This one is so damn easy.
And yet, so damn hard.
See, coming up with the new and proper titles for stories is a difficult act, sometimes — you either have the title going in (which makes it easy), or you need to think of a title for a story, and that’s when (for me, at least) it gets hella hard. Thinking of a title for a pre-existing story is the one time when I really get vaporlock in my writing. I just sit there, stammering. “THE… THING ABOUT THE STUFF. THE… THE NIGHT THE EVENT HAPPENED. THE HAPPENING. THE STUFFENING. THE SWORD OF THE NIGHT OF THE REVENGE OF THE RABBIT OH GOD THIS BOOK DOESN’T HAVE SWORDS OR RABBITS AND BARELY ANY REVENGE AT ALL.”
I’m not good at titles.
Ray Bradbury was famous for making up a list of titles and then writing stories to match those titles. And that’s a little bit of what we’re going to do here, today.
All I want you to do is come up with a title.
One title.
No more.
Then take that title and plop it into the comments below.
Next week, you will all have a chance to scout out the completed list of titles in the comments and write a story geared toward one of those made-up titles (one you did not yourself invent).
That’s it. That’s all. Easy, and yet, difficult.
GET THEE TO THE TITLEMOBILE
Anton says:
Of those in Shadow
September 18, 2015 — 7:48 AM
jjtoner says:
The Apocalypse – Part 2
September 18, 2015 — 7:50 AM
micaraerossi says:
A Circle Around Us
September 18, 2015 — 7:51 AM
romanowrites says:
Walled Inside
September 18, 2015 — 7:53 AM
Kristin Mireles (@kristinmireles) says:
Leave Her Breathless. (This could either be some juicy erotica, or a fast-paced psycho-thriller. Or body horror about a suffocating disease.)
September 18, 2015 — 7:54 AM
Bibliobibuli @ The Book Tales says:
With Blood and Dust
September 18, 2015 — 7:57 AM
Kim says:
I’m gonna try this one.
September 26, 2015 — 2:24 AM
Mildred Achoch says:
United States of Africa
September 18, 2015 — 7:57 AM
JT Lawrence says:
The Memory of Water
September 18, 2015 — 7:57 AM
A. R. Stone says:
I like it. A few story ideas immediately popped into my mind.
September 18, 2015 — 8:21 AM
Alison DeLuca (@AlisonDeLuca) says:
Yes, I like it too.
September 18, 2015 — 9:14 AM
Anna says:
Me too! It sounds beautiful, and it doesn’t lock you into any genre etc. Definitely a possibility for next week’s challenge…
September 18, 2015 — 9:52 AM
sheltonkeysdunning says:
Sounds like California…
September 18, 2015 — 1:19 PM
gfirestorm says:
Inspiring!
September 18, 2015 — 10:48 PM
j.k.miles says:
Not a big deal but this is the title of an episode of the BBC series rosemary and thyme.
September 18, 2015 — 10:54 PM
JT Lawrence says:
Hi j.k. — is it just the episode title?
September 20, 2015 — 2:28 AM
Helen Espinosa says:
I’m actually currently reading a book with this title – written by Emmi Itaranta. It is a beautiful title. 🙂
September 27, 2015 — 12:19 PM
addy says:
the orphan and the dragon.
September 18, 2015 — 7:58 AM
Rachel E. Bailey says:
I think I’ll try my hand at this one. If I finish it in time, and even if I don’t, I’ll link to it here 🙂
September 27, 2015 — 1:20 PM
addy says:
Thanks Rachel. I look forward to seeing what you come up with 😀
September 28, 2015 — 1:18 AM
Perrin says:
“Trophy Persona”
“Game of Faces”
“Deck of Selves”
September 18, 2015 — 8:01 AM
addy says:
“in the game of faces you either win or look ugly.”
September 18, 2015 — 8:01 AM
Mildred Achoch says:
I misread it as “Game of Faeces” 🙂
September 18, 2015 — 8:14 AM
Perrin Rynning says:
Check out the huge vocabulary! 🙂
September 18, 2015 — 9:26 AM
Joshua M. Neff says:
“In the game of faeces, ya wins or ya poos.”
