I've never published any fiction, but I write plenty of shorter pieces and reviews. My experience with titles varies. Sometimes a good one will come to me easily; other times I'll really struggle to come up with one that I like. Every now and then I'll start with a title that encapsulates something I know I want to write ab…
I've never published any fiction, but I write plenty of shorter pieces and reviews. My experience with titles varies. Sometimes a good one will come to me easily; other times I'll really struggle to come up with one that I like. Every now and then I'll start with a title that encapsulates something I know I want to write about and at some point will finally go on to write the piece. Two examples of that: "Against the Integrated Life" and "I Don't Care if My Students Get Jobs."
Of course, with this kind of occasional writing, editors often ignore one's suggestions and go with their own ideas of what will attract readers. Sometimes I think they do an excellent job; other times... meh.
Favorite titles? That's a tough one, and now that it's been asked, I'm sure my subconscious will keep generating examples all evening. But I think "The Man Who Was Thursday" is a pretty good title. And for a completely wacky but really neat one, I'd look to the most recent book by the Bosnian-German writer Saša Stanišić. His latest novel bears the title, "Möchte die Witwe angesprochen werden, platziert sie auf dem Grab die Gießkanne mit dem Ausguss nach vorne." In English, roughly, "Should the widow wish to be addressed, she will place the watering can upon the grave with the spout facing forward"--referring to a custom by which widows indicate that they are now open to a new relationship. One could hardly be farther from George's terse examples, but that's a great title.
Neat question.
I've never published any fiction, but I write plenty of shorter pieces and reviews. My experience with titles varies. Sometimes a good one will come to me easily; other times I'll really struggle to come up with one that I like. Every now and then I'll start with a title that encapsulates something I know I want to write about and at some point will finally go on to write the piece. Two examples of that: "Against the Integrated Life" and "I Don't Care if My Students Get Jobs."
Of course, with this kind of occasional writing, editors often ignore one's suggestions and go with their own ideas of what will attract readers. Sometimes I think they do an excellent job; other times... meh.
Favorite titles? That's a tough one, and now that it's been asked, I'm sure my subconscious will keep generating examples all evening. But I think "The Man Who Was Thursday" is a pretty good title. And for a completely wacky but really neat one, I'd look to the most recent book by the Bosnian-German writer Saša Stanišić. His latest novel bears the title, "Möchte die Witwe angesprochen werden, platziert sie auf dem Grab die Gießkanne mit dem Ausguss nach vorne." In English, roughly, "Should the widow wish to be addressed, she will place the watering can upon the grave with the spout facing forward"--referring to a custom by which widows indicate that they are now open to a new relationship. One could hardly be farther from George's terse examples, but that's a great title.
That German title is like a short story in itself
Isn't it? I think it's really neat (he likes to do that sort of thing).