Need help with a title idea.

[Heidi]

I am working on a poetry book and brainstorming titles.

This one came to me at 2 in the morning, and I scribbled it down.

Poetic Ponderings of a Penslinger

What do you think? Too much alliteration, or practically perfect?

[Amanda]

I like the beginning a lot. I'm just not sure what a penslinger is, but it does sound great all together.

[Thomas]

I think it works well and it rolls off the tongue easily.

[Riley, Viking Extraordinaire]

I'm with Thomas on this one.

[Heidi]

Amanda wrote: "I like the beginning a lot. I'm just not sure what a penslinger is, but it does sound great all together."

I made it up ;) Playing on the idea that a gunslinger is a person noted for speed and skill in handling and shooting a gun especially in the American West.

A penslinger is a person with speed and skill in handling a pen and writing. Lol. It just fit better than wordslinger, I thought?

I figure if Shakespeare can make up words, then so can I!

[Philip]

Penslinger sounds good. Poetic Ponderings sounds a bit cumbersome, ponderous. Perhaps you could play with such titles as Penslinger Poems, Penslinger Verses, Verse From A Penslinger or simply, Penslinger?

[Brian]

Pretty poignant yet pensive (ok took a shot at my own alliteration there). I like it...you could possibly thrown in a qualifier to ease up the alliteration (Poetic Ponderings of the Daring Penslinger). Then again, the alliteration does call more attention to the title which is a positive effect so either way has plus sides.

[Heidi]

Brian wrote: "Pretty poignant yet pensive (ok took a shot at my own alliteration there). I like it...you could possibly thrown in a qualifier to ease up the alliteration (Poetic Ponderings of the Daring Pensling..."

What about Pensive Poetry from a Penslinger? I am working on the Smashwords recommendation that titles be three to five words as those tend to sell better.

[Brian]

Depends on the content I guess. I hear the first one (Poetic Ponderings) and it sounds a bit more quirky and fun, something i'd read at lunch time or look through for quotes for something. The Pensive poetry sounds more insightful and reflective, something i'd read by the beach when trying to relax.

[Philip]

Poetry From A Pensive Penslinger. A title to ponder.

[Heidi]

Philip wrote: "Poetry From A Pensive Penslinger. A title to ponder."

Ooh, I LIKE that Philip!

[Philip]

Heidi wrote: "Philip wrote: "Poetry From A Pensive Penslinger. A title to ponder."

Ooh, I LIKE that Philip!"

I am glad you like my suggestion, Poetry From A Pensive Penslinger. Good luck in your search for a title for your book. Pensive Poetry would suggest that all the poems in the book are pensive, which may put some readers off. Poetry suggests a variety of styles, but all written by a Pensive Penslinger, a thoughtful poet.

[Jane]

The Poetic Penslinger?

[Annie]

Philip wrote: "Poetry From A Pensive Penslinger. A title to ponder."

Yes! Dig!!

[Edward]

Hi there, I just joined the group today. I also like "Poetry From a Pensive Penslinger."

[Amanda]

Heidi wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I like the beginning a lot. I'm just not sure what a penslinger is, but it does sound great all together."

I made it up ;) Playing on the idea that a gunslinger is a person noted fo..."

I love that! Very creative:) I like what you came up with.

[Emmanuelle]

Perso, I love Penslinger. Whatever you chose, keep this one close!
A pensive Penslinger... like the samurai of words...

Good luck with your title choices!

[K.C.]

K.I.S.S. ... Penslinger Poetry

[Rohvannyn]

Or... a dramatic picture of someone holding a pen, and just call it "The Penslinger." Then put "poetic ponderings" as the subtitle.

Or something.

[Ann]

I Like Rohvannyn's suggestion of a two-word title with a subtitle. How about "Penslinger Poems" with just "Ponderings..." as the subtitle. Actually, you don't really need the subtitle if you include "poems" in your title. It's fun to see this brainstorming process.

[Kate]

I like "The Penslinger Poems" too - great suggestions from everyone!

[Dan]

"The Penslinger Poems" is nice, but being a sucker for alliteration, I greatly prefer "Poetic Ponderings of a Penslinger".

[Beverly]

Hey, I like that too.

[Justin]

Ooh poetry! Always happy to help out a fellow poet. I like Poetic Ponderings of a Penslinger and what Philip said, Poetry from a Pensive Penslinger.

