Hello, friends,
Well, I’m in a bit of a quandary, and I’d like your input. As I mentioned yesterday, I’m contemplating signing up for July’s Camp NaNoWriMo, and during the registration process, I have to list the title of the novel that I’ll be working on.
The next story I intend to write is a psychological thriller inspired by my daughter. She’s currently doing quite well for herself, but in her youth and younger adulthood, she’s been with some rather unsavory characters (to say the least).
The story is about a mom who hates her daughter’s horrible boyfriends and husbands so much that she murders them and convinces the daughter that they simply left. Of course, due to the nature of the genre, there will be a few bends in the road before the huge twist ending. 😉
That said, I’m torn between two titles:
I like either
“The Assassin”
or
“Judge, Jury, Executioner.”
The first title has, as you can imagine, been used already — several times actually — but not in anything like this. The second title has been used for TV episodes only. But I don’t really care about that. I just want what sounds the best and is most fitting for my story.
Which title do you prefer and why?
My beautiful daughter Stefani
Rachel Carrera, Novelist 
Ooh, I like the second one. 🙂
Thank you! 😀
Ya i’m in agreement, Second one for sure! it has the vengeful feel to it and goes with the motive behind it 🙂
Thank you! 😀 That makes good sense!
Second one, for sure. It just sounds better.
Thank you! 😀
I like the second one as well 😀
Thank you! 😀
Judge, Jury, Executioner! Based on your description, it’s a perfect lead in to the story.
Thank you! 😀
“Judge, Jury, Executioner.” is a perfect fit for your story.
Thank you! 😀
jje, all the way! it is just right –
Thank you so much! 😀
Judge, jury Executioner! I like this because, she isn’t starting out her ventures as an assassin. it’s their choices of how to be that in her mind cause her to be the serial killer she’s become. Sounds like it will be a great read. After all what mother hasn’t wanted to wish away a boyfriend of their child? Or perhaps an influential friend? It will be relatable concept- because even though we don’t act on that, we all know it is just that choice to not make them be gone that is the difference between us. Sounds like you will have the opportunity for some great bits of humor within as well as that edge of your seat kind of thing.Best wishes on this story.
LOL! That’s true. Wait until you find out what really happens! 😉 Thank you! 😀
I’m with everyone else. Judge, Jury, Executioner.
Thank you! 😀
The latter of the two because an assassin does not sit comfortably within the genre – it invokes a gang hit or a political murder of sort. What about The Woman Who Played God?
That’s true! Yes, that’s a good one, too! Thank you! 😀
“Judge, Jury, Executioner” gets my vote!
Thank you so much! 😀
An old cowboy once told me that his horse was mean as a mother-in-law’s kiss, so I was thinking, “The Mother-in-Law’s Kiss.”
Oh, Nice! Thank you! 😀
Assassin implies that she does it for money, or as a job, whereas the second fits better because she murders after having judged her daughter’s boyfriend to be unsuitable. Another vote for JJJE!
That’s true. I hadn’t thought about it like that before. Thank you! 😀
To be honest I don’t like either, but I’d pick the second. Neither title really tells us anything about why your book is different than other horror/mystery or whatever genre you’re going for. I’m not sure about the tone of your novel either, but make sure title reflects that as well. I can’t think of any ideas myself, but maybe your title should be flavored by the mother/daughter relationship. For example: Mommy Dearest. When you know what the story is about, that title is super creepy. Good luck!
Thank you! 😀
I’m going to add a vote for Mother-in-laws Kiss or something similar. Maybe Black Widow Mother-in-law. Just some ideas.
Those are nice. Thanks again! 🙂
The 2nd one sounds more intriguing and mysterious to me.
Thank you! 😀
Second one. Ohh I may do camp NaNoWriMo too!! So much fun. 🙂
YAY! Thank you! 😀
I like the 2nd one Rachel!
Diana xo
Thank you, Diana! 😀
I like the first one better, but would qualify it somehow with an adjective to make it truly your own. I also thought of: Over His Dead Body 🙂
I love it, Karina! Hey, Rachel! How about this one? Can I vote twice?
LOVE it! Thank you! 😀
I know, it’s perfect! 🙂
The second one definitely grabbed my attention more… I agree with the majority here!
Thank you! 😀
The first title is too generic. The second one has a more interesting flavor.
Thank you! 😀
The second is more interesting because it make me think there is more than one story within that same story.
Good point. Thank you! 😀
I go for the second one.
