I finally found the motivation to complete the class of 09 fic I was working on, but the last chapter is kicking my ass. It’s well written, but the characters just don’t sound quite right. It’s good stuff, it’s just not feeling like class of 09…
This is a fic that I've been working on and off for like 3 years. I've always super enjoyed it, but never had the motivation to do all the HTML legwork to make it work on tumblr. Until today that is! I'm not sure if I'll ever finish it, but I love what I wrote and wanted to share it with the world! So, please. Enjoy!
———————————————————————————————
Gwenpool vs. Narrator
‘I’m not so sure about zis plan,’ Batroc said.
‘Batroc. Have I ever led you astray?’
He simply looked at her.
‘Okay, yes. You make some valid points.’
He perked an eyebrow.
‘Alright, sure. But in all fairness that last time wasn’t even my fault!’
‘No. It was only mostly your fault.’ He turned back to look at the entrance to the building below. ‘Yet here I find myself yet again, going along with your particular brand of lunacy.’
‘Ahhh, Batroc! Don’t pretend like you don’t have fun when we’re together.’
He fiddled with his mustache. ‘I will admit, it haz its own certain sense of charm. But that does not change my unease with this scheme you have concocted for us.’
‘Don’t worry, my frog-legged friend. It’ll all make sense in just a moment, once the narrator gets around to describing the whole where and what thing.’
‘Describe?’ he asked confusedly, ‘why would I require a description of such thingz I already know? And who is zis narrator you speak of?’
‘The description isn’t for you! It’s for the readers obviously! Since, you know, no pictures.’ Gwen waved a flippant hand. ‘And don’t worry about the narrator. He’s just another fanfic writer and all-around terrific guy!’
‘Hey!’ Gwen yelled, shaking her fist at the sky. ‘Don't co-opt my speech like that!’
‘Fan-Fic?’ Batroc asked, testing the words in his mouth. ‘I am unfamiliar with this expression.’
‘You know? Like A03? People write stories based on beloved characters [Ahhhh! You think I'm beloved! That's so sweet of you!] and insert their own head-canons into it.’
‘Headcanons? Now I am completely lost.’
Gwen gave him a double thumbs up. ‘Don't worry about it my dude. We're probably about to get an exposition dump on what we're doing here and what it all looks like pretty soon anyway.’
Batroc shook his head. ‘As always my dear Gwen, you continue to perplex and confound me at every conceivable turn.’
Gwen smiled a big dopey grin at that. She liked being confounding. It was a good word to be.
A loud static filled their ears as the earpieces within crackled to life. ‘Hey guys,’ Cecil said, ‘heads-up. The target is heading towards you now.’
‘Cecil! You're in this story too!? Oh man, this just keeps getting better and better!’
‘Ugh? You invited me on to this job, Gwen.’
‘I did? Wait! Who else is here!?’
A kind and familiar voice sounded inside her head. ‘Present, my dear Gwendolyn,’ said Samatha.
‘Third Eye! Oh my gosh, I haven't seen you since the end of Unbelievable Gwenpool!’
‘Um, also present too I guess,’ Fat Tony radioed in.
‘Tony too!? Dang, it's like a reunion tour up in here!'
‘Ugh, Gwen?’ Tony asked, ‘did you forget that we were here? We only saw each other an hour ago.’
Gwen made a face. ‘It's not that forgot per se, it's just that the narrator hadn't explained it yet. And boy howdy are they taking their sweet time getting around to it too!’
‘Well,’ Batroc said, rubbing his chin and deciding to just roll with Gwen’s peculiarities, ‘perhaps they have not yet had ze chance.’
‘What do you mean?’
‘Well, if zis indeed a fan-fic as you call it, then between all our talking where would zay find ze time to fill in ze exposition?’
‘Huh. Good point. Alright, everybody. Radio silence until the narrator gets the scene set up. Otherwise we'll spend the rest of the story speaking in a total vacuum.’
Coincidentally, their target in question chose that exact moment to emerge from the building below. From their position atop a nearby rooftop, they watched as a plain-looking man stepped through the revolving glass door of the low-rise skyscraper. He was dressed in a disheveled-looking black tie and jacket, with a deeply tired expression plastered across his non-descript face. He paused a moment to check his watch before ambling away down the street.
