Jan's Master Class--TITLE

These lessons, by one of our most consistent FaithWriters' Challenge Champions, should not be missed. So we're making a permanent home for them here.

Moderators: mikeedwards, RedBaron, glorybee, mikeedwards, RedBaron, glorybee, mikeedwards, RedBaron, glorybee

glorybee
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 2356
Joined: Thu Nov 10, 2005 11:46 pm
Location: Michigan

Post by glorybee »

Thanks, Ruth! This is for you:

A+
Jan Ackerson -- Follow me, friend me, give me a wave!
http://www.superioreditingservice.com
Twitter: @janackerson1
Instagram: janackerson
Facebook: Jan Worgul Ackerson, Superior Editing Service, Jan Ackerson, writer
Verna
Pencil 4 (150-199 Posts)
Pencil 4 (150-199 Posts)
Posts: 196
Joined: Mon Feb 26, 2007 9:10 pm
Location: NC

Post by Verna »

And reading through the thread, I see that I did only half the assignment. (English teachers can't read.) :) Rather than go back and comment on all of them, I'll just give the reason for my favorite of my challenge entries.
"Fowl Play" was a series of common phrases about chickens put into a narrative poem.

I guess when you go on vacation, Jan, we'll just have to read through these again and pick up anything we missed.
Verna

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine...
Proverb 17:22

Facebook author page: Verna Cole Mitchell
http://www.magnificomanuscripts.com/
glorybee
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 2356
Joined: Thu Nov 10, 2005 11:46 pm
Location: Michigan

Post by glorybee »

That'd be fine, Verna--I'm always happy to grade late homework.
Jan Ackerson -- Follow me, friend me, give me a wave!
http://www.superioreditingservice.com
Twitter: @janackerson1
Instagram: janackerson
Facebook: Jan Worgul Ackerson, Superior Editing Service, Jan Ackerson, writer
Verna
Pencil 4 (150-199 Posts)
Pencil 4 (150-199 Posts)
Posts: 196
Joined: Mon Feb 26, 2007 9:10 pm
Location: NC

Post by Verna »

But do you take points off?
Verna

A merry heart doeth good like a medicine...
Proverb 17:22

Facebook author page: Verna Cole Mitchell
http://www.magnificomanuscripts.com/
glorybee
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 2356
Joined: Thu Nov 10, 2005 11:46 pm
Location: Michigan

Post by glorybee »

Not here--but don't tell my "real" students.
Jan Ackerson -- Follow me, friend me, give me a wave!
http://www.superioreditingservice.com
Twitter: @janackerson1
Instagram: janackerson
Facebook: Jan Worgul Ackerson, Superior Editing Service, Jan Ackerson, writer
anna banana
Pencil 1 (1-49 Posts)
Pencil 1 (1-49 Posts)
Posts: 43
Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2006 8:00 pm
Location: Fårevejle, Denmark
Contact:

Post by anna banana »

Jan, I am glad to hear that you are going to get lots of time to spend with your grandchild. That will be wonderful! I look forward to you starting class again...I hope to get in all of the syllabus by then. :D

I don't have many good titles...but I have a couple that I think were interesting.

STruck down but not destroyed
http://www.faithwriters.com/wc-article- ... hp?id=8354


A New DAy's Commencement
http://www.faithwriters.com/wc-article- ... p?id=5857[
This was my first win in Faithwriters, but the book based on this story promises to be a whole lot more interesting. :) I liked the way word play on the word commencemet.

Wow, maybe it's not a good idea to go reading back through old challenge entries! I found out that I did exactly what you warned again! (used the "punchline" as the title). I'll have to remember that in the future!

At the risk of sounding redundant, I could mention Ted Dekker again. He is has a fantastic way of naming his books. There aren't many who could get away with naming their books one word titles like "Three, Black, Red" etc.
I think Jane Austen had a knack at titles as well. But that could be just because I'm MAJORLY biased in her favor. :wink:

Anyway... that's all I've got.
In order to clarify: Rachel Rudd
glorybee
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 2356
Joined: Thu Nov 10, 2005 11:46 pm
Location: Michigan

Post by glorybee »

Thanks for posting your thoughts on titles, Rachel! I really like the salsa words "struck" and "destroyed" in the title you picked.

Another Austen fan, huh? I spent some time in Bath, England last summer, and saw some of the places she mentions in some of her books.
Jan Ackerson -- Follow me, friend me, give me a wave!
http://www.superioreditingservice.com
Twitter: @janackerson1
Instagram: janackerson
Facebook: Jan Worgul Ackerson, Superior Editing Service, Jan Ackerson, writer
User avatar
Allison
Pencil 6 (300-499 Posts)
Pencil 6 (300-499 Posts)
Posts: 459
Joined: Sat Nov 12, 2005 2:45 am
Location: St. Peters, MO
Contact:

Post by Allison »

You know it's kind of funny when it comes to titles. A lot of times, I can come up with great titles for someone else's piece, but not for my own. I wonder if it's because I'm too close to my own writing to see what stands out to a "new" reader, but when I'm reading other peoples', things jump out to me as a reader that might not jump out to the writer.

