|
Post by Jack Bauer on Apr 20, 2009 2:22:52 GMT -5
If your story was about a fantasy inn, then you might care to title it "Here There Be Flagons"...
If your tale has a strong and yet whimsically enigmatic female lead character with a Tolkienesque name (e.g. Merwithiel, Anfaeryth, Haeffelmina etc., etc. - I'm just making these up) then you could name the story for her.
|
|
|
Post by Admiral Lithp on May 9, 2009 0:19:37 GMT -5
Names tick me off, too. I typically go to Wiki's List of Demons (which, contrary to the name, houses more or less every mythological creature ever conceived), and pick something from there.
I named one character "Euryale" with about the flimsiest justification ever. Euryale is one of the gorgons which, like most monsters in Greek mythology, had bronze talons. Euryale wears bronze armor.
The main reason was that I just really, really liked the name.
(As it's nearing the end of the year, I am rather busy, but make no mistake, I am definately procrastinating on this. Hopefully, I can muster up enough willpower to go back to the prologue, edit it, and put it up sometime during the summer. Preferably sooner, rather than later.)
Edit: Almost forgot to respond to Jack. That's a neat idea...but the female lead herself isn't colossaly (spelling?) important to the plot, as far as I have it mapped out (which, admittedly, isn't very far). And the male lead's name I'm sort of ashamed of. (Hence why I stopped making up names after him & the main antagonist's.)
|
|
|
Post by Old Viking on May 9, 2009 16:52:10 GMT -5
For instant recognition try David Copperfield /or/ 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea .
|
|
|
Post by Sandafluffoid on May 9, 2009 17:05:48 GMT -5
For instant recognition try David Copperfield /or/ 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea . Why not just call it David Copperfield under the sea, in the year 20,000. I'd read it then.
|
|
|
Post by Admiral Lithp on May 9, 2009 19:46:39 GMT -5
For instant recognition try David Copperfield /or/ 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea . Why not just call it David Copperfield under the sea, in the year 20,000. I'd read it then. Because I don't want to get my ass sued.
|
|
|
Post by CtraK on May 9, 2009 20:29:13 GMT -5
Untitled. Or, y'know, genuinely don't title it.
|
|
|
Post by Sigmaleph on May 9, 2009 20:36:07 GMT -5
Why not just call it David Copperfield under the sea, in the year 20,000. I'd read it then. Because I don't want to get my ass sued. That actual title isn't copyrighted, you know. Although, just in case, make sure you have a character named David Copperfield and that he is in a situation that could be somehow construed as being under the sea in the year 20,000. Just add it in the epilogue or something if it doesn't fit the general storyline.
|
|
|
Post by NoLeafClover on May 9, 2009 22:55:07 GMT -5
I HATE titles. I've written one and a half novels, and Cait came up with the titles, AND one of them is already the title of a movie.
I agree with Damen--find a particular passage that seems relevant to the story and start looking for bits that stick out to you.
|
|
Gray
New Member
Posts: 41
|
Post by Gray on May 10, 2009 19:41:42 GMT -5
Because I don't want to get my ass sued. That actual title isn't copyrighted, you know. Although, just in case, make sure you have a character named David Copperfield and that he is in a situation that could be somehow construed as being under the sea in the year 20,000. Just add it in the epilogue or something if it doesn't fit the general storyline. Actually, since the copyrights have expired on all books written before 1920 (i believe), i'm pretty sure you could use the title or even the characters from either of those books. This is why there are so many Sherlock Holmes knock offs. When it comes to titles I just usually use the title of whatever song or poem or whatever most directly inspires the story, thus "Satan Said Dance" and "Much Madness". Or if I'm really short of creativity I just use the main character's name. I wouldn't worry about the title until it's written cuz it'll probably change.
|
|
|
Post by Admiral Lithp on May 10, 2009 23:33:30 GMT -5
Untitled. Or, y'know, genuinely don't title it. Think of it as personal pride for the former, and that I'd like to have something convenient to call it for the latter. I'm gonna level with you guys, I've been calling it "Keys to Chaos" for the longest time. Chaos is easy enough to bullshit, but at no point are there keys of any sort. They don't even seem to need them to get into their houses. I just seem to be a sucker for alliteration. Also, (and this sort of goes back to my general distaste for anything I come up with) I'm not so sure I like it.
|
|
|
Post by Sandafluffoid on May 11, 2009 1:05:19 GMT -5
I HATE titles. I've written one and a half novels, and Cait came up with the titles, AND one of them is already the title of a movie. Santa Claus conquers the Martians is already the title of a movie, but it would still make an awesome book title. How about that then lithp, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians? Best of all it's in the public domain.
|
|
|
Post by Sigmaleph on May 11, 2009 12:36:23 GMT -5
You don't need actual keys. They can be metaphorical keys, and those are even easier to bullshit than chaos. But, I guess that doesn't help.
|
|
|
Post by atheiess on May 11, 2009 13:08:43 GMT -5
Actually, since the copyrights have expired on all books written before 1920 (i believe), i'm pretty sure you could use the title or even the characters from either of those books. This is why there are so many Sherlock Holmes knock offs. You can't actually copyright a title in the US, but some people get their title's trademarked (like Twilight™). So, you could use an existing one, but I'd consult a lawyer first to do a trademark search. As for using characters - sometimes those characters are owned by an organization long after the book goes into public domain, which could still get you sued. Have you thought about sequels to your book? Some authors use a theme for titles throughout a series (George R.R. Martin for example). As for that random title generator - thanks for posting that CtraK! After two clicks it gave me the PERFECT title for a story I'm working on!
|
|
|
Post by schizophonic on May 16, 2009 21:13:23 GMT -5
Names tick me off, too. I typically go to Wiki's List of Demons (which, contrary to the name, houses more or less every mythological creature ever conceived), and pick something from there. I named one character "Euryale" with about the flimsiest justification ever. Euryale is one of the gorgons which, like most monsters in Greek mythology, had bronze talons. Euryale wears bronze armor. The main reason was that I just really, really liked the name. (As it's nearing the end of the year, I am rather busy, but make no mistake, I am definately procrastinating on this. Hopefully, I can muster up enough willpower to go back to the prologue, edit it, and put it up sometime during the summer. Preferably sooner, rather than later.) Edit: Almost forgot to respond to Jack. That's a neat idea...but the female lead herself isn't colossaly (spelling?) important to the plot, as far as I have it mapped out (which, admittedly, isn't very far). And the male lead's name I'm sort of ashamed of. (Hence why I stopped making up names after him & the main antagonist's.) Several of my supporting cast are named based on "inside" jokes, references to songs and books, and even the occasional historical figure. By the time I'm done, I will have characters that reference every member of the Pixies, most likely.
|
|
|
Post by Admiral Lithp on May 17, 2009 0:26:22 GMT -5
You don't need actual keys. They can be metaphorical keys, and those are even easier to bullshit than chaos. But, I guess that doesn't help. Actually, I've thought of this already. I'm just having trouble with the actual bullshitting process, if that makes any sense at all. Incidently, I gave one of the antagonists the first name "Helen," after Helen of Troy, since she was said to have started the Trojan War. Although I think the term "sequal" is sort of tooting my own horn a bit prematurely, I was thinking of doing something from the central antagonist's point of view, which I will most likely do separately, just because it doesn't really fit in well with the main story. If I do this, and I use "Keys to Chaos," that will most likely be the main title, & I'll just use subtitles.
|
|