Dear writers of the world....

[conuly]

Please stop telling me what to do with the stars. I have no intention of denying, defying, inheriting, scavenging, igniting, numbering, darkening, shaming, washing, holding back, rewriting, finding, searching, tempting, screwing, bringing down, connecting, chasing, claiming, mapping, hiring, navigating, changing, steering, calculating, echoing, stealing, surrendering, outshining, binding, forgetting, crossing, releasing, losing, winning, tarnishing, defending, or otherwise fucking with the stars.

I also don't want to march to, return from, return to, march from, wander within said stars, and if you've done the same, I don't particularly want to hear about it. I do not care if the stars are cruel, kind, cold, dim, bright, over my head or under my feet. Under no circumstances will I sing down, shake down, or shoot at any stars. Reaching for and wishing on a star are still options, but I don't want to be reminded to do it.

Find a new title!

(Note: Some of these I made up. However, more of these are used in multiple books, so it evens out and then some.)

Comments

[alexseanchai]

so naturally my first instinct is "hey look, title prompt list"

(I won't, I won't)

[sallymn]

Me too!!

[boxofdelights]

Stars In My Pocket Like Grains Of Sand is the best title. No others need apply.

[bibliofile]

Note: Said title requires no action by the reader on or about (or any other preposition) in reference to said stars.

Just saying.

[conuly]

Seriously, you could fill an entire bookcase with books titled Verb the Stars.

[hannah]

I'm quite fond of "don't fall through the stars" from "Grey Ghost." As it's about Jeff Buckley, and knowing what I know about his death by accidental drowning, I can imagine it's a more literal image of falling through stars - reflected on a river - than most examples here.

[lightbird]

'Swinging on a Star' was a cool theme song.

[conuly]

Man that was a cheesy show, in retrospect.

[lightbird]

lol, it really was.

[archangelbeth]

I want to know about star-screwing and star-washing.

[mindstalk]

Voyage of the Dawn Treader and Stardust have the first one covered!

[conuly]

I don't. If anybody publishes a book in the next few years titled Wash the Stars or Screw the Stars, don't let me know.

[archangelbeth]

........how about if I scrape together enough short stories to be okay with charging 2.99 for an anthology (the sweet spot of royalties at Amazon), and credit you with the name? *holds a halo over her head with a stick*

(Actually, could I use the Wash the Stars title? And credit you? I'm having so much trouble coming up with a Nice Title that isn't overly pretentious or esoteric, and that one is weird and silly and I'm contrary enough to start loving it.)

Or maybe Star-Washing.

[conuly]

You can use the Wash the Stars title, go for it.

[conuly]

Of course, if you Scrub the Stars you get more alliteration, but it doesn't quite sound like wishing anymore.

[archangelbeth]

Also, it might be taken as a synonym for "erase," and that's not weird enough.

(Yay, Star-Wash!)

Sent from my iPhone

[melita66]

An early Alis Rasmussen aka Kate Elliott book was A Passage of Stars. 1990, so it doesn't count, right?

[conuly]

The issue is not that it says "stars" but whether or not it's Verb the Stars. And it's not, so yay.

[rmc28]

1. You have successfully earwormed me with the Greatest Showman. Thanks?

2. What about calculating?

[conuly]

NO. I will not countenance ANY title that exhorts me to Verb the Stars, no matter what that verb may be.

[archangelbeth]

I recall the Stars are the ones doing the verb, for that title. *giggle*

[thewayne]

As long as a vast majority of the stars continue shining, then I am content. If they stop suddenly, then clearly we have a Marvel mega-villain on the loose.

[malada]

I'm really glad I'm sticking to writing fantasy.

In fantasy it's Verb the Dragon.

-m

[conuly]

I don't want to verb the dragon either. Sounds risky.

[zesty_pinto]

I noticed you're still okay with wishing upon one, though?

[mordorbot]

Counterpoint, I would love to be fucking with the stars.