Thank you! 😀
I will differ a bit: Judge, Jury, Executioner? You need a third J. Jackal? Jim, Judge, Jury? Something with J. Dictionnary.
I don’t dislike the first one, with a condition. if you write in the, first person form his perspective (!) you could use, “I, Assassin”
Good luck!
Brian
Those are some interesting approaches. Thank you! 😀
Jackal, Judge and Jury? 🙂
Good luck
The second one is better…but it’s got some serious competition from Karina’s suggestion!
The premise reminds me of a series of odd dreams I had a long time ago: I was burying bodies on the beach and in the back yard, until I ran out of room! Then, in the last dream, I asked my mother about what to do with the corpses, and she took it in a matter-of-fact way, saying something like, “Hm, that is a problem, isn’t it? Let me think about it.”
When I told Ma about these dreams, she said, “I’m glad you came to me for advice! What did I say?” 🙂
LOL! That’s a hoot, Christine! It’s too bad you don’t write in this genre, too. I still want your sister to write that book about your mom’s experience at the phone operator office. It sounded so intriguing. 😀
I’ll let her know she has a fan-in-waiting! 😉
LOL! Maybe your mom can just dictate the story, then you and your sister can transcribe it when you have time. It really needs to be told. 😀
“Judge, Jury, Executioner.”
Because, it’s so very, very, very, wrong indeed 😉
LOL! Thank you! 😀
Honestly, I don’t care for either. Of the two, the second is better, but I don’t think either captures the feel that I think you are trying for. I would suggest something that emphasizes the familial relationship like “Mother Of The Bride” or “Mother Knows Best” or “What I Did For Love”.
If you want to get a little more obscure (and I’m a huge fan of obscure references) you could go with something like “Persephone’s Seeds” or “Mourning Becomes Jocasta”
LOL! I like obscurity, too! Thank you! 😀
Jocasta! Oh, geez! Another good one! How will Rachel ever choose, now?
LOL! Well, while the mother in my story is definitely as cruel as Jocasta, the outcome is quite different. 🙂
My vote is Judge, Jury, Executioner. 🙂
Thank you, Rhonda! 😀
I too like the second title, Judge, Jury, Executioner–sounds very intriguing, much like your story 🙂
Thank you so much! 😀
Second one!
Thank you! 😀
The second one. Especially since the mom is sort of being vigilante here.
LOL! Thank you! 😀
Assassin is the better one
Thank you! 😀
Thank you for checking out my blog.
🙂
Cute photo 🙂
Thank you! 😀
While I like the second one better than the first, perhaps “Mother’s Hand” might be of interest 🙂
Nice! Thank you! 😀
Number two. 😀
Thank you! 😀
I would suggest a third option!!! The Dark Succubus. The Succubus was of course a female devil that would kill her male lovers. Just a thought. If not option two. Alan
Oh, I like it! Chills! Thank you! 😀
I, too, have my own title idea, Rachel, a little late, I realize. “Gone Too Far.”
Good luck with Camp Alphabet, my friend.
That’s a good one, too, Mark! Thank you! 😀
Personally I don’t like either. technically jury implies more than one person is involved. Assassin implies payment. So I will have to give my own
“Judgment misguided”
That’s nice, too! Thank you! (It’s hard to get much help with what the most appropriate title would be when I can’t reveal the true ending to the story. LOL!) I appreciate your help! 😀
It sounds like an exciting premise. I wrote a short story called, “The Body and the Toaster,” that’s posted on my blog. The fictional back story deals with an unsavory boyfriend and my daughter. It was fun to write … as I’m sure yours will be as well as you get to vicariously dispatch some characters.
Like Bruce Ruston’s comment above, I would choose a title that doesn’t give away too much. Hitchcock’s “Rear Window,” and Stanley Donen’s “Charade” come to mind. Neither title gives away the story line.
Thank you. But of course, with my types of stories, the story is not as it seems. Unfortunately I can’t tell the end to see if there would be a better fit. 🙂 I’ll definitely have to check out your The Body and the Toaster story! It sounds interesting, indeed! 😀
Here’s the link to “The Body and the Toaster,” Rachel: http://earth-rider.com/2012/11/03/the-body-and-the-toaster-fiction/
Thank you! I’ll check it out! 😀
All the very best wishes and hopes for your novel.
My sister thought that Maternal Attention might be one to consider.
Good luck.
That’s a good one! Thank you! 😀