Creative Story Titles Can Give You Good Story Ideas

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Develop That List of Story Titles Into Some Good Story Ideas

As writers we know that good story ideas can be hard to come by, but story titles may be just the way to spark your imagination. All you have to do is sit down and make out a list, or better yet consult the list that you keep in your writer's notebook. Every author knows that the key to finishing a great novel or script is to give it a great title; the name can make all the difference in the world, right? Good titles can also be a starting place; a place where characters and worlds start to take form in your mind. The next time you're having problems with your creative writing, try coming up with some story titles - you may just find your next great story in one of them. This lens will show you examples of what I'm talking about. Feel free to use any of the titles or story ideas you find interesting, after all, us real writers know that coming up with an idea is easy - developing it into a story is what's hard. What would really pay off for you in the future, however, is to start your own list.

Image courtesy of Santi Siri / flickr.
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How To Come Up With Good Story Ideas And Their Titles

The dictionary. Randomly open it and choose a word; now write a story about that word. You just might have a suitable title as well.

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Story Titles And Partially Developed Storylines

Being creative is hard work.

I got each one of these story ideas by looking at (and thinking about) the titles. Where did I get the story titles? From a very long list that I've been keeping for years. Anytime I hear or see something that may make an interesting title, I simple jot it down.

1-If I Were Batman: Someone decides to bring their love of comics into reality.

2-Stealing From Killers: A woman steals the wrong thing from the wrong person.

3-Beginner's Luck: The story of a guy who makes a fortune off of his very first painting.

4-A Bit of Nudity: A nudist colony gets a visit from a very famous celebrity.

5-Letter From Heaven: A wife gets a lengthy letter from her deceased husband about his first month in Heaven.

6-5 Reasons Death Doesn't Suck: A recently deceased teenager discovers that there is life after death and you can do a lot more when dead than when alive.

7-Dying Wishes: A family goes on a road trip with their cancer-stricken child to grant as many wishes as they can.

8-Lunatic Friends: A guy gets a crush on a wannabe serial killer.

9-Job Security: People learn of a possible downsizing and they all start competing to prove their worth to the company, often with hilarious results.

10-The Beauty of Ugliness: A very unattractive person is also the most popular because of their actions.

Photos Can Often Inspire Story Titles or Ideas

story-titles-pumpkin

Forgotten torment

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Coming Up With Ideas Isn't That Hard

Developing good story ideas is the hard part.

Whether you're looking for good story ideas, cool story titles or ways to kill off a character most writers seem to turn to books as a source for inspiration in their creative writing. This action is popular for a reason - it works. Where else can you casually peruse the written word and let ideas form freely in your mind. Some might say offer up the internet as an answer, but I've never got rich ideas from the Web like I do from books or magazines.

Inspired Creative Writing: 52 brilliant ideas from the master wordsmiths by Alexander Gordon Smith

Inspired Creative Writing: 52 brilliant ideas from the master wordsmiths by Alexander Gordon Smith

In Inspired creative writing Alexander Gordon Smit more...1 point

Developing Story Ideas, Second Edition by Michael Rabiger

Developing Story Ideas, Second Edition by Michael Rabiger

The vast majority of screenplay and writing books more...0 points

Ideas for the Animated Short: Finding and Building Stories by Karen Sullivan, Kate Alexander, Gary Schumer

Ideas for the Animated Short: Finding and Building Stories by Karen Sullivan, Kate Alexander, Gary Schumer

Build your skills in the development of story ideas more...0 points

The Writer's Compass: From Story Map to Finished Draft in 7 Stages by Nancy Ellen Dodd

The Writer's Compass: From Story Map to Finished Draft in 7 Stages by Nancy Ellen Dodd

This book will show writers how to develop their i more...0 points

The Writer's Idea Book by Jack Heffron

The Writer's Idea Book by Jack Heffron

"Where do you get your ideas?"It's a question more...0 points

1,000 Creative Writing Prompts: Ideas for Blogs, Scripts, Stories and More by Bryan Cohen

1,000 Creative Writing Prompts: Ideas for Blogs, Scripts, Stories and More by Bryan Cohen

When you finally have the opportunity to sit down more...0 points

On Writing: 10th Anniversary Edition: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

On Writing: 10th Anniversary Edition: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

"Long live the King" hailed Entertainment more...0 points

Writing Fiction For Dummies by Randy Ingermanson, Peter Economy

Writing Fiction For Dummies by Randy Ingermanson, Peter Economy

A complete guide to writing and selling your novelSo more...0 points

Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer by Roy Peter Clark

Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer by Roy Peter Clark

One of America's most influential writing teachers more...0 points

HowDunit - The Book of Poisons by Serita Stevens, Anne Bannon

HowDunit - The Book of Poisons by Serita Stevens, Anne Bannon

Discover Deadly Doses to Kill Off CharactersThe readers more...0 points

Neil Gaiman On Story Ideas and Writing

Advice for young writers
by ClueTVcom | video info

932 ratings | 131,401 views
curated content from YouTube

Children's Story Ideas

Every idea came from the story title listed.

