I think there's a great future in books who's titles bear no resemblance to the contents.
It's worked with albums, why not books.
My next novel, the gut wrenching and post apocalyptic story of a telekinetic gunslinger with no arms, is going to be called, I Lost my Best Friend to a Freak Case of Mistaken Identity at a Christian Amusement Park.
It, certainly, has the potential to be the most successful work in the history of the English language.
I have a title for my second novel that I have to put way down in my query letter with a "NOT" disclaimer because I'm afraid an agent wouldn't read beyond the opening line if I used it there. It's that bad.
And it's not really what the book is about, although opening events are somewhat relevant. But I'm keeping it because it's funny (at least most people think so) and it's, definitely, an attention-grabber.
And there's always the famous "Prologue: the Prologue."
I don't write prologues myself. If it ain't important enough to be in Chapter One, it doesn't qualify to be in the book at all. I skip 'em when other authors write prologues. Just can't take it and you can't make me!
(deep breath...)
And for general levity, I submit, "Es gibt ein zuqr jeder Minut geboren."
Or something like that. My German ain't what it hat gewesen worden sein.
I stumbled across my current favorite title for a book while searching for something else entirely...the title? "Big Spankable Asses."
If you'd like to see a picture of the cover, you can check it out on my blog because I just had to post it, and now I can't remember where I saw it originally.
20 comments:
I think there's a great future in books who's titles bear no resemblance to the contents.
It's worked with albums, why not books.
My next novel, the gut wrenching and post apocalyptic story of a telekinetic gunslinger with no arms, is going to be called, I Lost my Best Friend to a Freak Case of Mistaken Identity at a Christian Amusement Park.
It, certainly, has the potential to be the most successful work in the history of the English language.
No, I think the title that will win awards is simply, "Book: A Novel"
Got your attention, didn't it?
sort of irrelevant, but what would you say, in writers, fosters their ability to make self possessed writinG ?
writtenwyrdd said: No, I think the title that will win awards is simply, "Book: A Novel"
Then, of course, there will be "Book 2: The Sequel" etc etc
As someone who has a hard time coming up with titles for her work, I like the idea of no resemblance to content.
Helena Handbasket (Donna Moore).
But the title fits the book. It's sort of "Monty Python meets Get Smart."
I have a title for my second novel that I have to put way down in my query letter with a "NOT" disclaimer because I'm afraid an agent wouldn't read beyond the opening line if I used it there. It's that bad.
And it's not really what the book is about, although opening events are somewhat relevant. But I'm keeping it because it's funny (at least most people think so) and it's, definitely, an attention-grabber.
Book -1, The Prequel?
Books whose titles bear no resemblance to their contents aren't new. I mean, A Farewell to Arms was not about a parapalegic, was it?
So, did you reject it? Or can we look forward to its release? Thing of the sequel possibilities. Like maybe the Burka of Nakedness.
Okay, I'm just being punchy.
Arms...as in....guns.
Flonk...think armies, not sleevies.
wow. the lack of humor around here is astonishing.
flonkachee -- not everyone who reads this board is dense.
Anon 3:22
*snerk* My thoughts exactly! :-D
Word veri: einzuqr - As in the phrase, "There's ein zuqr born every minute..."
It's not a lack of humor, it's the medium used. We can't tell you're being humorous from text.
BTW Rejector, Evil Editor has been doing some contests where people make up funny titles. You might get a chuckle out of it.
Bernita: it was a joke.
Anon: so was mine.
BuffySquirrel said...
Book -1, The Prequel?
Maybe that should be "Pamphlet - The Prequel!"
And there's always the famous "Prologue: the Prologue."
I don't write prologues myself. If it ain't important enough to be in Chapter One, it doesn't qualify to be in the book at all. I skip 'em when other authors write prologues. Just can't take it and you can't make me!
(deep breath...)
And for general levity, I submit, "Es gibt ein zuqr jeder Minut geboren."
Or something like that. My German ain't what it hat gewesen worden sein.
I stumbled across my current favorite title for a book while searching for something else entirely...the title? "Big Spankable Asses."
If you'd like to see a picture of the cover, you can check it out on my blog because I just had to post it, and now I can't remember where I saw it originally.
http://readdebramoore.blogspot.com/2007/08/what-shocker.html
The thing is, a really crazy title like that just might sell some books...who knows?
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