‘Zer he is,’ Batroc confirmed.
‘There he is,’ Gwen agreed, looking very serious. A beat passed. ‘I have no idea who that is,’ she said, continuing to look very serious.
‘What!?’ Cecil cried. ‘Gwen!? This is your op! How can you not know who the target is!?’
‘I don't know! The author hasn't blessed me with that knowledge yet! Besides, he looks more like a background character honestly. Like one of those guys you see in a comic panel once and then never again.’
‘Hmmm. A perfect disguise, no?’ Batroc commented. ‘No one pays attention to you. You can hide in plain sight while ze narrative blinks right over you.’
He smiled. ‘I am good for more zen just ze kicking after all.’
‘Well. Wheoever he is, he's about to find out what happens when you get written into one of my stories!’ She pulled out her swords. ‘Time to go meet our mystery man!’
———————————————————————————————
Gwen leaned back in her chair and blinked. She was in her apartment. A stack of money beside her with a note taped to it saying “Good job. Excellent pay. Please contact me again any time you wish to heist. - Batroc”
‘Wait! What!?’ Gwen yelled, pouting hard. ‘You skipped over all the good parts!’
It was strange. Gwen, who was so often strapped for cash, for some reason found no joy in the enormous pile of money sitting beside her.
‘I didn't say that! But skipping the story is boring. We’ll never know who that guy was now or what his deal was. You were like teeing up this whole team-up thing and brilliant invisible man type deal. But you just skipped over, like, all of it!’
Gwen pouted even harder. So much so that her face began to hurt. ‘Ow! Stop that! Ugh. You are like, the most annoying writer I've ever had.’
Mysteriously, for no seemingly apparent reason, the cabinet in the corner containing all of Gwen’s dioramas and collectibles suddenly collapsed in on itself.
‘NO!’ She leaped to her feet. ‘Oh, it's on now %$$#@%&! This means war!’
Gwen abruptly realized she had jumped up too quickly; blood rushing angrily to her head. She wobbled precariously for a moment, before losing her balance and collapsing to the floor.
She gritted her teeth. ‘Stupid narrator with their god-like control and dumb and handsome pretty face.’
‘Hey! I told you not to do that!' She punched the floor with frustration, sending a lance of pain up her arm. ‘OW! THIS IS CHARACTER ABUSE!’
Jumping back to her feet, Gwen grabbed her sword from beside the couch; somehow hoping that it would magically grant her a way to fight back against the narrative. But, of course, it would not.
‘That's what you think!’ Gwen declared, waving the blade about, ineffectually slicing at the air.
…and kept swinging it, achieving…nothing?
‘Just,’ she grunted. ‘Got. To. Find. The. Right...’
Unsure of what Gwen was hoping to achieve, the narrator decided that the way they had written this scene probably wasn’t working out after all and that they should try re-writing it to make Gwen even more awesome and amazing then she already was.
AH! IT WORKED! I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT F%@K!^G WORKED! EAT YOUR GODDAMNED HEARTS OUT DOOMED BY THE NARRATIVE TROPISTS! THIS IS MY TOWN NOW!
Okay. Okay. Okay. Need to calm down. butomgwhatafunckingrush. Like, actually managing to slice my way into the narration by pure force of will? Like, damn girl. Fuck!ng get it!
Alright Gwen. Let’s chill the hell out here. You’re the narrator now. That comes with responsibilities and shit. The pen is mine. To be wielded and swish swash swashed as I see fit. And remember, you’ve written fanfic before! This should be a piece of cake!
Still whittling away at this fic. Anyway. I liked this scene and wanted to share.
Jecka turned back around, leaning against the counter with two large eggs clutched in her palms. She glanced Nicole up and down, a faint smirk on her lips.
‘What?’ Nicole asked.
‘Nothing. Just admiring the view.’
Nicole perked an eyebrow. ‘You know that sounded kind of gay.’
Jecka shrugged. ‘Maybe. Or maybe I just want to preserve this mental picture of you—whisk in hand and splattered in cake batter.’
‘Still sounds pretty gay to me.’
Jecka simply smiled.
Nicole felt something stir in her chest. Something…warm.
She promptly battered it down with all the cynicism she could muster.
