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Author Topic: Using incomprehensible nouns in a title
Silver3
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I want to call my story after an invented name within. But the title offers no explanation of what the name is, and you have to wait a while before you discover what the name means.
Is that a good or a disastrous idea?

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Robyn_Hood
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Once you've read the book, does the title make sense?

The only time I have a problem with an incomprehensible title, is when it isn't explained at all.

In high school I saw a play called "Cola Wars". It was so stupid. Not only did the title not make sense in the context of the play, it had nothing to do with the plot of the play. (It didn't help that the premise of the play was inane or that it was poorly acted, but those are separate issues... )


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wbriggs
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I like titles that hook. Rarely do they really explain.

Samuel Delaney did "Dahlgren" and "Neveryon" and "Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand," and succeeded. The titles were explained in the book, except possibly Stars in my Pocket, which I couldn't bear to finish.


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franc li
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I think if your story is fantasy or soft sci-fi, that route is okay. People are looking for the strange and unfamiliar in those genera. (Is that the correct plural for genre? I know it is for genus...)
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MaryRobinette
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There's certainly precedent for it. Heck, "Wuthering Heights" is an example of that. "Wuthering" isn't an English word, even though its a fantastic one.

Just make sure it's pronouncable.


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MichelleAnn
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I have noticed if I'm reading an anthology I'm more likely to skip stories that have titles that I don't "get."

However, you as the writer know if that's the right name of not. If that's the name that works for you them, by all means, keep it.
Michelle


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keldon02
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What is the title in question?
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Alynia
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As long as it's pronouncable, I'm happy to purchase any book with a word I don't know. It's not like I know every word in existence...

Though, if the first few names I see in the story have a (') in them, I am so outta there!

I'm an old lady. I don't wanna work that hard for my reading pleasure! hehe


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RavenStarr
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"It's not like I know every word in existence..."

Yea... did you know that "Hegemony" is actually an English word... who knew...?

Of'course... "Xenocide" technically isn't an English word, but we all know what it means... it wasn't really that long ago when a certain writer invented the word "android" which even though no android has yet to be invented, everyone is already aware of what the word is and means...

"Though, if the first few names I see in the story have a (') in them, I am so outta there!"

You might want to stay away from one of the novels that I'm starting then... so far, all the names contain a (') in it

[This message has been edited by RavenStarr (edited March 08, 2005).]


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