The Name Game

[kshah777]

Here's something: I was reading a blog awhile ago about the importance of titles, how they can hook a reader and provide enough interest to make them check out a book. So with that in mind, I'm going to list the titles I have in mind for my books... I'd like for people to tell me what the names bring to mind and most importantly, which titles make you want to check out the book. And then put down some title ideas for your own book(s)... the more people play this little game, the more feedback we all get. Woo!

WOLF: THE PROTECTOR

HAND OF DEATH

ORDER OF THE KSHAH

SHIFTER


Alright.... go!

:whistlin:

[Buckyrig]

Nothing jumps out per se. But Hand of Death is trite. I'd lose that one.

[Lewis]

And here I thought Hand of Death was the best one . . . :confused:

Wolf: The Protector - does nothing for me
Hand of Death - some would likely call this on trite or something along those lines. Seriously, though, I'm not sure it works as a title.
Order of the Kshah - Don't know what a Kshah is so I don't care.
Shifter - This may sound strange as titles tend to be short and sweet but it doesn't tell me enough. Or maybe it's too generic.

[AthenaRose]

'Order of the Kshah' is the one that intrigues me most :laugh: I don't know what the Kshah are, but I want to find out.

I really struggle with titles, and I have yet to come up with a good one. I usually cop out and use the name of my lead character as a 'working title', but never find anything better *shrug*

[Buckyrig]

I really struggle with titles, and I have yet to come up with a good one. I usually cop out and use the name of my lead character as a 'working title', but never find anything better *shrug*

I'm quite proud of "The Mangopic Drivelspeed Growth Demicatastrophe Incident"...just for the sheer convoluted inanity of it. :thumbs:

[Mike225]

My favorite title that I've never come with a story for is Life in Alphabetical Order.

Oh, that's not what the question was? I like Shifter, but I'm a NASCAR fan. :p

[Eric Palicki]

WOLF: THE PROTECTOR

HAND OF DEATH

ORDER OF THE KSHAH

SHIFTER


Alright.... go!

:whistlin:


I agree, titles are difficult. I Think that you should drop "the protector" from the first part and get rid of Hand of Death altogether. That one gives off a heavy "it's been done" vibe.

I do like Shifter, but maybe shortening it? SHIFT has potential, and there's less chance of confusion if the logo's F resembles a T.

I have at least one title that's never found a story...

ATLANTIS WASN'T BUILT FOR TOURISTS.

[Mike225]

That's a great title.

[Eric Palicki]

That's a great title.

Life in Alphabetical Order is brilliant, by the way...

[Trey of Diamonds]

WOLF: THE PROTECTOR

HAND OF DEATH

ORDER OF THE KSHAH

SHIFTER

None of these grab me but I might pick up Shifter and read the back.

I have a novel that is no where near complete that I am using the working title of THE BRIDGE for. I also have a trilogy in mind that have the titles; KING, MESSIAH and PROPHET. My comic book titles are; MAMLUK, CYRA and TRADER BAY.

[Mike225]

Life in Alphabetical Order is brilliant, by the way...

Thanks! Now, if I could only think of a story...

[Scribbler]

ORDER OF THE KSHAH is the most compelling for me, of the ones listed. Generally, I would agree with the comments above about the other 3 titles given.

[xtylerx]

WOLF: THE PROTECTOR - Has some potention, maybe drop the THE. No guarantees this will fix anything, it just sounds a little less like 2 titles. This title to me evokes dark superheroics. Very indie anti-hero-y.

HAND OF DEATH - It is true, this name is a bit cringe-worthy - only because it is inherently awesome, but far overused. This title sounds like something Asian inspired - perhaps only because my girlfriend played the shit out of Jade Empire, and there is a character in that called Death's Hand (I think).

ORDER OF THE KSHAH - Personally, titles with words I don't know that have no apparent etymological origins(and this is apparent to ME, and sometimes I am a dumbass), are hard to swallow. Perhaps Kshah does have historical underpinnings, and then I am an idiot. Otherwise, this is a fairly effective title that to me suggests violent monks (or nuns!) that kick ass in a secretive fashion.

SHIFTER - Total car book. That, or shape-shifter, dimension-shifter, or transgendered superhero.