I've been trying to write this Jeckole fic for like two weeks now. The idea has a ton of mileage left in it, but I don't think I've got the energy to explore it any further. But I enjoyed what I've written and wanted to share anyway! Do be aware that it explores some heavier themes, so be cautious. See the tags for appropriate trigger warnings. Otherwise, please enjoy!
Chipped nails crept along her skin; tracing the ridged lines of old, half healed scars. Nicole slid her fingers over every bump and crevice; exploring each with an intentional languidity.
Some she remembered. Most she’d forgotten. Strangers, carved into her flesh.
Nicole couldn’t say why she’d used to slice herself so often. True, the rush of that very first stroke of the razor blade had been intoxicating. The welling of blood in the wound. The pain stabbing through her leg. The fucking release. How her brain had completely short wired and simply stopped feeling.
It had been glorious.
Euphoric.
Addicting.
She’d needed it. Craved it. Anything to shut her mind up for once. To muzzle her feelings and not have to deal with the absolute misery that was her life for two goddamn minutes.
But now? Now she’d built up a practical immunity to it. When she tried cutting herself now, her brain barely even registered it. No more than if she’d just gotten a static shock from putting on a sweater. A simple, quick registration that it had happened, and then nothing.
No release. No muting of her emotions. Just…blood.
Blood, with none of the gratification.
So, she’d stopped; switching instead to that solution all hot bitches like herself eventually settled on. Substance abuse.
Pills, alcohol, and whatever she could raid out of her mom’s drug cabinet.
Unlike the razors, they didn’t leave scars. No visible traces to mark her skin. They were cleaner. Better. They didn’t just short wire her brain. They fucking fried it. Burning out every synaptic circuit and plunging the whole thing into a blissful, wondrous blackout.
There was no room for feelings in that joyous darkness. No emotions to snap at her face, like the jaws of some rabid rottweiler. No emotions to stab at her chest, like the traitorous knives of Caesar’s assassins. No emotions to curl around her neck and strangle her, like a hempen noose hanging from the gym rafters.
Just…oblivion. Sweet, sweet emptiness…
Nicole sighed, propping herself up her elbows; joints digging deep into the mattress. Was it worth getting up to try and find a few pills to pop?
Today hadn’t been too bad, she supposed. Her mom hadn’t yelled at her. She hadn’t heard or seen her brother at all. Always a win. And having skipped most of her classes all day she didn’t feel that usual disgusting weight in her stomach that came with dealing with all the pedo teachers or any of her mostly brain dead classmates.
Yeah. Today had been…alright.
And sometimes…most of the time, alright was really as good as life got.
Fuck. Now that’s a depressing ass thought.
Was this really as good as things got? Was her day being merely mediocre actually the best she could hope for out of life?
…maybe getting shitfaced on percs right now was exactly what she needed after all.
Nicole began leveraging herself up off the bed—already savoring the idea of her soon to be high—when her phone abruptly started buzzing.
A quiet, annoyed huff escaped her as she slumped back down onto the mattress.
Goddamnit.
Her hand shot out, grabbing the mobile off the dresser and flipping it open.
It was a text from Jecka.
A picture of…was that a cake? Some basic ass kind of sponge thing, slathered over with neon pink frosting.
Pretty good right? Jecka texted as follow up.
Nicole simply stared at the screen for a moment.
Yeah, I guess? Sorry. Did I miss the memo where you suddenly got into baking or something?
Jecka came back at her fast.
What? A hot bitch can’t bake things now? I just wanted to try something new. Sue me, bitch.
Nicole’s fingertips hovered over her keypad, unsure of how to respond to that. Of all the things Nicole could have expected of her best friend, Jecka suddenly getting into baking of all things was so far down the list that it wasn’t even on the list.
I didn’t say you couldn’t bake bitch. Only that it feels super fucking random. Like, why baking?
Found a recipe in one of my mom’s old cookbooks. Was bored and wanted to try it out. It was actually pretty relaxing, honestly.
Again, Nicole was left floundering for a response. A half dozen acid tipped retorts rose to her tongue. Each snarkier and more viscous than the last.
Like, baking? Seriously?
