 For Authors: March 05, 2008 Issue [#2255] |
  For Authors
This week: Edited by: CHRISTMAS cub-BELLS R RINGING!  
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Hello, everyone! Welcome to this edition of the For Authors newsletter.  My goal is to inspire and encourage. I hope you find something here that is helpful.
Quote: A good title is the title of a successful book.
~ Raymond Chandler |
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Creative Titles
Definitions [cited from Dictionary.com]
Title - noun
1. the distinguishing name of a book, poem, picture, piece of music, or the like.
2. a descriptive heading or caption, as of a chapter, section, or other part of a book.
Subtitle - noun
1. a secondary or subordinate title of a literary work, usually of explanatory character.
What came first, the chicken or the egg? Do you write your story/article first, or do you have a title in mind that inspires you? You might already have a topic thought up for an article, a growing plot for a fiction piece, or a theme in mind for a book of poems... but do you have a title yet? Titles can be changed at any point, of course, during the writing process, so if you have already chosen a name for your piece, you are not handcuffed to it. Many times, an author might pre-title his or her work with a simple heading, such as Murder Mystery, Children's Story, or just plain Untitled.  It's a draft, so who really cares at that point, right?
Though creative titles are great for fiction pieces, with an informational item, you may want to consider including a subtitle that clues the reader in of what the article is about. For instance, if you are writing something about outhouses, one example title might be: No Butts About It: Outhouses from the Past. That gives the book browser some idea what the content is about because of the subtitle. If the title were just No Butts About It, one might get other ideas about the content. This is when a subtitle is beneficial. Or if the title was Outhouses of the Past, while it clearly tells us what the book or article is about, it's not alluring. Not everyone cares if a title is alluring, I realize, but with the fierce competion out there, I'd want to give my title some serious consideration.
Examples of a few interesting titles of nonfiction books that include subtitles:
 Fresh Milk: The Secret Life of Breasts by Fiona Giles [nonfiction book about breast-feeding]
Does This Clutter Make My Butt Look Fat?: An Easy Plan for Losing Weight and Living More
by Peter Walsh [nonfiction currently on Bestseller List]
The Geography of Bliss: One Grump's Search for the Happiest Places in the World
by Eric Weiner [nonfiction currently on Bestseller list]
 By the way, I have not read any of the books above, so I am not recommending them, only making reference to their catchy titles.
As you can see (or imagine), titles do have a way of catching the book browser's eye. Whether you write your story first or not, titles are a big deal. That old saying, "You can't judge a book by it's cover" may hold truth, but you must admit, the cover does help. And the same goes for titles.
Here are a few links that include additional information on titles.
 How to Create Book and Speech Titles that Sizzle and Sell
http://www.frugalmarketing.com/dtb/bookandspeechtitles.shtml
How To Create A Winning Title For Your Book
http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Create-A-Winning-Title-For-Your-Book&id=139998
7 Essential Book Title Templates to Create a Top Selling Book
http://ezinearticles.com/?7-Essential-Book-Title-Templates-to-Create-a-Top-Selli...
How to Create Sizzling Speech and Book Titles
http://www.schrift.com/blog/2005/06/how-to-create-sizzling-speech-and-book.html
How To Create Tantalizing Book Titles
http://www.archive.org/details/HowToCreateTantalizingBookTitles
Book Title--How Do We Create Them?
http://talesfromechocanyon.blogspot.com/2006/09/writing-book-title-how-do-we-cre...
Now... let's have fun with a prompt!
 Make up a catchy title that doesn't belong to any item you or others have written, to your knowledge. I will post them in the April 2nd newsletter.
Happy March and...
Keep on Writing!
Cubby ") |
Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
https://www.Writing.Com/go/nl_form
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Feedback
Vivian 
Good job, Cubby, and welcome to the For Authors Newsletter. ~~ Viv
~ Thanks, Viv! (((HUGS))) I'm enjoying the challenge and feel priviledged to be working with such talented editors here.
j_alexandra
I really enjoyed this newsletter as I am currently trying to get to know my characters. I was becoming frustrated with description lists and now I have a new perspective. I am off to create some diary entries and a couple of short biographies. Thank you. This is exactly what I needed.
~ You are very welcome. I'm glad my article inspired you.
lindamv
Another great newsletter Cubby!
I think that, with fictional biographies, you can really get the flavour of the time the character lived. You can use that background too to flesh out the character even more, and not have to rely on what may be limited facts about his/her life.
Hope that wasn't clear as mud!
~ It was clear indeed.  And you are so right!
Joto-Kai 
Well, right on. I was going to object that 20 years would matter, but then I got to thinking about Chrissy, the shallowest girl I ever knew... Can't believe how she chased after Gary, whose kids were almost as old as she... It does count, but only if they don't like him!
~ Thank you for your feedback!
Nwriter 
Hi Cubby,
This was really inpirational.I will defn. wrte a fitional biography.
Meanwhile, check out Maya Desai Guerra on www.goodreads.com, she has included 'To Kill A Mockingbird' on it.
sincerely,
nita
~ I looked into https://http//:www.goodreads.com and found it quite interesting! Thank you for the tip.
SkyHawk - Into The Music
Dear Cubby,
Thanks for an excellent newsletter regarding age traits in characters. It reminded me of something I faced in one of the novels I'm currently working on -- how to explain death to a child (specifically, a 5-year-old boy who has just lost his mom). I've attached what I've written on this to this note. Please let me know what you think.
~ I have placed your submitted item above, under the Featured Items. I lost my mother when I was 8-years old, and on Halloween. It was an emotional experience to lose my mom. Lost. Alone. Insecure. Hurt. Suffering. The words are endless in describing what it felt like. The one thing that I remember making me feel a little better, was when my grandma told me God had plucked a rose from His garden, and my mom was that rose. Geesh, even at my age now, my eyes still tear up thinking back on it.
grits56
Hey, there Cubby. Your newsletter hit me just right this a.m. I, too, am in the depth of winter - the temperature this a.m. is 20 degrees below 0! I love a great case of cabin fever. It is inspirational. I am a grandmother of a two year old and a four year old. For many years, I have wanted to write children's books... I have a few ideas. I am an illustrator. Which comes first? The illustration or the text? I am overwhelmed. I would like to write family history for little ones so they can learn about our family at the same time they are entertained and cuddled. Any ideas?
~OMG... I think we should get together and share! Sounds like we have a lot in common! SERIOUSLY!  To answer your question about which comes first, the illustration or the text, I would think that whatever inspires you to take the first step is what you should do. If you have some ideas for illustrations, go for it and then add the words later. Or if you have a story idea, go for that first and add the illustrations after. You are fortunate that you are talented enough to do both!
Have a wonderful week! And thank you all for the wonderful Feedback!
Till next time...
Cubby ") |
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