This is a good exercise - sometimes it is hard to think about your projects and sum them up in one kickass word/phrase.

[Eric Palicki]

I'm in the habit of giving my characters names that are a) evocative of the theme/mood I'm trying to explore and b) would work well enough as titles by themselves (and I'm talking primarily about non-superhero books). Warren Ellis's FELL is one great example. One syllable, Four letters, it evokes exactly the same response in the reader as the story itself, and it happens to be the name of the protagonist. (Richard Fell).

Of course, there's a fine line between something like this and 'Max Power' silliness.

[darkwriter]

I personally like Wolf: The Proector. But like Eric said drop the Protector bit.

How about

Insanity is Not Just for the Nutters

[kshah777]

Thanks for the feedback so far, everyone... good stuff going on. I'd considered the "Hand of Death" a title that needed to be changed... does "La Mano Nera" seem better? The translation of that from the Italian is "The Black Hand", but again, that seemed generic. Ok, here's my thoughts on others, serious or not:

"The Mangopic Drivelspeed Growth Demicatastrophe Incident"- AGH! MY BRAIN! Interesting, but a bit too long. Might check it out just for the insanity.

Insanity is Not Just for the Nutters- See above... although the term "nutter" just makes me think of nutter butters. Mmmmm...

THE BRIDGE- For some reason this makes me think of a WWII theme or military story... bridges always seem to come up in those. I'd glance at it.

KING, MESSIAH and PROPHET- Biblical or at least religious sounding... I might be a bit wary of these, especially if there's some big consipiracy involved in the plotline. Or a surviving member of Jesus's bloodline or something.

MAMLUK: Eskimos? It's an interesting enough word/title, I'd check it out. CYRA- Another one unusual word title, but for some reason this one doesn't seem as interesting. Might need more. TRADER BAY- Honestly, this sounds to me like a fancy-pants clothes store like Banana Republic. But if pirates became involved, I would be interested.

Life in Alphabetical Order- Sounds like it could be a satire of biology, intelligent design, or history. Could be good stuff. Write the story, damn you! ;)


ATLANTIS WASN'T BUILT FOR TOURISTS- Also a story that needs to be done. There's probably even a moral here somewhere... I'd look at this one too.


So, I guess I'd at least glance at most people's stuff.... I am easily distracted by shiny things, however.... ooh! a dime!

[Trey of Diamonds]

Something else to think about, Cover Art! The art on the cover combined with the title is what will make us turn the book over and read the back. Unless your unlucky enough to get placed on the book shelf spine out.

THE BRIDGE is a Fantasy novel. Cover will be of a stone bridge with a statue of a man in the middle of it. The man looks as though he has slammed his sword into the bridge point down so hard it is driven half way to the hilt and he has gone down on one knee. His head is bowed, as if he were praying to the sword. Blood seeps out of many wounds and spills out onto the bridge.

KING, MESSIAH and PROPHET make up a trilogy retelling the stories of David, Jesus and Mohammad in a futuristic sci-fi setting. Not sure on cover art for these yet.

MAMLUK is a Military Sci-Fi comic. The title comes from the slave warriors of the Egyptians who overthrew the government and set up their own dynasty. Haven’t decided yet on the cover art for this one but it will either be a shot of a space fleet, ground battle, space battle or Mamluk commandoes assaulting an enemy position. (suggestions or requests?)

CYRA is your standard spandex title and is a Greek name. The superpowered individuals are from an alternate universe where history took a different course during the time of the Greeks. Cover will be of terrorists with a nuclear bomb in a huge mall.

TRADER BAY is a post apocalyptic tale set 300 years after all the ice on the planet has melted and the sea levels raise 200 feet. Tech levels around the globe differ but average around steam engine level. The English isles are a bunch of small islands and home to nothing but pirates. Cover will be of a pirate ship chasing a merchant ship.

[Buckyrig]

Thanks for the feedback so far, everyone... good stuff going on. I'd considered the "Hand of Death" a title that needed to be changed... does "La Mano Nera" seem better? The translation of that from the Italian is "The Black Hand", but again, that seemed generic. Ok, here's my thoughts on others, serious or not.

Are you aware that The Black Hand is an extortion racket of early crime organizations in the US? It's pretty strongly tied to the Mafia.

