I searched a long time for a good, strong, eye-popping title for my next WOTF story, and the best thing that came to mind was a cuss phrase... a mild one, but still a cuss phrase. I told a couple of people about it and what I could change it to, and they said the cuss phrase would make them want to read my story more than the milder title. This was with them not knowing anything about my story... just the title.
So what do you folks think? Should I keep the cuss phrase as my title or use something with less oomph?
Also forgive me for not revealing the cuss phrase. I'd just rather not reveal it since I plan to enter this story in the WOTF contest.
Posted by Osiris (Member # 9196) on :
I guess it depends on the cuss phrase, at least for me. If it is a relatively PG one, I think I'd be okay with it. If it were an F-bomb, that'd give me some pause.
Posted by genevive42 (Member # 8714) on :
Beware, WotF is somewhat sensitive to cussing. I don't know if it's the best approach for them. Remember, they market to high school writing classes.
Maybe try coming up with a title that's as catchy without the cussing. Though I'm sure you have. Titles are tough.
Posted by Foste (Member # 8892) on :
I wouldn't mind personally,but I am not sure about the WOTF judges.
Posted by Crystal Stevens (Member # 8006) on :
It's not the "F" bomb.
And, yes, I'm very much aware of high school students read WOTF. That's the main reason I'm leery of using it. The other title is a shortened version of the cuss phrase without the cuss word... but it doesn't carry near the punch. Though it would probably work.
Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
Email me the phrase, Crystal, and I'll let you know what I think.
Posted by Crystal Stevens (Member # 8006) on :
Thanks, Kathleen. It's been sent.
Posted by Kathleen Dalton Woodbury (Member # 59) on :
A thought about a cuss phrase in a title:
Putting a cuss phrase into a title can hint to the readers that there is a character in the story who talks or thinks that way. And I suspect, for that reason alone, it would not do well with WotF, especially if you really do have a character like that.
If you don't have a character who thinks or talks that way, on the other hand, a cuss phrase could make the title come across as something contrived for the "punch" without being relevant enough to the characters in the story.
Posted by MartinV (Member # 5512) on :
What's cuss? I thought you were talking about swearing but then the word cursing would be better.
Posted by Osiris (Member # 9196) on :
It is Martin, just another word for swearing.
Posted by Crystal Stevens (Member # 8006) on :
My MC does uses the "D" word frequently, mainly when she's angry or worried about something. This is the only cussing (swearing?) in the whole story.
I rarely cuss but tend to when the pressure is on or when things go wrong, and some of this has traveled over into the story through my MC. I'm thinking now maybe I should clean it up and steer away from it altogether, but it sure won't read the same. At the moment, I've finished my latest draft and letting this story rest before I read it again.
Posted by MartinV (Member # 5512) on :
I curse (or cuss, I suppose) in real life but I don't try to overdo it in my stories. If my characters do say something profane, it will be according to their ideology and therefore not necessarily profane to any of us.
As a side note, the term 'bugger' used to have a very nasty meaning (I'm sure most of you know it) yet it's mostly considered harmless in modern times. I believe that is my most profane written word yet.
Posted by Natej11 (Member # 8547) on :
I'm somewhat at a loss for what to do in a similar situation. I have a character in medieval times who essentially has Tourette's. It gives good flavor for a minor character, but a little definitely goes a long way. As for the uncontrollable expletives themselves I wonder if I should say them outright or do something like "Ronnel let loose a blistering obscenity, head jerking sideways in its usual tic."
Posted by MattLeo (Member # 9331) on :
The idea of using a cussword as a gimmick to make your story stand out strikes me as ill-advised. First, I doubt there is all that much to be gained. The judges are going to plow through a certain fraction of all the submissions, at least so far as to see whether they're worth considering. If you have any chance of winning, you should make it past the filter.
On the other side of the coin, you may be guaranteed to attract attention with this stratagem, but there is little reason to think that attention will be positive. You may offend a judge who doesn't like foul language, or another judge who doesn't like gimmicks. It's hard to imagine a judge being *impressed*, unless is a darn good title on its own merits. And that's the only factor I'd consider in choosing a title.
So to conclude: there is almost certainly nothing to be gained by this stratagem, and a high possibility of losing something. I'd only do it if it is *artistically* the right choice, but even then it might be risky.
-Matt
Posted by micmcd (Member # 7977) on :
@Natej11 - Tourettes rarely has the symptom of a person spouting uncontrollable expletives in public. Often it's just a tic, and for many people with it you wouldn't even notice. US National Soccer Team Goalkeeper Tim Howard is one such example. Plenty of potential readers who have the more common version of the disorder might be pleased to see someone display a different side, since almost all media portrayals are of the constant-cursing variety. In fairness, and with apologies to all who suffer from that, it is the most hilarious kind (as long as you don't take a second to empathize with the person and realize how horrible that would be).
I'm a fan of realism in cursing in my work, and while I never try to be profane, my sailors curse like sailors, street thugs speak like street thugs, and youths trying to piss of adults find that foul language is an easy way to do it. Obviously I don't write YA, but I've never had a problem with profanity in my work (as I've posted here many times in the past).
If you're indeed looking for inspiration for curse words in different cultures, I humbly submit my favorite Cracked article of all time. Fair warning - this link has lots of curse words. That's kind of the point: The 9 Most Devastating Insults From Around the World.
Also, if you think curse words and obscenities are funny (and I do), it's a great read. Or re-read for that matter.
Posted by Crystal Stevens (Member # 8006) on :
The reason I'm considering this title is because it does fit the theme of the story and how it ends. Otherwise, I wouldn't touch it. I would never intentionally use a gimmick. I have too much confidence in my ability to write a good story. And I obviously think this particular story is a good one, or I would never think of entering it in the WotF competition.
The title fits the story nicely, but I was concerned how it might have a negative affect on the judges as some of you have already pointed out... and is why I'm going to try and come up with a different title.
Posted by Natej11 (Member # 8547) on :
Thanks for the idea micmcd. The character's nickname is "Mad Red Ronnel," and a tic would do just as much to give that medieval interpretation of madness for the affliction as uncontrolled expletives. I'll have to look into Tourette's a bit more.