But, strangely, Nicole found herself hesitating. Jecka seemed genuinely excited about this, as weird as it was, and Nicole didn’t feel like ruining that for her with some smarmy ass wisecrack. If it had been anyone else she wouldn’t have thought twice about doing so. But then this wasn't just anybody else. This was Jecka.
No. Nicole wouldn't spoil this for her. She’d play it safe. Keep it neutral.
Okay. Well, glad you enjoyed it or whatever.
The problem with keeping it neutral—Nicole reflected as she read Jecka’s reply—was that you could only really pull it off if you didn’t sound like an overly snarky, sarcastic bitch all the time. Otherwise people would always assume you were being disingenuous by default. That no matter what you said or how you said it, it would always be assumed you were somehow being a sardonic, condescending cunt about everything.
Really? Well gee, thanks, or whatever. So glad I shared this with you now, or whatever. Not like I thought, hey maybe my bestie would be happy for me or anything. But then I guess I forgot who I was talking to for a second there. That’s my bad, or whatever.
Nicole spammed her keypad. An acidic text forming beneath her fingers.
I was being genuine! What else did you want!? Did you want me to put on pom-poms and waggle my ass in celebration!? Alright then! Whoo! Yay! I’m fucking happy for you! You made a fucking cake! Yay! Go Jecka!
Her finger hovered over the send button. A slight application of pressure and it would go. Nicole frowned at the words. At the bile on screen. She imagined Jecka reading it.
Something clenched in her chest.
She deleted the message. And wrote back a single word instead.
Sorry.
A long minute passed before Jecka responded.
Whatever. Guess I’ll see you at school tomorrow, or whatever.
Nicole dumped the phone onto bed and groaned, grinding the palms of her hands into her eyes. Was she really having drama with Jecka now over a fucking cake!?
God. Now I definitely need to get shitfaced.
It was that or slit her wrists and try to bleed out…
…no…too much effort.
Shitfaced it was.
Apparently I had a small part two in me! Still not sure how far this will go, but I'm having fun with it.
Nicole pressed her back up against the rear wall of the gymnasium; arms crossed as she stared up into the clear blue sky.
‘Hey,’ she muttered.
A cloud of smoke puffed into the air around her.
‘Hey,’ Jecka replied flatly, cigarette hovering near her mouth; pinched tight between two fingers.
Nicole’s mouth fell into a thin line.
Great. The fucking cake drama continues.
An urgent need to say something pressed up inside her chest. Something. Anything. But for once, Nicole found herself bereft of words; unsure of what she could say that wouldn’t somehow come off as unnecessarily bitchy. Or at least be interpreted as being unnecessarily bitchy.
So she said nothing. Letting the awkward silence hovering between them speak for her.
After a little time had passed Jecka tilted her head back, pulled down one final drag of her smoke, and then flicked the butt away.
‘Alright. See you later, or whatever,’ she said, pushing herself off the wall.
Nicole frowned—exasperation replacing her uneasiness. ‘Oh come on. Are we really doing this?’
Jecka paused to look back at her. ‘Doing what?’
‘The whole cold shoulder thing? Like, what are we? White suburban women in their mid forties?’
‘I’m sorry,’ Jecka said, crossing her arms. ‘Was there something you wanted me to say?’
Nicole opened her mouth to answer, and then let it slide shut again. No. You know what? If Jecka wanted to be an overly dramatic bitch about this then fine. Let her.
Nicole turned away, waving a dismissive hand towards her and scoffing.
‘Whatever.’
‘Yeah,’ Jecka agreed mildly, walking away. ‘Whatever.’
I've been trying to write this Jeckole fic for like two weeks now. The idea has a ton of mileage left in it, but I don't think I've got the energy to explore it any further. But I enjoyed what I've written and wanted to share anyway! Do be aware that it explores some heavier themes, so be cautious. See the tags for appropriate trigger warnings. Otherwise, please enjoy!
Chipped nails crept along her skin; tracing the ridged lines of old, half healed scars. Nicole slid her fingers over every bump and crevice; exploring each with an intentional languidity.
Some she remembered. Most she’d forgotten. Strangers, carved into her flesh.
Nicole couldn’t say why she’d used to slice herself so often. True, the rush of that very first stroke of the razor blade had been intoxicating. The welling of blood in the wound. The pain stabbing through her leg. The fucking release. How her brain had completely short wired and simply stopped feeling.
