And The Title is…’Untitled’
I always struggle to think of titles for my writing. When I put the final full-stop on a piece of writing and sit back, I realise the creative process isn’t over. It still needs a title. I can’t call all my poems and short stories ‘Untitled,’ can I? No, I didn’t think so. Although ‘Untitled,’ does sound incredibly mysterious and arty in some respect, don’t you agree?
I don’t think I’ve ever had the experience of a title coming to me first. I don’t build my writing around a title. I don’t particularly find those creative writing exercises that specify a title and ask you to write a story that incorporates the sentiment of those words very helpful. Maybe I haven’t given them much of a chance.
When I finished my novella for my Masters, I patted myself for what I believed to be a job well done. Time for a break. Then my tutor pointed out that it needed a title. Cue the ‘Jaws’ theme tune swirling about my brain. A title? What could I possible call it? A few popped into my head but they were all super cheesy and somehow seemed to undermine what I was trying to do in my writing. They simply wouldn’t do. And then, with the deadline creeping ever closer and me twirling into a bit of a panic over my still as-yet-untitled novella, the perfect title just leisurely strolled into my mind. Of course it was at about 2am when this happened. But nonetheless, the title had made itself know and all was right in the world.
Now that I’m in the process of applying for PhDs, I hate the empty space next to ‘title of project’. How am I supposed to know what the title is when I haven’t started writing it yet? Of course I know what my project will be about, etc. I have brief outlines of characters floating about my mind. But nothing is set in stone. I prefer to think of titles at the last minute when I know what the story is truly about, when I’ve lived with these characters in my life for x amount of weeks, months, years. To me it is like naming a child: yes, I may throw around possibilities but I’m not going to settle on anything definite until it has actually arrived. Perhaps it is those female friends who settle on names for their bumps that I need to speak to. Perhaps they could name my stories. Then again I wouldn’t let a friend name one of my children, would I? No. No. No.
I actually think it is safe to say that I HATE titling my work and then when I get the perfect title I actually feel pretty proud of myself. Indeed, it took me four weeks to write and re-write and edit and re-edit the story but it took me five weeks just to think of the title.
I’d be really grateful of any title tips you may have – send them forth!
I am lucky in that a title *usually* comes to me at some point during the writing of a piece. It may not be The Best Title Ever, but it at least fills in that little empty spot where the title goes. Sometimes, I get the title as the very first thing–in fact, the only thing– before I start to write.
What I usually do when coming up with a title is look for a key phrase that repeats itself throughout the text. Alternatively, I look at the first and last sentence to see if either one of them would be suitable. It’s almost never a direct, word-for-word use of the phrase or first/last sentence, but a title based on these tends to work best for me.
Sometimes, though, none of this works and I’ll just choose a title that is a single word or a couple of words that describe the general theme.
Probably not the most efficient methods, but this is how I go about doing it.
Emma,
I’m reminded of a play on Broadway, “[title of show].”
I make too much use of the definite article in the naming of my titles. Perhaps a reaction to posting short titles to twitter. Need to address it.
Adam B @revhappiness
My titles are drawn from the narrative somehow. Sometimes that makes them only tangentially related to the story. Not the best method, is it?