Kicking the one-night stand to the curb

Every writer has a process. For some, the idea comes first and once the idea is fleshed out on paper into a story, they give it a title. In the meantime, they refer to their work as their WIP- or work in progress. For others, the title is there from the beginning, either generated before the first word is ever written or shortly after.

I’ve always been a title first writer, sometimes, building an entire novel around the title. When the title is there from the beginning, I know the direction the story is going, the tone I want to convey, and the purpose of every word. Without the title, I tend to flounder. The story isn’t real to me yet. It’s like a high school writing assignment – something you have to do but will drag your feet doing it.

Several months ago, I started my current project. Note the keywords several months and current project! I knew the story beginning to end, and even the middle but writing it was a chore. The story and I fought against one another. It wanted to just lay there and die and I would come along every now and then and perform a quick bout of CPR to instill new breath. I’d tell myself ‘tomorrow night – I’ll finish this chapter’. When tomorrow night came, there was a fascinating discussion on Twitter or some heavy-duty drama going on on facebook. Did I feel guilty? Not really. I wasn’t invested in the outcome. My current work – or WIP – was like a one-night stand rather than a good marriage. I didn’t even know it’s name!

Well, yesterday, I was playing around with some design programs I have and trying my hand at cover design. Again, note the fact I was more or less just killing time, not writing. And then something magical happened. I started looking for pictures to manipulate in the various photo editing programs and there it was. As soon as I saw the picture, the title hit me like the proverbial ton of bricks. I joyfully kicked the WIP to the curb and happily committed to Nobody’s Baby.

It feels real now.

What do you think of the cover? It will probably change a little but I do like the concept. And yes, that’s my granddaughter Ivy high-stepping through a grassy field.

NobodyBabycoveronly1

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16 Responses to Kicking the one-night stand to the curb

  1. Great post:) Two years ago I traveled on I-20 in east Texas and saw a sign that read WASHOUT EXPRESS EXIT 477. I wondered what a washout could be. Washout Express releases this June. I’m definitely a title first girl. Gives such great direction.

    • Lynn says:

      Thanks for the comments, Jody. WASHOUT EXPRESS sounds interesting. Have a novel I’m still tweaking called WINK OF AN EYE, set in Wink, Texas.

  2. Linda Mitchell Shunk says:

    I think your cover is perfect. I wouldn’t be able to resist picking it up and finding out what it was about.

  3. Debby says:

    I feel better about having a title up front, but not having one doesn’t hinder me much. It’s like magic when the right title finally comes to me.

  4. Mary L. Ball says:

    Ditto Lynn, I’m the same way.
    It’s great…. love the cover.
    The title makes me want to read the novel- hurry girl get going, so I can readt it. 🙂

  5. Dora Hiers says:

    Lynn, I’m so with ya here!! While the title may not knock me over the head during the idea phase, I MUST have a working title once I begin writing. Great post, and I love your new title!

  6. joyce lavene says:

    Good blog, Lynn! Cute baby!

  7. Patti Brooks says:

    I’m sure this doesn’t apply to all proposed titles and covers, but this one really got me thinking about the possibilities — as a writer and a reader.

  8. Delia Latham says:

    I couldn’t agree more. Gotta have a title, right up front, to make it real. Fun post, Lynn!

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