Until I find the title for the thing I'm writing.
(Gotcha!)
Been polishing the story for BlackCoat and in the rewrite process I've been noticing that something is missing; that one key ingredient that will make this one special. To me at least.
Stories without titles are like those old girlfriends youbroke up with - you knew they were good girls, but they were missing that one thing that would make them perfect for you.
(Yes, I'm sure they feel the same about me too)
Well, in reviewing, rewriting, pounding my head against the wall, searching for that special blade for slicing the veins in my arms, diving into the bottom of a whiskey glass - I realized I didn't have my title.
I thought I did (silly me), but I realized that the story hadn't crystallized for me yet without a title. When I wrote "Cadavres Exquis" (in english "Exquisite Corpse") the story really didn't get to moving for me until I found that title. Then it all fell into place. Motifs within the prose that were sort of lost, starting coming together into a cohesive package. Locations, situations, characters took on new meaning. Blood pumped through the veins.
So while I have polished my story it won't be complete - a living thing - without a title. That's what I'm doing this weekend - finding that perfect title and making sweet, mad pulp bastard love to it.
I promise to leave my camera at home.
2 comments:
I like the JD Salinger method. Find a quote within your story that sums everything up and use it as your title.
That's why I usually don't find a title until I finish the script.
I'm exactly the opposite. I need to come up with a good title to inspire me to write whatever it is (review, article, script, etc.).
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