1-The Wishing Table: A toddler finds a very special table and causes everyone involved it her life to become a lot more interesting.

2-Gumdrops: A child obsession with candy changes their world - literally.

3-Where Creatures Roam: A brother and sister find a secret doorway where the creatures of imagination roam free.

4-Wild Animals I Have Known: A boy recalls his trip to a national park.

5-10 Reasons I Believe In Santa

6-When the Hen Attacks: Someone finds out that you shouldn't try to pet baby chicks when mama is around.

7-My Blue Squirrel: A boy rescues a squirrel that has fallen into a bucket of blue paint.

8-Secrets of the Hive: A young girl is given the opportunity to visit a beehive.

9-Old Bugs: The oldest living praying mantis in existence visits a young boy to ask a favor.

10-The Twilight Creatures: A young child is playing in just the right place at just the right time and the unicorn visits.

Good story ideas come easily to me from this picture, can you help with story titles?

story-titles-good-story-ideas-doll-head

A curious Collection

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Good Story Titles And Ideas For Horror Fans

Who hasn't took a chance on a book or story because of the title? Very few, I think.

1-Feeding Ground: Some campers decide to pitch their tents in the wrong spot.

2- Shaking Hands With Satan: A con man makes a deal with the Devil.

3-Young Sinners: A chemical spill causes a bunch of youngsters to go on a killing spree.

4-Dead Things That Aren't Really Dead: Reluctant zombies descend on a small town.

5-Why Some Humans Prefer Berries: A woman retells the experience that caused her to go vegetarian.

6-The Contest: A new reality show is created in which contestants can really die. Lots of people want the part.

7-A Glimpse of Hell: A very mean person gets a visit from someone offering to show him where he's going to end up if he doesn't change his ways.

8-Hobbyists: Some people have the most terrifying hobbies.

9-John's Demon: Someone calls forth a dark being and binds it in the form of his pet dog.

10-Proof: A skeptic demands proof from the universe that there is such a thing as ghosts - and gets it.

January 1944 -Amazing Stories -Mad Robot
Amazing Stories - January 1944 - Mad Robot
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Story Idea Generators Can Be A Resource

A good resource?

These sites are computer based and often come up with outlandish pairings without any real direction. I'm not saying you won't find any good story ideas (some even produce story titles), but you may find the results disappointing.
Seventh Sanctum
Quick summaries to inspire stories.
Writer's Plot Generator
Pretty self-explanatory.
TV Tropes Story Generator
Better than most as it actually requires you to use your imagination.

A Few Things About Story Titles

1-They should not be dull.
2-Easy to remember is good.
3-Titles should fit the story.
4-You can't copyright a title.
5-Titles can be changed (and often are).

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Can You Suggest A Few Story Titles Based On This Picture?

good-story-ideas-story-titles-broken-glass

Shattered skies

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Cool Story Titles By You

And short story descriptions.

Contribute to this lens by coming up with your own creative title along with a short description of your story idea. The only rule I have is to please keep it rated PG (safe for work).

One Brick At A Time

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Pop Princess

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Coming Up With Good Story Ideas For Your Screenplay

Filmmaking Tips : How to Come Up With Movie Scripts Ideas
by eHow | video info

35 ratings | 4,417 views
curated content from YouTube

Reading Is A Great Way To Come Up With Creative Writing Ideas

Below are a few of my favorite magazines that I peruse on a regualr basis.

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Any Short Quick Story Ideas Or Titles You Want To Share?

Keep it tame, please.

  • Misskate00 Apr 9, 2012 @ 10:15 am | delete
    Great article. When i am stuck i sit there and look around me, closely. Or i listen to what my children are saying.
  • tnabooks Mar 30, 2012 @ 10:19 am | delete
    I love your suggestions for coming up with story ideas. They're great reminders that we can find ideas in things all around us, if we're paying close enough attention. :)
  • William the B. Mar 23, 2012 @ 2:03 pm | delete
    I completely agree with you. I've found that I can often come up with more amazing stories just by analyzing a good title (especially a creative one). Good lens.
  • flycatcher Feb 13, 2012 @ 10:34 pm | delete
    I find that headlines from very old newspapers - just the headlines - are often enough to spark an idea for a story.
  • Regan Nov 20, 2011 @ 3:38 pm | delete
    Awesome story ideas!!! There is one that I will be using. Thanks. I wish the site would have let me give titles to those cool pictures, but I'm including it in my comments instead.

    1st-pumpkin (Madman's View)
    2nd-dollhead (Learning Curve)
    3rd-glass (Broken Blues)
  • Pencil_Drawings Nov 20, 2011 @ 8:59 am | delete
    WOW tough photos to label! Great lens thanks for sharing. It is amazing how a picture or sentence can spark all kinds of ideas

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