11 Comments

Grant, I love this “One way to write a good title: think of the title like the perfume of the story, not a description. Suggest, don’t name. After you’ve written a title, ask yourself if you’d read a story with that title? Would it draw you in?” — It’s so true. Good titles are a lure and speak to you on a visceral level if we realize it or not. Using scent as the metaphor makes sense as we often have the strongest reaction to smell (connected to memory). As always brilliant:)

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Thanks for the kind words, Britta! And ... happy titling! I'm glad the piece resonated.

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"Perfume of the story"--love this metaphor, Grant!

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I have been rethinking my book title, perfect timing to read your thoughts on this.

Enjoyed the podcast conversation with Shze-Hui Tjoa.

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Oh, great! I have a book title I need to rethink as well. Thanks so much for listening to Write-minded! Shze-Hui Tjoa is so wonderful, on the page and beyond ...

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I loved reading this. I actually felt like I was listening to music. You make the thought of forming or letting a title be like an act of play. So many good quotes in here that I took the liberty to share.

What calls you in, stirs curiosity? Sings to you?

Thank you!

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Thanks so much for your kind words, Prajna! I'm so glad the piece resonated with you. May all be an act of play ...

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I have a list of titles, too! They hold such promise!

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Maybe we can put together an anthology of unused titles.

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Yes! I’ll start with a prose poem consisting of titles only to warm up.

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Yes yea yes

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