September 18, 2015 — 11:34 AM
Perrin Rynning says:
I was thinking more along the lines of “in the game of faces, you could be anyone… And anyone could kill you…”
Or something equally paranoia-inducing.
September 18, 2015 — 9:26 AM
Madeline Elayne (@MadMadeline) says:
After Mars
September 18, 2015 — 8:01 AM
Rick Sherman says:
“The Beast of Both Worlds”
September 18, 2015 — 8:05 AM
moteridgerider says:
Hi Rick. Loved the title, so came up with a short story. You can find it at http://tomghadams.uk/
October 1, 2015 — 4:24 PM
zklimczak says:
The Lebin Selective
September 18, 2015 — 8:05 AM
jessicodes says:
This one is intriguing. I’m thinking Sci-Fi
September 19, 2015 — 6:56 PM
A. R. Stone says:
The Illusion of Control
September 18, 2015 — 8:06 AM
Deficioscriptor.com says:
The Hairstylist’s Maserati
September 18, 2015 — 8:10 AM
kirizar says:
Coming up with a title isn’t so hard. It’s coming up with a title someone else hasn’t already thought of that is the kicker. How ’bout…
Burning the Wendigo
September 18, 2015 — 8:12 AM
sheltonkeysdunning says:
I thought you wrote Burning the Winnebago.
I need more coffee
September 18, 2015 — 1:20 PM
kirizar says:
I like that better. Go with that.
September 19, 2015 — 3:49 PM
Travis Hall says:
The Fae Accord
September 18, 2015 — 8:15 AM
entrebat says:
I like the sound of this one…
September 18, 2015 — 7:55 PM
Fred G. Yost says:
Seconded. That’s an inspiring title.
September 18, 2015 — 9:27 PM
Melinda VanLone says:
I strangely have no trouble coming up with titles as long as I don’t have the story to go with them. I get vapor lock if I’m trying to title the story I just wrote, though. So here’s one (I keep a list)
Does God Order Pizza?
September 18, 2015 — 8:24 AM
SamKD says:
Carrying Rage
September 18, 2015 — 8:26 AM
Suzanne Joshi says:
“The Night It Came”
September 18, 2015 — 8:35 AM
Jay A says:
Chasing Shadows
September 18, 2015 — 8:38 AM
Brenda says:
“Robot Souls, Cheap”
September 18, 2015 — 8:40 AM
A. R. Stone says:
This reminds me of a story I just read on Daily Science Fiction. 🙂
September 18, 2015 — 8:59 AM
entrebat says:
In the opening scene of The Seven Samurai there’s a sign in the background advertising a sword smith who can sharpen souls.
September 18, 2015 — 7:57 PM
L.K. Union says:
Intriguing. They don’t exist, or do they, or will they?? How will we know? How do you price them?
September 19, 2015 — 4:55 PM
jessicodes says:
cheap, I hear.
September 19, 2015 — 6:57 PM
ninamckissock says:
It’s Hard to Kiss with a Stiff Upper Lip.
September 18, 2015 — 8:40 AM
curleyqueue says:
Haha! This blog needs a “like” button!
September 18, 2015 — 9:10 AM
A. R. Stone says:
*like*
September 18, 2015 — 10:15 AM
Anna says:
The Forbidden Orchids of the Screaming Abyss
September 18, 2015 — 8:41 AM
kirizar says:
Like-ity, like, like, like.
September 18, 2015 — 12:44 PM
Anna says:
Thanks:)
September 19, 2015 — 5:39 AM
Giana says:
I like it!
September 19, 2015 — 10:58 PM
williamallenpepper says:
Unicorn Freedom
September 18, 2015 — 8:42 AM
Lili Nemo says:
“Did Anaïs Nin Eat Cannoli?”
September 18, 2015 — 8:44 AM
mannixk says:
Ha!!
September 18, 2015 — 10:14 AM
Aimee Ogden says:
The Underground King
September 18, 2015 — 8:46 AM
Alison DeLuca (@AlisonDeLuca) says:
I love that one!