It had been glorious.
Euphoric.
Addicting.
She’d needed it. Craved it. Anything to shut her mind up for once. To muzzle her feelings and not have to deal with the absolute misery that was her life for two goddamn minutes.
But now? Now she’d built up a practical immunity to it. When she tried cutting herself now, her brain barely even registered it. No more than if she’d just gotten a static shock from putting on a sweater. A simple, quick registration that it had happened, and then nothing.
No release. No muting of her emotions. Just…blood.
Blood, with none of the gratification.
So, she’d stopped; switching instead to that solution all hot bitches like herself eventually settled on. Substance abuse.
Pills, alcohol, and whatever she could raid out of her mom’s drug cabinet.
Unlike the razors, they didn’t leave scars. No visible traces to mark her skin. They were cleaner. Better. They didn’t just short wire her brain. They fucking fried it. Burning out every synaptic circuit and plunging the whole thing into a blissful, wondrous blackout.
There was no room for feelings in that joyous darkness. No emotions to snap at her face, like the jaws of some rabid rottweiler. No emotions to stab at her chest, like the traitorous knives of Caesar’s assassins. No emotions to curl around her neck and strangle her, like a hempen noose hanging from the gym rafters.
Just…oblivion. Sweet, sweet emptiness…
Nicole sighed, propping herself up her elbows; joints digging deep into the mattress. Was it worth getting up to try and find a few pills to pop?
Today hadn’t been too bad, she supposed. Her mom hadn’t yelled at her. She hadn’t heard or seen her brother at all. Always a win. And having skipped most of her classes all day she didn’t feel that usual disgusting weight in her stomach that came with dealing with all the pedo teachers or any of her mostly brain dead classmates.
Yeah. Today had been…alright.
And sometimes…most of the time, alright was really as good as life got.
Fuck. Now that’s a depressing ass thought.
Was this really as good as things got? Was her day being merely mediocre actually the best she could hope for out of life?
…maybe getting shitfaced on percs right now was exactly what she needed after all.
Nicole began leveraging herself up off the bed—already savoring the idea of her soon to be high—when her phone abruptly started buzzing.
A quiet, annoyed huff escaped her as she slumped back down onto the mattress.
Goddamnit.
Her hand shot out, grabbing the mobile off the dresser and flipping it open.
It was a text from Jecka.
A picture of…was that a cake? Some basic ass kind of sponge thing, slathered over with neon pink frosting.
Pretty good right? Jecka texted as follow up.
Nicole simply stared at the screen for a moment.
Yeah, I guess? Sorry. Did I miss the memo where you suddenly got into baking or something?
Jecka came back at her fast.
What? A hot bitch can’t bake things now? I just wanted to try something new. Sue me, bitch.
Nicole’s fingertips hovered over her keypad, unsure of how to respond to that. Of all the things Nicole could have expected of her best friend, Jecka suddenly getting into baking of all things was so far down the list that it wasn’t even on the list.
I didn’t say you couldn’t bake bitch. Only that it feels super fucking random. Like, why baking?
Found a recipe in one of my mom’s old cookbooks. Was bored and wanted to try it out. It was actually pretty relaxing, honestly.
Again, Nicole was left floundering for a response. A half dozen acid tipped retorts rose to her tongue. Each snarkier and more viscous than the last.
Like, baking? Seriously?
But, strangely, Nicole found herself hesitating. Jecka seemed genuinely excited about this, as weird as it was, and Nicole didn’t feel like ruining that for her with some smarmy ass wisecrack. If it had been anyone else she wouldn’t have thought twice about doing so. But then this wasn't just anybody else. This was Jecka.
No. Nicole wouldn't spoil this for her. She’d play it safe. Keep it neutral.
Okay. Well, glad you enjoyed it or whatever.
The problem with keeping it neutral—Nicole reflected as she read Jecka’s reply—was that you could only really pull it off if you didn’t sound like an overly snarky, sarcastic bitch all the time. Otherwise people would always assume you were being disingenuous by default. That no matter what you said or how you said it, it would always be assumed you were somehow being a sardonic, condescending cunt about everything.
