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Blogs by Neenah Davis-Wilson
Coming Up With A Good One . . . 2/24/2012 2:08:14 PM
How do writers come up with the titles for their work?
Not always an easy task, I have to admit. Some works have remained untitled for . . . well, till after the final draft.
Some stories scream their titles before the story is started. Others come to mind during the story. Maybe something someone says something during the course of the action. Which is how Marooned on Planet EARTH got its title. Other times, a friend might mention a good idea as I brainstorm the story aloud. "Dalton's Last Stand" got its title in this fashion many years back after I finished the short version of it. Four or five pages it was at first. The then eleven year old son of a friend suggested it, and then wanted to share in half my profits if ever the story sold. Back then, I might have gotten five cents a word for the story. Put things in perspective for him when he discovered that.
Yet, a good title is important. That, and the cover, is what makes a reader pick up the book in the first place. I seem never to be satisfied with some titles. Changed Thomi's title about a half dozen times. Still not happy with it, but--it's the one that's staying now. It is one, though, that came during the course of the story.
I have the title already for the next Marooned book. Reunions. Should be a fun one to do, but I have several others I need to finish as well. All of them titled . . . I think!