As a writer, you may plan some part of your story, and it may seem so obvious to you, that you don't see it as a key point, or gloss over it for a title. I don't know.

Anyway, I have quite a few titles of my own I like, so I'll try to pick out three of my favorites.


Better than a Bag of Pretzels
I'm honestly not quite sure why I like this one, but I do. I played with a lot of titles for this one, a few of which were downright boring. Then I started thinking about what the people might have eaten had my story not taken place, and.... there it was.


Confessions of an Ex-Pirate
I don't know how I came up with this one, but I still like it. It's fun and catchy and still makes me laugh. :) Eli, by the was, is a bit of a recurring character.


Teddy Bears Don't Have Allergies
I like this one because it puts two things together that don't normally go together, and hopefully makes readers wonder how they are connected. It's also a story with a child as one of the main characters, so I chose a "kid friendly" title.
Isaiah 40:30-31 (NIV)
anna banana
Pencil 1 (1-49 Posts)
Pencil 1 (1-49 Posts)
Posts: 43
Joined: Sun Jan 29, 2006 8:00 pm
Location: Fårevejle, Denmark
Contact:

Post by anna banana »

Another Austen fan, huh? I spent some time in Bath, England last summer, and saw some of the places she mentions in some of her books.
I'm not jealous...really... :angel2 Heheh..I would love to come there one day. Living in Denmark should make it possible....but alas we use most of our money to come back and forth to VA. Oh, well. one day. :D
In order to clarify: Rachel Rudd
PureJoy
Pencil 1 (1-49 Posts)
Pencil 1 (1-49 Posts)
Posts: 17
Joined: Fri Sep 28, 2007 4:40 pm
Location: Florida

Post by PureJoy »

I was reading nursery rhymes to my kids today and came across this one:

Vintery, mintery, cutery, corn,
Apple seed and apple thorn;
Wire, briar, limber lock,
Three geese in a flock.
One flew east,
And one flew west,
And one flew over the cuckoo's nest.

I didn't realize that's where the title of the book/play/movie came from. Just a bit of trivia.
~Karen~

Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. ~~ Psalm 37:4

Member Profile
Along the Way
Frugal Family Friend
LauraAnne
Pencil 1 (1-49 Posts)
Pencil 1 (1-49 Posts)
Posts: 6
Joined: Thu Apr 17, 2008 12:21 pm

Post by LauraAnne »

Jan,
I know I've only popped in and out of your classes (due to time-consuming circumstances here at home for the past year) but those I've been able to participate in, I've really enjoyed and learned from - even from those where I've only read the threads . You are an amazing, talented woman and an excellent teacher! Thank you for "being there" to teach. Enjoy your "reflecting time" and "loving that little grandbaby to pieces". I hope you enjoy your grandmotherhood as much as I do. There is no honor more God-blessed than being a grandmother.
-LauraAnne
"Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." -I Thessalonians 5:16
glorybee
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 2356
Joined: Thu Nov 10, 2005 11:46 pm
Location: Michigan

Post by glorybee »

Thanks, Laura--that's very gracious!

I feel like a fraud today--I just submitted my 'up and down' piece with the WORST. TITLE. EVER.
Jan Ackerson -- Follow me, friend me, give me a wave!
http://www.superioreditingservice.com
Twitter: @janackerson1
Instagram: janackerson
Facebook: Jan Worgul Ackerson, Superior Editing Service, Jan Ackerson, writer
User avatar
itsjoanne
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 2175
Joined: Fri Jul 14, 2006 9:52 am
Location: West Michigan
Contact:

Post by itsjoanne »

glorybee wrote:Thanks, Laura--that's very gracious!

I feel like a fraud today--I just submitted my 'up and down' piece with the WORST. TITLE. EVER.
OK folks - just remember that Jan's is the one called Up and Down (viii)
Joanne Sher
FaithWriters Writing Challenge Coordinator
FaithWriters Blogger
FaithWriters Blog
My Profile
My Site
Me on Facebook
Symphonic
Pencil 2 (50-99 Posts)
Pencil 2 (50-99 Posts)
Posts: 64
Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2008 11:24 am
Location: Texas

Post by Symphonic »

glorybee wrote:I just submitted my 'up and down' piece with the WORST. TITLE. EVER.
Thanks for the early hint, Jan! On Thursday, I'll look for the Masters entry titled Up and Down, and I'll be sure to read it first! :lol:

Carol S.
Carol S.
Symphonic
Pencil 2 (50-99 Posts)
Pencil 2 (50-99 Posts)
Posts: 64
Joined: Thu Dec 04, 2008 11:24 am
Location: Texas

Post by Symphonic »

Wow... I think Joanne and I must be kindred spirits! We must have posted that at exactly the same time!

Carol S.
Carol S.
Post Reply

Return to “Jan's Writing Basics”