What to be thought first, a story or a title?

[anitamills293]

Personally I think it's hard to title something undeveloped. I create the characters, the plot and then, if I am lucky, comes the title.

[books_andpoetri]

I think of a concept first then develop it into a narrative. I reserve the title for the last part because it can be tricky. Titles can make or break your book.

[nfdoughe]

I've done both before. Sometimes a title just pops into my head and I build a story around it. Sometimes they end up not matching so I have quite a few titles I've saved for when I'm inspired with the right story for it. Usually I end up with a story first and find the title somewhere in the writing of it.

[Amanda-Elin G]

I like writing the title first. When I come up with a title that sounds amazing first, it often inspires certain details in my story although I usually end up changing it as I come up with other ideas. Having a title beforehand adds focus to your writing, but if you are really invested in your story line, it cannot restrict your creativity. You may realize your title needs to be changed and that is okay.

[tannus]

Sometimes a title can inspire a new story but most of the time I feel the story should be written first, then somewhere along the way, the story itself gives a title on its own.

[Amanda Majors]

It's like asking which should come first, the lyrics or the tune. In my case, they both happen at the same time. As the song develops, both the lyrics and the tune may change. Same with writing a book. Your title may be your starting point, but your title may change as the story unfolds. In reverse, you may have a story idea that changes to fit the title, which may be a way to keep you focused or on track.

[Jaewe2]

That's a controversial subject, if you create a story around a title at the beginning it might be hard to keep the story to the title. However, it depends on the writer and it might be easier to not deviate from the meaning of the title.

[Drakka Reader]

I usually make the story first because once I finish the story, there are any number of titles I can give it, but I can only use so many stories once I want to stick to a title.

[lunablue_x3]

I usually find myself thinking of relationships between characters before anything else. I get hit with an idea of a conversation between people (and sometimes animals!), or a conversation an individual is having with themselves inside their head.
Plot comes later. Title is often the last thing I think of.

[Nedbrian]

A title will help develop the story, I have always known. If you do not have A direction, you cannot head towards anywhere. If I had a title, I can develop a story out of it. That is when I can think of the characters, the framework of the story and so much more. So, my opinion is that a title comes before a story

[Yearly Joy Besoy]

For me, the plot and the theme of the story comes first. The title gradually emerges as the story is progressing.

[Balena]

The story comes first, for me.

Sometimes, the title could be way too bland and short, making it difficult to centre the story, setting and characters around it. I believe that after a good theme and plot are established, then it is suitable to name the piece of writing.

[Barbie_sidhu]

Story always comes first and then title at the end depending on what i produced or what my story comes out to be about at last.

[Jude Austin]

Definitely the story. I really suck at titles. I'm approaching 20% completion on my next novel and it's still just called S

[FuriousDestroyer75]

I think both. Sometimes, when you can't come up with a title, coming up with the story can really help you come up with a title. And sometimes the title can help you come up with a story.