Story title?

Ladycheru · Post by **Ladycheru** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 1:49 am

I'm really bad at coming up with titles for things...

Erm... Uh, I'm writing a story, and I can't decide between 2 titles. If avoidable, I'd rather not discuss the content of the book, being that 1 it will be quite a while before it gets published (if it gets published,) and 2 I don't imagine most people knowing a lot about a book before reading it. Well, the titles I'm thinking about are "The New Gender" and "The First Man." Which would you be more likely to pick up and start reading?

Joel Fagin · Post by **Joel Fagin** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 2:21 am

"New Gender". It's less clichéd sounding and immediately begs some interesting questions. However, it sounds either contemporary or science fiction and I don't know if that's what you're doing.

- Joel Fagin

Dutch! · Post by **Dutch!** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 2:47 am

Write the book. Worry about the title later.

Joel Fagin · Post by **Joel Fagin** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 3:00 am

Dutch! wrote:Write the book. Worry about the title later.

Point.

- Joel Fagin

Mr.Bob · Post by **Mr.Bob** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 3:51 am

Actually gender is a term that's only supposed to be used in terms of grammar and social categories. When it comes to biological differences I think it would be more correct to refer it as "The New Sex".

But an English major may say I'm wrong.

Killbert-Robby · Post by **Killbert-Robby** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 3:55 am

I'd totally buy a book called "The New Sex"

Joel Fagin · Post by **Joel Fagin** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 4:12 am

Killbert-Robby wrote:I'd totally buy a book called "The New Sex"

*looks at watch* Five posts. That's not far off the record, you know.

- Joel Fagin

McDuffies · Post by **McDuffies** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 4:46 am

I suggest title that is slightly altered but means basically the same:

"More sex"!

Mr.Bob · Post by **Mr.Bob** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 4:51 am

"The First Moan"?

Black Sparrow · Post by **Black Sparrow** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 6:53 am

I don't like either title, honestly. "The New Gender" sounds forced, and "The First Man" is, as was mentioned, cliched. I think you may need to think more creatively than this.

Mr.Bob · Post by **Mr.Bob** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 7:03 am

Along Came Adam?

[AOD] · Post by **[AOD]** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 7:51 am

I don't know... "The New Gender" (or "The New Sex") sounds like one of those pop-culture, mass-market 'alternative' medicine type books that bookstores sell like popcorn. And "The First Man" strikes me as being historical fiction, something about cavemen perhaps. Neither sound very appealing to me.

Try mixing famous cultural archetypes or symbols with modern-feeling or unusual words. For example:

"Earth Abides" -- A famous book by George R. Stewart

"Desert Solitaire" -- A famous book by Edward Abbey

And some things I just thought of on the spur of the moment.

"Eden Unbound"

"Neptune Rising"

"Elysium Unleashed"

"Eka Sapiens" (Dawn Man -- The First Man?)

@~AOD

Mr.Bob · Post by **Mr.Bob** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 9:12 am

I think more book titles should have the word 'death' seamlessly incorporated into them.

Black Sparrow · Post by **Black Sparrow** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 9:14 am

"The New Death Gender?" "The New Gender of Death?"

Rusty Knight · Post by **Rusty Knight** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 9:19 am

Morgan Ravenscroft wrote:I think more book titles should have the word 'death' seamlessly incorporated into them.

THe Death of the Gender Divide?

Nah.

The Death of Gender?

Nah

THe Death of Man?

McDuffies · Post by **McDuffies** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 10:01 am

It would be terribly funny if comic named "The new sex" featured no sex in it whatsoever. Although some wouldn't be amused.

Killbert-Robby · Post by **Killbert-Robby** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 11:08 am

mcDuffies wrote:It would be terribly funny if comic named "The new sex" featured no sex in it whatsoever. Although some wouldn't be amused.

Such as me.

LibertyCabbage · Post by **LibertyCabbage** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 12:32 pm

The First Man's New Gender!

TRI · Post by **TRI** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 12:46 pm

[AOD] wrote:I don't know... "The New Gender" (or "The New Sex") sounds like one of those pop-culture, mass-market 'alternative' medicine type books that bookstores sell like popcorn. And "The First Man" strikes me as being historical fiction, something about cavemen perhaps. Neither sound very appealing to me.

Ditto, except I could also imagine each of those being the title to a story in a sci-fi magazine about a man on a planet of women.

And without knowing anything about the book I can't tell if any of those vibes is even remotely appropriate.

MixedMyth · Post by **MixedMyth** » Sat Dec 23, 2006 12:53 pm

Morgan Ravenscroft wrote:Actually gender is a term that's only supposed to be used in terms of grammar and social categories. When it comes to biological differences I think it would be more correct to refer it as "The New Sex".

But an English major may say I'm wrong.

*gives Bob 10 points, which may be redeemed for sweet delicious chocolate out of Kirb's ear*

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