Wow, we're halfway through the year already?! And it's the first Wednesday of the month which means it's time for an Insecure Writer's Support Group post. If you'd like to join the fun, you can sign up HERE.
Thanks to our host, Alex Cavanaugh, and this months co-hosts (including me!), PJ Colando, Kim Lajevardi, Gwen Gardner, Pat Garcia, and Natalie Aguirre! for supporting this month's event!
The July 5th optional question is: 99% of my ideas come from dreams. Where do yours predominantly come from?
Soooo, I'm probably the odd man out, but here it goes...
In the cozy mystery genre, punny titles are a must. I write in the paranormal sub-genre of cozy mysteries, so I have to narrow it down to include my ghostly element. I do love my ghosties!
Rather than coming up with the story, and then the title, which seems like the logical thing to do, I do the opposite. I spend a lot of time brainstorming paranormal punny titles, like, A Scandal in Boohemia (Sherlock Holmes fans will get it) and Something Borrowed, Something Booed (from the old wedding mantra, something borrowed, something blue). For this particular series, I use the word "boo" in the titles. From there, I develop my story idea (and often more than one).
For some reason, titling in this way tends to spark my imagination for story ideas. So, 99% of my story ideas come from thinking up titles.
Weird, huh?
Where do your story ideas come from?
I didn't realize you should have punny titles for cozy mysteries. It's good to know as I may want to try one that has a touch of magic some day.
ReplyDeleteThat's great, Natalie. Cozy Fantasies are a new genre, so it would be perfect.
DeleteWhy didn't I think of that ? Once lived in a haunted house. Though I love travelling alone, which is where my ideas seem to jump out at me. Anonymous East of the Sun , with no Google. Esther
ReplyDeleteI love my ghosties and I kind of want to see one, but...Yikes!
DeleteTitles first - that's actually a smart way to do it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting today!
Works for me ;)
DeleteThat is great! Why not? I get my ideas at the Ideal Idea Emporium.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great idea as well. I'll have to look it up.
DeleteThat's a great way to come up with ideas. I could see how it'd work. Thanks for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteIt definitely sparks the imagination.
DeleteHi, That's a cool idea. I am sure it helps you stay focus when writing the book. Thank you for co-hosting. Shalom shalom
ReplyDeleteUsually the title sparks a scene, which gives me the plot. Then I outline to stay in focus. Thanks for co-hosting to you, as well.
DeleteI sometimes think of the title first, too. Although dreams remain my main source for the story itself.
ReplyDeleteI read your blog post. You have awesome dreams :)
DeleteSomething borrowed something booed . . . LOVE it! Titles are the hardest for me, too. I rather write the whole book than think up those few clever words to describe 80,000 other words.
ReplyDeleteTitles definitely take awhile. I tend to always do hard things first and get them out of the way. LOL.
DeleteClever titles, indeed!
ReplyDeleteThanks, C. Lee. I took a class once and found that the instructor used one of my titles as a good example. Very gratifying. :D
DeleteThat means you really did a great job!
DeleteThose are fun titles! I get a lot of my chapter and part titles from song lyrics, poetry, and lines from literature. They're kind of like Easter eggs for people who also know those references.
ReplyDeleteI love your "Easter egg" description. And so true!
DeleteThat's fun! Titles often come last for me, but I like this idea. @samanthabwriter from
ReplyDeleteBalancing Act
I like to do the hard part first :)
DeleteNot weird at all! I've thought up a catchy title that ended up inspiring the story itself loads of times! And I'm so glad you answered this question because just the other day I was asking my husband how he thought cozy mystery authors got their titles! I was curious if you made them up for the series and then wrote the stories or vice-a-verse. This answers my question! Ha! Thanks for co-hosting this month!
ReplyDeleteGlad I could help, Though mine is the only post I've seen that finds ideas in this backward way. LOL.
