What to be thought first, a story or a title?

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Re: What to be thought first, a story or a title?

Post by Ama Idim »

I agree with what someone said above, it can go either ways. Title first is not limiting, it can inspire creativity. If the story changes midway, the title can also be adjusted to suit the story
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Post by Sherry Terry »

I start writing the story with the knowledge that the title will come. If you build it... 'Course it only took 3 years after a book was finished for me to finally have the light bulb go off with a title for it once.

Except for the first book I published. I saw something I thought looked like a good title, and was dared to write the book. That's the only time I had a title first, and let me be the one to tell you that working a story around a title was hard.
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Post by MsTri »

While I haven't actually had anything published - or even totally finished, for that matter - I nearly always come up with the "gist" of the story and the title soon follows, as coming up with titles is way easy for me. For example, I once had an idea to write about a grandmother who sells drugs and as soon as I had that thought, I had its title, Dope-Dealin' Grandma, as well.

I also write all of my own songs for my band and it always goes the same way: "gist" of song, closely followed by title, and I've never had to change the title once I started writing.
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Post by TobiOrNotTobi »

Odhiambo Felix wrote:Having a title thought of first before the story may restrict your ideas and at times make you run short of points, I therefore feel it will be better to write first the story then the title shall follow thereafter
While this is a good point, I have to say that I disagree with this for a number of reasons. You write a story from your ideas, so you already have some sort of picture in your mind of what's going to be in the story. Sure, you may change stuff from your original thoughts, but what I'm saying is that the title doesn't have to restrict your ideas. The title is not permanent, so you can always change it. Now, if you're trying to make a story from no thoughts (letting the story be made up as you type along), then that's a different story.

I feel coming up with a title first makes me feel better, because when I'm writing, I'd like to see a title above the story as I'm writing it. This is just me, so I'm not saying you should come up with the title first.
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Post by Kinnera »

I'd go with story. If a writer starts thinking about a title, that's all one will think about. It's true for me, so yeah.
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Post by BoyLazy »

Story for sure
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Post by Morgan Jones »

A title is inspired by the story, so usually a story comes first. You could, however, find an interesting title or come up with it randomly (that happened to me on many occasions) and so, you'll feel the need to write a whole story line based on that title.
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Post by Sushan Ekanayake »

I think the story has to be developed first and the title will automatically come at the end. In this way the best title will come in to mind
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Post by Alice Thokchom »

I think a story should be first and the title would follow. Having a title first would restrict the content.
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Post by elissasmart »

It always depends, sometimes a bright title pops up in your head and you it is good enough to be a start, but sometimes you have an idea of the wonderful story, you create it and work on it and in this case title would be just a necessity
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Post by JordanKSmith »

For me, I've found that the title will spring up on its own as I am writing the story. When I let the title arrive on its own, it tends to be a more natural fit.

However, I could see how writing the title might motivate someone to write, so do whatever works. You can always change it later if the story grows out of its confines. Creativity, by its own definition, requires your imagination and originality, so follow whatever process inspires it.
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Post by Inkroverts »

When I write long stories, I tend to thing about story before the title. But if I write short stories/ flash fictions, I'd decide the titles first- to sort of challenge myself.
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Post by Ndehani »

Eman Frasy wrote: 27 Jun 2017, 07:13 Everyone has his own opinion about writing a story. Some people think about a title and then create a story regarding that but for others it may be vice versa. But what is the best way? Should one create a story first and then give it a title or it might be better to think about a theme or a title first and then make a story regarding that.

-- 27 Jun 2017, 07:15 --

I think it is better to think about a theme first and then create a story step by step regarding the title.
Yeah it's so much easier to think the theme first like if your go even half way to your story you will get the title by itself
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Post by LeDiplomatique »

The story comes fast. Through the story line one can choose the most appropriate title. Choosing a title before limits your thinking to a certain line.
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Post by Erandi Ekanayake »

This can be vary from person to person, but what I believe is choosing an interesting theme is more important. If you decide the title in the first place, then you won't be able to get enough points and ideas to create a lovely story.
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