... 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.