Titles

Who You Are As A Writer

A good fanfic should have a good title. Because that is one of the things that gives the reader their first impression on your fanfic.

 

A good title should have the following:

- It makes you think.

- You'll remember it.

- Should not be more than 6 words

- In a proper language.

- Relevant to the story.

- Not reveal too much things.

Or

It has to be unique.

 

The title should make you ponder about the plot. It should make you think, "Hm...I wonder why is the title named like this. Is ________ going to happen?"

For example: To Kill A Mockingbird

At first glance, I wonder what this book is about. The title is unique. You'd think, is a bird going to be killed? Nope. I read this book. It is relevant to the story, about how the innocent was killed, shot. Just like a mocking bird who does no harm but gives music, who sings its heart out. It's not more than 6 words. It definately does not reveal a lot about the story. Just mainly the theme.

 

It should not be more than 6 words.

What not to do: The Love That Lasts Forever Does Not Exist, The Everlasting Adventure Taken By ____

Like seriously? This is a fanfic turn off for me. Too long.  I don't I would remember the title at all. 

 

What to do (Examples of real novels): Lord of the Flies, The Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns

These titles are unique and is relevant to their plot. Have you ever seen titles like these? Chances are, most likely not.

 

What I mean by using proper language, is that it should be in English. It should be in english if the fanfic is written in english. I'd forgive the writer if the title is explained in the foward or author's note.

It should not reveal a lot of the story. For example: I Became A Wife for _____ Or Friends With _____

No. I can pretty much guess a part of the plot right already. I just find these titles such a turn off.

 

Make it unique. Make people remember it. Don't use titles that are very similar to others. Don't use titles that are songs. For example, I have seen people use K-Pop songs for their titles. Several are the same title and different fanfics. If you're title is the same as a song, chances are people will remember the song more than your fanfic. The title was already used by another writer probably.

 

 

 

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Hilleo #1
Chapter 8: Actually in my school, you dont have to have good grades when youre in a sport team. Even if you have the worst score in the whole school but actually great in sport, you dont have to care about failing.
Shiny_sushi #2
Chapter 6: I totally agree with you! I really hate Mary Sues with whom you absolutely can't relate to! >:(
Ps: thanks for the precious advice!
Hilleo #3
Chapter 4: I had. And it's annoying-.- i was like,"uhh, what's the use of updating when you only got 5 paragraphs to share?"
Hilleo #4
Chapter 2: Same with you. I don't rush them to update unless the last time they updated was like 3 or more months ago. Hehe
Hilleo #5
Chapter 1: Actually, i write because I always want to share my imaginations with people. I want them to know what I am thinking, what I am feeling...
MoroccanBlackDragon #6
Chapter 1: OMG I just needed to read this!!! YES I ened to share this with my Jonkey shippers "friends" They kept saying that if I write about Jongkey my fics will way better and so on. But I don't ship Jongkey, so what? I want you appreciate my effort like I appreciate urs T.T why does it hurt to see people neglecting that point : That writer deserve a chance, even if I don't ship that pairing.
travellingIdeas #7
Chapter 8: I agree. I just realized recently that highschool fic focused mainly on the romance life, I mean, I get it that the genre is 'romance' but it doesn't mean that all the highschool things that the characters have to do magically gone.
more fic with highschool!au genre should describe the struggle of their character as a student more.
Sforzando #8
Chapter 7: I definitely agree that a title should be memorable and well thought out. It should especially relate to the story. It irks me when the title sounds pretty but has absolutely no significance to the story. One thing I'd have to disagree on is the word limit. "One of Those Hideous Books Where the Mother Dies" by Sonya Sones is a great example of this. True, not many titles exceed six words but it can be done really well by those who do.
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