Hi all. I would be really interested in anyone's views (or struggles) with devising a 'killer' title for their book (or if they're aware of any previous posts/discussions on the topic on this site that I could look at). I initially titled my book (about terror attacks in the UK), 'GATEWAY' then binned it as it sounded like a 1980's supermarket chain. I subsequently changed it to 'CRITICAL MASS' so my question is: What image (if any) does that conjure up?
My intention was to create 'urgency and a feeling of an overwhelming onslaught gathering unstoppable momentum but i'm conscious that it could also be interpreted as a really important gathering of a Catholic congregation. You can see my dilemma!. Any views would be appreciated.
Waiting for the meds to kick in.
Have you ever seen the Milos Forman film, "Taking Off"? In my expert opinion, perhaps the most perfect film title of the last 4 centuries.
Make a list of the different meanings of the term "taking off":
removing clothes / stripping
leaving home (often suddenly and without informing [the parents])
imitating
suddenly starting to be successful or popular
I've forgotten some of the others. The point I want to make is that Forman's film includes every single one of those usages, and probably more, as an important facet of the film. (#2 is the central theme: adolescents disappearing from their homes.) In Spain they re-titled this film "Youth Without Hope", which makes THAT probably the worst translation of a film title in the last EIGHT centuries. (Besides which, it was the PARENTS who were pretty hopeless.)
So here's my suggestion: Keep 'CRITICAL MASS' as your title, but work a huge bicycle protest; a really important gathering of a Catholic congregation; a [near?] meltdown at a neighbouring nuclear power station; a complaining, fat couch potato... and any other meanings of the term [that other users here on W&A can suggest] into your plot.
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I'm feeling a little dizzy. Excuse me...
Hey! How about 'An Urgent Feeling Of Overwhelming Onslaught Gathering Unstoppable Momentum'?! I'm [relatively] sure that that one hasn't yet been done, and you could always publicise the anagram: AUFOOOGUM, which - in itself - conjures up an overly ambitious [German?][bubblegum] bubble on the point of bursting, causing havoc to the blower's face.
I'll go take my medication now and have a nice lie-down.
p.s. You did write: "Any views would be appreciated."