Really? Well gee, thanks, or whatever. So glad I shared this with you now, or whatever. Not like I thought, hey maybe my bestie would be happy for me or anything. But then I guess I forgot who I was talking to for a second there. That’s my bad, or whatever.
Nicole spammed her keypad. An acidic text forming beneath her fingers.
I was being genuine! What else did you want!? Did you want me to put on pom-poms and waggle my ass in celebration!? Alright then! Whoo! Yay! I’m fucking happy for you! You made a fucking cake! Yay! Go Jecka!
Her finger hovered over the send button. A slight application of pressure and it would go. Nicole frowned at the words. At the bile on screen. She imagined Jecka reading it.
Something clenched in her chest.
She deleted the message. And wrote back a single word instead.
Sorry.
A long minute passed before Jecka responded.
Whatever. Guess I’ll see you at school tomorrow, or whatever.
Nicole dumped the phone onto bed and groaned, grinding the palms of her hands into her eyes. Was she really having drama with Jecka now over a fucking cake!?
God. Now I definitely need to get shitfaced.
It was that or slit her wrists and try to bleed out…
…no…too much effort.
Shitfaced it was.
I really want to write a Jeckole fic, and have a great set up for one, but I can not for the life of me capture their voices. No matter how I try to re-work the dialogue, it never sounds natural. It never sounds authentic. And I have no idea how to fix it.
Comments save fics. This is going to be a bit of a ramble. But I want to get it off my chest, even if I am only screaming into the void.
My most recent fic is clearly an unmitigated flop. I didn’t think it was that bad. (In fact, I thought it had some pretty strong moments). But based on the utter lack of reaction to it after quite a sizeable number of hits, I’ve been more than a little crestfallen.
Clearly I’ve missed the mark in writing it in some way. (Thought I’m neither astute or detached from it enough to see how). So, after twenty four hours, I came to a conclusion. I was going to take it down.
Yes, that’s a really overly emotional, dumb gut reaction. But I’d poured a lot of myself into this fic, and to see no enjoying it was a painful experience. No one owes it a like. I know that. Neither the fic or me are entitled to anything from anyone. But still, it hurt to see it failing so badly.
So, I went to delete it. And hovered over the button. A mixture of self pity and reckless self assurance stayed my hand. I’d give it one last chance. It had until the morning when I woke up. If nothing had changed by then…I’d kill it.
Thirty minutes later I got a message.
“kicking my feet and screaming!! this was an incredible read, i love how you wrote this!!!
incredible work dear author”
I’ve always appreciated feedback and comments. They’re always a joy to read. This one though. This one hit different.
Someone liked my flop of a fic. My self doubt was what my sense of reason knew it to be all along. Baseless. But if I’d never gotten that message. If they’d never let me know how much they liked it. I would have erased it. Purged it from the internet, and that person would never had had the chance to ever re-read it and connect to those words inside it like I do.
That one comment stayed my hand.
Now, even if it gained a million views and never gained a single other kudos or comment, I wouldn’t delete it. Because that one person did connect to it. And I want to save it for them.
It’s still a flop as a write this. But it has two comments now! Both more precious to me than even a thousand kudos. Because they saved my fic. Spared it an overly emotional, ignominious death. Showed me that no matter how much I think it a failure, someone out there will connect to it. That I’m not alone in thinking “I really enjoyed reading this fic.”
The Ultimate (short) Guide to Crafting Captivating Book Titles: A Writer's Journey into Naming Novels
Embracing the Power of a Book Title
Greetings, fellow writers and wordsmiths! As we embark on the magical journey of storytelling, there exists a crucial milestone—bestowing our creations with a name, a title that encapsulates the essence of our narrative. The quest for the perfect title can be as thrilling as drafting the story itself. In this guide, we will unravel the art and significance of titling a novel, exploring strategies, tips, and the creative process behind crafting an engaging and magnetic book title.
Understanding the Importance of a Book Title
The Gateway to Reader Connection
A book title is the beacon that beckons readers to explore the universe you've crafted. It's the first impression, a snapshot that encapsulates the soul of your narrative. A compelling title can captivate an audience, generating curiosity and inviting them to step into the world you've woven within your pages.