DeleteThat's a really cool process! I've done that when I get stuck and need to come up with a theme. Thinking up the title based on the theme/tone helps me get back on track most of the time. Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteNothing like a great title to get the sparks flying ;)
DeleteInteresting and clever: include "boo" in the title to indicate a particular series.
ReplyDeleteThanks for co-hosting our July blog hop.
Cheers, @ Lynn La Vita
And this post has reminded me that I need to come up with another title/idea for the 3rd book in the series :)
DeleteWow! This is brilliant and very unique. I could never think of a title igniting my imagination. Thank you for co-hosting.
ReplyDeleteThat's me, LOL. Unique.
DeleteI'm co-hosting and have been to a lot of blogs today, but I haven't seen anyone else that does it this way. But I always was a horse of a different color. LOL.
ReplyDeleteComing up with good titles can be the hardest part sometimes. So if getting the title works for you, I say go with it.
ReplyDeleteYes, it sure can be hard. P.S., I've been unable to comment on your blog. It keeps telling me there was a technical issue.
DeleteThanks for co-hosting today!
ReplyDeleteMost of my story ideas are based on dreams. The rest were prompted by either a picture, a setting, an action, a sound, a conversation, etc.
Love your idea generators. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteI think it is very interesting the different ways our brains work. A story unfolding from the title sounds unique. Definitely original.
ReplyDeleteI've seen lots of interesting ideas from today's posts.
DeleteI've seen cozy mystery titles and enjoyed the puns, but never really considered how much fun it is for the authors to make those titles up! That's great. Thanks so much for co-hosting today.
ReplyDeleteYes, it is fun making up titles!
DeleteInteresting that it's necessary to title a story a certain way. You've got the perfect recipe. I love the cozy/ghosty idea ;-)
ReplyDeleteThank you for co-hosting!
It's what the readers expect, and maybe what attracts the reader (?)
DeleteI like ghosty stories, but with lovable ones like Casper the Friendly Ghost. Ooh, does that ever date me. Sometimes a title will jump out at me and sticks for the entire story, but most of the time it's not right after I finish the story. Thanks for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteWe must be in the same age group. LOL.
DeleteI'm impressed that you find your titles first. I dont usually stumble onto mine until the first round of edits. Thanks for co-hosting!
ReplyDeleteI find it hard to start a story without a title :D
DeleteI don't think it's weird to come up with a title first. Everything can be inspiration.
ReplyDeleteYes, anything and everything.
DeleteUnique way to come up with a story, but I love it. It's great that an actual title triggers your creativity. Thank you for co-hosting IWSG this month.
ReplyDeleteYep, whatever works is good.
DeleteI always wince at those punny titles. Now, I realize you're right--they are de rigeur for cozies.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, some of them are out there, and I wince too. But some of them are cute and clever, and you know that's what you're going to get when you crack open the book.
DeleteI love that you come up with titles first! I find titles really hard to come up with and my books often spend years being called just "Chris" or "Livvie" because those are the characters' names. The one and only time I came up with a title first, the title was changed by the publisher when it eventually got published.
ReplyDeleteI love thinking weird! The best way to go... Thanks for co-hosting this month!
ReplyDeleteI love it! I used to have a lot of writing pieces called "Untitled." Then I graduated to "Work in Progress." But sometimes I get a gem of a title and realize, "oh yes. That's the one!" And away we go. I don't think you're odd at all. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun way to generate ideas! Love A Scandal in Boohemia! How about The Hound of the Booskervilles? The Booscombe Valley Mystery? OK, I'll stop now. Happy belated IWSG Day!
ReplyDeleteWow. What an unusual way to get your ideas! I must admit that getting my "final" title for my books is the last thing I do.
ReplyDeleteHi Gwen! First, thanks for popping in and saying hi at WEP. Lovely to see you. Now I learned something today - I've heard of authors choosing a cover before their story, but never the title first. Love the idea.
ReplyDelete