Subject: *hugs* Thank you! *feels warm and fuzzy* (nm)
Author:
Posted on: 2008-10-16 22:15:00 UTC
-
OT: URGENT! I need a title for this essay! by
on 2008-10-09 10:19:00 UTC
Reply
... Which, as I've been forced to explain several times already, isn't actually an "essay", but that's the only phrase under eight syllables that explains it. Not argumentative - informative. Not highly formal - comfortably polite.
I'm really, really sorry to be using you guys for this project yet again, but I'm tired, and stuck, and... I love you people. *looks pathetic*
So, if you'd like to try...
It's due tomorrow. Everything's done - the prose is written, the appendix arranged, the citations recorded, the bibliography (mostly) complete - but I still don't have a decent TITLE. Ideas I've had so far are a bit dull:
* Fanfiction: An Insider's Guide
* Fans, Fiction, and Fact: An Insider's Guide to the World of Fanfiction
* The World of Fanfiction: An Insider's Guide
See how it gets a wee bit repetative? They're all useable, but they're really not good.
So please; help me.
Some necessaries:
- "Fanfiction" must be THE prominent word. Duh. Preferably the first word, too.
- This paper is arranged to guide complete outsiders into the concept of fanfic and walk them through its conventions and problems, so "guide" would be a useful word - or something like it.
- I've made no secret of the fact that I'm part of this world, so "insider's guide" type things would be appropriate.
- This is mainly about the stories, not the writers, but I like to say "the WORLD OF" fanfiction, or something all-encompassing like that.
- it doesn't have to have a subtitle
- it can be two words if you think that's enough; preferably not more than eight. Simple is effective
- it doesn't have to be flashy or catchy, but that would be nice
- clever puns are great so long as they're understandable to an oblivious outsider (think academics - english professors)
- alliteration (and other such devices) is/are welcome so long as it's not over-done
Examples from my teacher (from existing books and popular styles for this sort of writing) are:
~ The Surgeon of Crowthorne: A Tale of Murder, Madness, and the Oxford English Dictionary - yes, that's a real book. Apparently it's okay. Title makes it sound even better, though *hint*
~ Longitude: The True Story of a Lone Genius Who Solved the World's Greatest Scientific Problem - another a real book, which I have read. Quite good.
~ Nathaniel's Nutmeg - also a real book.
~ Tolkien's Nightmare: The Fans Who Changed The Story - a not-useable title I made up in class as part of a work-up-to-the-final project assignment.
Apparently "So-and-So's Mundane Item" is a fairly common style, as is "The Blank Which Changed the Blank". Both of which are irrelevant in this context, and just goes to show that I'm up too late.
... Yeah. As you can tell by my babbling, I have NO idea what to do. I'm really, really tired and about to fall into bed. I need a good title tomorrow.
ANY and ALL ideas are welcome. Here's some brain-fuel: *hands out chocolate in advance*
*HUGS* I swear I'll do you all some sort of favour in return. -
I never said, but... by
on 2008-10-13 15:12:00 UTC
Reply
the aforementioned essay is AMAZING! I know I'm replying too late to be of any use, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and I think you're brilliant. =D
Nothing but hugs and kudos and other good things here.
--Mystia, awed -
*hugs* Thank you! *feels warm and fuzzy* (nm) by
on 2008-10-16 22:15:00 UTC
Reply
-
Thanks, guys by
on 2008-10-09 23:43:00 UTC
Reply
I apologise for being so... well, frantic last night. Was stressing far too much, I guess, and I certainly didn't realise how difficult a request I was making.
Am weighing up various titles now. Will post a link to the finished piece in a day or so.
(and hS: cheers for Longitude!) -
*prods* by
on 2008-10-12 00:22:00 UTC
Reply
Link, please. Or send. Or something. XD
-
*is shamed* It's coming! It's coming! by
on 2008-10-12 08:45:00 UTC
Reply
Can you blame me for taking a day off?
Googledocs is being evil with the formatting, and I don't think the pictures will work very well there, either. I'm going to try it as a PDF, or LJ.
... Yes, right now. Promise. -
[[[UNPARSABLE SUBJECT LINE]]] by
on 2008-10-12 21:15:00 UTC
Reply
-
Re: Thanks, guys by
on 2008-10-10 20:14:00 UTC
Reply
*is frantic* Er, Sedri? I'm so sorry -- I read the approximately-essay and I liked it, but I never let you know...
*thinks* For some reason "Fanfiction: the Good, the Bad, and the Really Weird" is the only thing my brain will produce. And I'm pro'ly too late anyway. But maybe that'll help.
C -
Oooh, I like that one. by
on 2008-10-11 23:11:00 UTC
Reply
Too late for this version, yes, but I'm planning to expand it, and that'd be a good title for version #2!
And no worries; in the end, I had four other people beta-ing, so it was rather thoroughly edited. -
Hmm... by
on 2008-10-09 21:28:00 UTC
Reply
Titles are hard. Various Douglas Adams references come immediately to mind, though I don't know if you can do anything with them:
Fanfiction: Mostly Harmless
An Insider's Guide to the Galaxy--of Fanfiction
Don't Panic! An Insider's Guide to Fanfiction
Etc., etc.
I'll come back if I think of anything better.
~Neshomeh -
Off topic, but... by
on 2008-10-09 17:18:00 UTC
Reply
... I adore Longitude. I'm sure I've seen a similar book by the same author around, so I'll have to track that down and buy it...
As for titles... let's see.
Worlds Without Number(/End): Fanfiction For Beginners
Or the reverse thereof. Or "An Insider's Guide To Fanfiction" as the subtitle. Or... yeah, the problem is there's so many similar options.
hS -
Not having read the actual text... by
on 2008-10-09 10:34:00 UTC
Reply
... and only having some memories of you asking for input, plus given the demands you have for things that should be in the title, doesn't make it easy to help.
* An Insider's Guide to Fanfiction
It's boring and factual. Alternatively "the world of" could still be plunked in.
* Fanfiction in X chapters/stories/steps: An Insider's Guide to What Can and Can't be Done.
Or variations thereof.
Sorry, not much of use.