[kshah777]

Yeah, I found that out after a bit of research. It's for that reason I think I'm gonna use Black Hand, as this has to do with the mafia anyway. But I checked Wikipedia, there's been a few other Black Hands as well... including the infamous "Icy Black Hand of Death Club" of Calvin and Hobbes... (of course, we all know it later became G.R.O.S.S.).

[Awesomus Prime]

I enjoy titles with an "or" in them like The Hobbit or There and Back Again.

I have two plays with such titles being 'Part One: The Playwright's Humour or Flawed Reasoning' and 'Joseph's Misadventures in Mediocrity or How to Become a Successful Starving Artist'. The second play is a WiP.

As for comics I like simpler names, the working title on my current project is a first person narrative of a somewhat jaded and violent non-powered vigilante and as such I called it (for now) 'I, Hero'.

[Buckyrig]

I enjoy titles with an "or" in them like The Hobbit or There and Back Again.

I have two plays with such titles being 'Part One: The Playwright's Humour or Flawed Reasoning' and 'Joseph's Misadventures in Mediocrity or How to Become a Successful Starving Artist'. The second play is a WiP.

This makes me think of Bullwinkle. That's neither good nor bad, but bear in mind it may harken back to that show for others as well.

EDIT: Also forgot about Dr. Strangelove: or How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb. It makes me think of comedy either way.

[Awesomus Prime]

I was going to mention that I do that for my fond Bullinkle memories but decided not to lol.

[GrendelCry]

WOLF:
The Hand Of Kshah ?

or

The Hand Of
KSHAH ?

or

SHIFTER:
The Hand Of Kshah ?

:)

[mohaps]

WOLF: THE PROTECTOR

HAND OF DEATH

ORDER OF THE KSHAH

SHIFTER

:whistlin:

WOLF: THE PROTECTOR --- sounds too much like a brand of kevlar reinforced jockstraps

HAND OF DEATH --- okay but may be you should try DEATHHAND or Manos e Muertos (i do not speak spanish this is what babelfish gave me)

ORDER of THE KSHAH - better than wolf : the protector

SHIFTER -- depends on the story.. works great if you are writing about a shape shifter or a general nomadic character...

[ampersand]

I tend to stick with a working title even after the story no longer has anything to do with it.

For instance, the project I'm on now is called Everybody Comes to Rick's, because a) it involved the lead character (Rick) becoming a sort of Gwen Stacy-type figure - used as a bargaining tool by supervillains - and b) it was originally more of a romance and I was on a Casablanca kick. Now, the title doesn't fit the story, but I haven't bothered to come up with anything better just yet.

I still like the title Break, though. And The Toasting was a short film about every electrical appliance rebelling against their human oppressors.

[bitemetechie]

I usually don't pick books based solely on their titles. Instead I snap up whatever has a pretty cover that makes my eyes bug out of my head or that deals with a topic/genre I'm generally interested in. However, if you were to put those four books in front of me with just their titles on the covers, no art whatsoever or any idea what's in them, then I'd probably reach for Wolf: The Protector or Shifter, although I agree that Shift sounds slightly better than Shifter.

Hand Of Death seems like a title for a bad B horror movie (and not bad in the good sense like Evil Dead) and Order Of The Kshah...I don't know. Something about the fact there's a word in the title that I don't know what it is makes me apprehensive.

Now when you changed the title of 'Hand Of Death' to 'La Mano Nera' and then described the contents, I became intrigued, but there again, if I was going solely on title, then I still wouldn't pick it up. Just 'Black Hand' sounds better than the other possibilities and that would definitely pique my curiosity to the point I'd flip through the book.

The only title I've got is a tentative one for a Vampire/Werewolf/Withcraft/Slayer mini series. Carpe Noctem which is latin for Seize The Night. I'm thinkin' about dropping the Carpe part though and just sticking with Noctem.

And ampersand...the summary and title for 'The Toasting' has me giggling like mad. Now I want to see it. :bounce:

[ampersand]

Me too, but Futurama stole the idea from me.
Then they went back in their time machine to use it.

Always one step ahead...

To be honest, I'd stick with Noctem. There's something about the Carpe that bugs me.