I like the idea of alliteration, it makes the title more profound if that makes sense. You have a good amount of suggestions here so I'm sure you'll put together the perfect one to create an intriguing title.

[Heidi]

I gathered responses from readers and authors (many of which were awesome suggestions from this group!) and found that the magic formula was A Penslinger's Ponderings. Now I am working on the cover. Unfortunately, I cannot figure out how to add the images here. I tried doing it from my website, but for some reason the HTML code here doesn't like it, then I tried doing it from my Facebook page with the same results. Grrr. Oh, well. Thanks everyone!

[G.G.]

I could retrieve one but all covers show on top of each other. If you can make it clearer on your website I might be able to post them here.

[G.G.]

I've managed to retrieve another one using the old IE...

[R.]

I like it, even though I read That Word as "Penguin" the first time.

[G.G.]

Heidi wrote: "I gathered responses from readers and authors (many of which were awesome suggestions from this group!) and found that the magic formula was A Penslinger's Ponderings. Now I am working on the cover..."

You need to retrieve the .jpg link for GR to accept it as an image. If you post the link between the brackets it won't work. Microsoft edge makes it hard. I have to use the old IE to get it from pictures... :/

[Jane]

Like the second cover. A lot

[Shannon]

The second is definitely a more striking, memorable cover

[G.G.]

[Shannon]

The title pops much better in that colorway!

[G.G.]

[G.G.]

[G.G.]

last one (I think)



Let me know if I missed any or if I put one there that shouldn't be. (Sorry if I did.)

[Jane]

Still going for number two. It rocks

[Dwayne, Head of Lettuce]

Heidi wrote: "I tried doing it from my website, but for some reason the HTML code here doesn't like it, then I tried doing it from my Facebook page with the same results. Grrr. Oh, well. "

You may need to upload them into your Goodreads account. That's what I usually do.

[Ann]

ABSOLUTELY number two. The others lack the strength. Why are you calling it volume one? I'd leave that off, but the pen and the red flowing ink are powerful and eye-catching. The title is clear and the subtitle nicely understated.

[India]

Heidi wrote: "Amanda wrote: "I like the beginning a lot. I'm just not sure what a penslinger is, but it does sound great all together."

I made it up ;) Playing on the idea that a gunslinger is a person noted fo..."

OHHHHHH... "Pen" slinger. I get it now. What if you added a little 'Pen' slinger, or Pen-slinger and draw a pen where the dash is? I don't know. It's cute. I'd hate for someone to pass it because they lost the meaning :(

EDIT: I hadn't scrolled down before posting. Sorry. Will go check out covers.

Second EDIT: I like the cover with the pen releasing the red ink. Very cool. And captivating.

[Beverly]

Ann wrote: "ABSOLUTELY number two. The others lack the strength. Why are you calling it volume one? I'd leave that off, but the pen and the red flowing ink are powerful and eye-catching. The title is clear and..."
I agree with Ann here. Love the red flowing ink.

[R.]

BTW beware of black text on a blue background. The luminance difference between saturated blue and black is 11%, so the rods in your eye can miss it, and the blue cones can't see detail.

(That's what comes of 13 years working in television.)

[Beverly]

R. wrote: "BTW beware of black text on a blue background. The luminance difference between saturated blue and black is 11%, so the rods in your eye can miss it, and the blue cones can't see detail.

(That's w..."
Wow! What helpful information. I would never know that as an amateur.

[Beverly]

R. wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Wow! What helpful information"

Thanks. Roughly red contributes 33% to luminance, green 56% and blue 11%, so yellow is 89% as bright as white if fully saturated (can't be any yellow..."
I can remember blue has to be dark and yellow light. Thanks.

[Janet]

I like the way the words not only roll off my tongue but the way it makes my tongue feel when I say it. I think it is a good tite.

[R.]

Beverly wrote: "R. wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Wow! What helpful information"

Thanks. Roughly red contributes 33% to luminance, green 56% and blue 11%, so yellow is 89% as bright as white if fully saturated (can't be..."

The thing I forgot to explain is that the rods in your eye give you a high definition black and white picture, while the cones give you red, green and blue but at much lower resolution. That's why it's very difficult to find accurately an edge between two colours that are about the same brightness. This effect is so extreme that analogue TV transmits a black and white picture, and a colour overlay at half resolution. This saves one third of the bandwidth and lets you transmit three channels in what would otherwise only be the space for two.

Hope this helps with the cover design...