I hate trying to come up with good titles to stories!

Matt Cowan · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 5:03 pm

I have finished a short story that I think is pretty good but I hate my working title (The Monster Across the Hall). In the story the 'monster' across the hall would not be instantly recognizable as a monster. I hate that title, and to be honest, I have hated the title to almost every story (and one first draft of a novel) that I have written, save one or two. Anybody out there have any suggestions? I'm dying here.

David T. Wilbanks · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 5:11 pm

"Across the Hall"

"The Hall Crosser"

"Hauling a Cross"

"The Crawling Chaos" Oh, wait...

Matt Cowan · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 5:21 pm

Yeah, I was thinking I could go with Across the Hall but I didn't know if it would be strong enough to entice a reader or not. I think I may end up going that way though.

David T. Wilbanks · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 5:23 pm

Maybe you want to dig into the theme a little. Maybe there's a title there.

Matt Cowan · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 5:27 pm

Well, actually the 'monster' starts off looking like a beautiful woman, living with a guy that is kind of a jerk that normally can't get any women and then all the sudden has this gorgeous lady hanging on his arm.

ristow · **Posted:** Sat Feb 03, 2007 6:24 pm

One trick for titles is to find any intended or unintentional pattern or motif with words. So, while practically, the story could be the "Monster Across the Hall," it could have be named something like, "I didn't know"

This is also another naming strategy -- find the strongest, most unique sensory image. This way, say the monster smells like rotten eggs. the story could be "the smell of rotten eggs." Robert Bloch, before he died, wrote a short story titled something like "The Scent of Vinegar" but functional title could have been "Monster heads in Jars" I think we can probably agree that 'The Scent of Vinegar" is a better title.

Just some Ideas. May cross post this onto Damnedcritic. Don't know yet.

Matt Cowan · **Posted:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 12:48 am

ristow · **Posted:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 1:02 am

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Matt Cowan · **Posted:** Sun Feb 04, 2007 12:38 pm

I hate trying to come up with good titles to stories!

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