September 18, 2015 — 9:19 AM
Gordo says:
The Crack in Lucy’s Eye
September 18, 2015 — 8:51 AM
Anna says:
I like this one. Maybe a horror story?
September 18, 2015 — 9:55 AM
mannixk says:
Ooo, I like this one.
September 18, 2015 — 10:17 AM
Jimmie (@jimmiebjr) says:
Five Days to Lunch.
September 18, 2015 — 8:55 AM
Annie Howland says:
Awesome.
September 18, 2015 — 9:39 AM
Apple says:
Smile When You Kill Me
September 18, 2015 — 9:13 AM
erimeh says:
I had an idea for a collection of short stories and this title would be perfect for one of the as yet unwritten pieces.
September 22, 2015 — 8:50 AM
curleyqueue says:
Pretense to Pillory
September 18, 2015 — 9:15 AM
jessicodes says:
So, this got me laughing Monty Python style….but it could also be serious.
September 19, 2015 — 6:58 PM
Kitten says:
Pumpkin Patch & Little Bit
September 18, 2015 — 9:17 AM
furyious says:
The Magic Store
September 18, 2015 — 9:17 AM
Kitten says:
Mr. Moon in Jerusalem
September 18, 2015 — 9:17 AM
Patti Rose says:
Dancing Queen
September 18, 2015 — 9:24 AM
Lynn C-H (Goth Kitty Lady) says:
When the Sun Shines at Night
September 18, 2015 — 9:27 AM
Robert Fagerhaugh says:
Solipsists of the World Unite
September 18, 2015 — 9:34 AM
Lynn C-H (Goth Kitty Lady) says:
That sounds like it should be a story from one of Heinlein’s universes.
September 18, 2015 — 9:39 AM
peg says:
Solo Conspiracy.
September 18, 2015 — 9:36 AM
Matt Daniels says:
Crossing paths with stars
September 18, 2015 — 9:39 AM
powerjacob says:
The South Shall Burn Again.
September 18, 2015 — 9:40 AM
Apple says:
Oh I really like this one. Makes me think of like, a futuristic Civil War, history repeating itself, etc.
September 18, 2015 — 11:29 AM
jkflickinger says:
Title: “The Good Die First”
September 18, 2015 — 9:42 AM
Annie Howland says:
Thirty Minutes or It’s Free
September 18, 2015 — 9:44 AM
Mindy Weisberger (@LaMinda) says:
The Devil in Her Bra
September 18, 2015 — 9:44 AM
Mark says:
The Skull on the TV
September 18, 2015 — 9:45 AM
Mozette says:
The Muffled Silence
September 18, 2015 — 9:46 AM
Anna says:
I like this one, too.
September 18, 2015 — 9:57 AM
Mozette says:
Thank you… it’s late here and I’ve been out at a birthday party… just checked on what we had to do; and like Ray Bradbury, I usually have a few titles playing around in my head. This one just kinda popped into my mind. 🙂
September 18, 2015 — 10:09 AM
Killerpuppytails says:
Alternate Ending.
September 18, 2015 — 9:50 AM
Mark Oden says:
Stone Cold Suzie
September 18, 2015 — 9:51 AM
Lynn C-H (Goth Kitty Lady) says:
Someone just has to write THE SWORD OF THE NIGHT OF THE REVENGE OF THE RABBIT, because that title is far too awesome to not be connected to something.
September 18, 2015 — 9:55 AM
Megan Morgan says:
The Man Who Never Wore Black
(btw, I’m so glad someone has the EXACT same issue with titles as I do. If it doesn’t come packaged with the story I know I’m in for some work.)
September 18, 2015 — 9:56 AM
Andrew T says:
Slipping Realities
September 18, 2015 — 10:02 AM
Mozette says:
I like writing these kinds of stories, they really bring out the Twilight Zone ways in our minds… creepy stuff.
September 18, 2015 — 10:12 AM
A. R. Stone says:
This has some interesting sci-fi possibilities. 🙂
September 18, 2015 — 10:18 AM
Joshua M. Neff says:
I first read that as “Sipping Realities.”
September 18, 2015 — 11:37 AM
entrebat says:
Also good.
September 18, 2015 — 7:59 PM