Reflecting the Essence of Your Story
A well-crafted title encapsulates the core theme, mood, or central conflict of your novel. It should resonate with the narrative, teasing elements without revealing too much, leaving a trail of intrigue that entices readers to delve deeper.
The Art of Title Creation
Embrace the Journey: Start with a Working Title
Begin with a placeholder, a working title that captures the essence of your story in its rawest form. Let it evolve and grow as your narrative does. This title might serve as a guiding light until you uncover the perfect one.
Exploring the Heart of Your Story
Consider the central themes, characters, or pivotal moments within your book. Delve into the emotional core of your narrative and unearth words or phrases that resonate with its essence.
Utilizing Literary Devices and Techniques
Explore metaphors, alliteration, symbolism, or even poetic verses. Experiment with wordplay, juxtapositions, and contrasts. These literary devices can infuse depth and intrigue into your title.
Testing and Refining Your Title
The Power of Feedback
Share your title ideas with trusted friends, writing groups, or beta readers. Gather feedback on their impressions and the emotions evoked by the titles. Use this input to refine and narrow down your choices.
Alignment with Your Target Audience
Consider your intended readership. Does your title resonate with the genre and expectations of your audience? Ensure it's not only enticing but also aligns with the preferences of your potential readers.
Finalizing the Perfect Title
Distillation of Essence: Keep it Succinct and Evocative
Aim for brevity and impact. A concise yet evocative title can linger in the minds of readers. Often, the most powerful titles are those that say much with few words.
Research and Avoiding Clichés
Investigate existing titles in your genre to ensure your title stands out. Steer clear of clichés and overused phrases, aiming for originality and uniqueness.
Embrace the Artistry of Title Crafting
Crafting the ideal book title is an art in itself. It's the literary cloak that shrouds your creation, inviting readers into the tapestry of your imagination. Embrace the journey of titling your novel with the same passion and creativity you pour into your storytelling. Let the title be a herald, whispering the promise of a remarkable journey that awaits within the pages of your book.
As you venture forth, remember, the perfect title awaits—a key to unlock the hearts and minds of your future readers.
Happy writing and titling!
This comprehensive guide aims to take writers through the journey of creating an impactful and engaging book title, emphasizing the importance of a title and offering practical strategies to craft one that truly resonates with a novel's essence. If you need further insights, examples, or specific advice on any aspect of titling a novel, feel free to delve deeper into each section. Happy titling!
Been working on a short Frieren fic for a while now and I’ve encountered a problem. I can’t hear the characters voices anymore. Like no matter what words I write I just can imagine the character saying that. I feel like the only solution is to re-watch the show or re-read the manga at this point.
My brain is not braining properly right now, so I'm probably not going to be able to articulate how or why I got to this thought, but please consider with me:
I’m writing again and relishing every moment of it.
2.18AM
The sky was beautiful. But only if you possessed all the same aesthetic sensibilities as the color beige. And not even a good beige either. The kind of beige you’d find in a newly decorated flat—where the first objective of any sensible person would be to paint over it as soon as possible.
Fuxking ligt pollution. Can’t see my friends at all!
The only thing she could see was the moon. The only light in the sky powerful enough to drown out humanity.
Terry lifted her wine glass to it.
‘Here’s to yu, fair Luna. Our must ever faithful dance partner in this great, wide cosmic shindigeridoo!’
Her toast given, Terry let herself sink backward into the deck chair—savoring the warmth prickling her skin.
She’d never liked summer growing up. But right here, right now? She could begin to see the appeal.
I keep seeing people making fun of using growled, hissed, roared, snarled etc in writing and it’s like.
have you never heard someone speak with the gravel in their voice when they get angry? Because that’s what a growl is.
Have you never heard someone sharply whisper something through the thin space of their teeth? Or when your mother sharply told you to stop it in public as a kid when you were acting up/being too loud? Because that’s what a hiss is.
Have you never heard a man get so blackout angry that their voice BOOMS through the house? Because that’s what a roar is.
Have you never seen someone bare their teeth while talking to accentuate their frustration or anger while speaking with a vicious tone? Because that’s what snarling is.
It’s not meant to be a literal animal noise. For the love of god, not every description is literal. I get some people are genuinely confused, but also some of these people are genuinely unimaginative as fuck.
prguitarman
snowghoul
tangentwithtanner
