. Just something, anything, I can call the damn thing. It's usually related to the story-spark. That initial idea from which the story grew. This is (almost) never the final title. Just something to call it while working on it until I get a better idea of what the title should be. I can't start without it really, my brain won't let me. If only because I need to name the Word file I'm typing in, otherwise I can't save it...

Like Skip, I keep my eye out while writing for something that might work for a title. Usually something strikes me. Though I've also finished a novel with no clue. In that instance, I just sat down and stared at the wall for an hour, writing down everything that came to mind for a title and working from there.

 

[Insolent Lad]

I have a long list of titles I've saved for possible future projects. Sometimes the title will even suggest the plot. It is rare that I get far into a book without having chosen one though, to be sure, it sometimes changes before I'm done. This goes hand-in-hand somewhat with phrases I've saved for use in poems or songs.

My just finished SF novel is titled Dim Distant Stars. I've had that title ready for years and I made sure to drop the phrase into the narrative somewhere. It doesn't matter, I think, that it says little about the actual plot.

 

[pmmg]

I cant recall where the inspiration for the title for books 1 and 2 came from. I feel like I had them in mind before I started. I had written most of book 3 before I settled on its title, which thankfully came to me, and I knew it was right, cause I was struggling with it for a while. Book 4, I had the title before I started. Book 5...I have a stand in title, I think it may stick, I don't know yet.

For me, I want the title to both encapsulate the story, and be good for marketing. Sadly, I dont really think the title for book one, the Eye of Ebon, does that, as to me, it sounds more like something old and pulpy, maybe even kitchy, and not really hinting at the greater story underneath...but, if you read the book, you would know why its the right title for it.

I think the title alone says amateur where as the content doesn't.

 

[Incanus]

Pretty prosaic in my case. I guess I was about halfway through what I call my 'half-draft' when a suitable title came to me. I'm pretty sure I'll probably use it. I'd say it was less inspiration than just a simple recognition of what fits.

 

[Dylan]

I'm a bit curious on how you all came up with the titles for your stories. What inspired you to choose them? before the story or while writing?

Titles can come from anywhere, sometimes they arrive fully formed, and other times they’re stubborn ghosts you have to chase down

 

[Fidel]

Titles can come from anywhere, sometimes they arrive fully formed, and other times they’re stubborn ghosts you have to chase down

So true! Titles are either gift-wrapped by the muse or play hide-and-seek forever. Some days it’s “Eureka!” and others it’s “Why is this harder than writing the actual book?!”

(Also, low-key convinced the best ones appear at 3 AM when you’re half-asleep.)

 

[The Dark One]

Never force it. About two thirds of the way through the draft the title will simply appear in a flash of genius and you'll feel it was kinda obvious all along.

 

[minta]

Sometimes, the title sparks the writing, while other times it comes up during or after.

 

[Rexenm]

I don’t know how anyone comes up with titles, let alone myself. I guess I find something catchy, and then sometimes the whole story derives from the name.

It is true there are a lot of options, and rarely are those taken, in my case.

 

[xena]

It depends on the situation. Sometimes I have the title from the start, and sometimes I have to find one that fits later.