Simple Titles ( #BOTB & #IWSG )

      No trick.  It's a treat.  Two posts in one:  Battle of the Bands and Insecure Writer's Support Group wrapped up into one themed package.  What better way to get more views for each post?   Please indulge yourselves as you indulge my homogeneous blogging mash-up.  It's all connected...

The Insecure Writer's Support Group

Join us on the first Wednesday of each month in Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group--a forum of writers who gather to talk about writing and the writer's life. For a complete list of participants visit Alex's Blog. 

The co-hosts for the November 3 posting of the IWSG are Kim Lajevardi, Victoria Marie Lees, Joylene Nowell Butler, Erika Beebe, and Lee Lowery!

November 3 question - What's harder to do, coming up with your book title or writing the blurb?

What's in a Name?

       They say you can't judge a book by its cover, but I'll take this a step further in saying you can't judge a work by its title.  Still, I'm drawn to titles.  How about you?  Have you ever wanted to read a book or hear a song because the title lured you?  

       Titles are often enticing enough to do more than merely catch my interest.   I like titles so much that sometimes I'll just think up titles that I like enough to want to expand them into something bigger.  Several book ideas in my notebooks are little more than titles.  Likewise I've come up with a number of song ideas that started with what I thought was a catchy title.  No problem with me coming up with titles.

       On the other hand, I might prefer writing some droll essay to writing a blurb for a book I'd written.  Of course, if I had actually written a book I might be more interested in writing a blurb.  However, if I just wrote a blurb for some sketchy idea I had come up with then maybe I'd be more fired up to actually write the book.  Sounds like a chicken and egg conundrum perhaps, but results are the consequences of focused actions.

       For now I'll keep thinking up titles.  My list keeps getting longer. 

       Anyone want to buy a title?

       Or how about a Battle of the Bands between two songs with simple titles that might not seem particularly inspired?    Let's go Battle...

       

Battle of the Bands

        Battle of the Bands is the blogging event started by Far Away Series and now hosted by StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands.   This event happens each month on the 15th and on some there is also a Battle on the 1st of the month.  My blog is one of those with a second Battle excepting over these summer months.   The premise is simple:  Listen to the songs presented below and then in the comments vote for your favorite and tell us why you liked it.  Then visit the links listed near the bottom of this                                                                                 post for more Battle action.

Name That Tune!

        Do you ever buy a recording not having heard any of the music, but with a title that intrigued you?  I have.  In my days of buying music I would peruse the recordings in a store studying carefully the info on the outside package. More than once I've been intrigued enough by a song title to buy the recording. Sometimes I was disappointed while other times I made some wonderful discoveries.

        At times I'd be drawn to a topic--dreams for instance.  I don't know how many recordings I bought because there was a song listed with "dream" or some related term in the title.  Same with "magic" or "mystery."   Bland words usually won't be enough to catch my attention even though many great songs have rather plain simple titles.

        For this round of Battle I've chosen two songs with one word titles that are common conjunctions.  Not words that would seem to inspire much interest at first look, but delve deeper and a couple of words like "because" and "and" can be the inspiration for some interesting songs.   Listen and see what you think...

Microdisney   "And"  (1985)

           I don't quite recall how I came across the group Microdisney, but I picked up their album The Clock Comes Down the Stairs shortly after it was released in 1985.  The songs fascinated me in their oddity and the album was in regular rotation with me for quite some time.  The song "And" I find rather strange, but evocative of memory and the essence of the passing of time in our lives.  Such a simple title for a haunting song...

Dave Clark Five  "Because"  (1964)

       This sweet song scored slots on the hit charts in 1964.  The Beatles later had another song with the same title, but because it was the Beatles I thought it best to avoid it for this Battle.  And besides, this song doesn't get much airplay these days.  At least I haven't heard it in a long time until I chose it for this Battle.  And that's why I used this song--just because...

Time to Vote!
        
         It's simple to play along with Battle of the Bands.  I hope you'll at least give the versions a listen to discern your favorite.   Which version do you prefer?   Hopefully you have an opinion of some kind.  You don't have to know about music to have an opinion since it all comes down to your own personal taste.

        Please vote on your favorite by letting us know your choice in the comment section and tell us why you prefer the version you chose. Then after you've finished here, please visit the other blogs listed below who may or may not be participating this time around. And if you've put up your own BOTB contest let us know that as well so we can vote on yours.


Here are some other places where you might find BOTB posts:

 StMcC Presents Battle of the Bands

  'MIKE'S RAMBLINGS'

'Curious as a Cathy'

Sound of One Hand Typing

Jingle, Jangle, Jungle 



Winner of this Battle Announced on Monday November 8th

           I don't seem to get much response on my "results" posts, but I do it anyway.  Just because.  And.  Well, whatever.

          What kind of title captivates your attention drawing you to read a book or story (or listen to a song)?  Do you think it would be easier for you to write the blurb for your own book or someone else's?   Do you like long complex titles?  

Playing the Name Game ( #IWSG )

     If I didn't know people's names then I wouldn't know who was who using an easy identifying label.  However it's all a rather moot point since I usually forget someone's name shortly after they've told me.  So I guess that much of the time even with the names I still don't know who is who...

Join us on the first Wednesday of each month in Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group--a forum of writers who gather to talk about writing and the writer's life. For a complete list of participants visit Alex's Blog. 

Co-hosts for the June 6 posting of the IWSG are Beverly Stowe McClure,Tyrean Martinson, and Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor!

June 6 question - What's harder for you to come up with, book titles or character names?

          Coming up with titles is one of my favorite parts of the writing process.  On many occasions I've come up with a title first and then built from there with a story, essay, or song.  In fact, I have lists of titles waiting for something to be created for them.

           Titles come from many sources for me.  It might be something I hear someone saying, a reference to a current or historical event, or some phrase that seems to pop into my head for no reason.  I'll get a title and then start thinking up something to go with it.

        For example, my most recent focus has been on a song that I've written (which I mentioned here and here).  The song idea started with a chord progression, a rhythm, and a somewhat odd melody--no lyrics or title.  As I worked with the song in my head. the concept of running came to me--that's what the music reminded me of.   From there I started with a working title of "Run" which almost immediately changed to "Let's Run" partly because it was a two syllable phrase and it suggested a corporate venture between singer and listener (or writer and reader).  The title came quickly and stuck because it was logical, simple, and I thought it sounded good in context with the song feel.

        The names for characters in stories is a bigger challenge to me.  Since I often picture actual real life people whom I know, it is difficult to disassociate my character with that real person whose name just seems to make sense.  Changing a real name to a fictional moniker rarely feels right to me so I'll try to come up with a name that is similar to that real name or suggestive of something about that real person.  Maybe I should avoid modeling characters after real people, but I think most writers probably come up with characters this way.   After all, it's easier to write about a character whom I can clearly picture in my mind.   That's the way it works for me.

         By the way, regarding my song "Let's Run":   I've been putting together some rough recordings with the help of a couple of my neighbors.  Hopefully, by the end of the summer I'll have something to share with my readers.  I'm writing about it on my blog for legal purposes since I don't know the first thing about getting a song published or recorded.  So this is notice that I've written a metaphorical song with the title "Let's Run."    I'm probably doing this all wrong, but we'll see where this all goes.

          What do you think makes for a good title?   Do you base your fictional characters on actual people?   Do you have any favorite fictional names that other authors have used?


           My most recent Battle of the Bands can be found here.  If you haven't voted yet, please do.  Voting closes Thursday June 7th with winner announced on Friday the 8th.