I've been on wattpad since I was twelve and for almost eight years. In that time I've gathered a lot of experience on writing and reading Harry Potter fan fiction. Now, I want to share all I've learned with you: from plot holes, unfinished work and...
The Name Game ii So you've named your character and they're in a Hogwarts house. Now to name your story.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
I know I haven't discussed plots yet but I felt these two chapters needed to hold hands: just like Harry and Draco.
Oooh Na Na What's My Name? A whistlestop tour on how to name a few different types of Potter fan fiction.
1. Mischief Managed — For Fics on the Marauders I have only one fic about the Marauders: 50 Shades of Black — Named for Sirius Black. Groovy, eh? This title was born from the piece of popular culture; I'm sure you all know what I'm referencing. But another way to name your Marauders fics is: - A name: do you have a fifth marauder? - An object: maybe your OC and James have a fling and meet when they both want the last piece of cherry pie in the Great Hall at dinner time? - A place: does the Marauders friendship come to be official in the Three Broomsticks?
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
2. Your OC Whatever era your fic is going to be in, I always think it's quite nifty if you name your piece after your OC. For example: Lucy Snape and the Tale of the Knights, follows the formulaic structure for the title that the Potter books use.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
3. A Relation Just as above; the surname of your OC can suggest precisely what we're getting ourselves into.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
4. Love An example of mine would be 'I'm in love with Snape's Daughter but I'm a Weasley!' This title is too long I will admit but I find it too endearing, it's the only piece of my thirteen year old self I'm preserving as I make my way through the editing process. A better title for this book would have been: Amortentia. The potion features and as the Potion Masters daughter is there, why not? If your OC is falling for a canonical character find an object that fits or describes their image. You got this, just don't do what I did and make a Fall Out Boy worthy song title mess of it.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
How NOT to title a book I'm about to slaughter my own works again.
1. The best example I have is, as previously mentioned, ahem:
I'm in love with Fred Gideon Weasley because he's a ginger and a pretty cool dude who wants to open a shop in Diagon Alley with George and call it Weasley's Wizard Wheezes but I'm Lucy Snape, daughter of Severus Snape who kills Dumbledore, the only person who trusts him, in the sixth book because he loves Lily Evans and is also secretly a double agent.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Don't do what I did, kids. By telling your entire plot line in the bloody title.
2. Vague...? Sure, if you want to create an element of mystery to your work. We want an idea but also not too much. It's all about balance; so keep it short and snappy! (Just like Umbridge). Perhaps a common saying or a parody of a piece of popular culture will help guide you in using the perfect title?
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
3. Give me one shot Alert! Alert! Contradiction! It's whatever works for you, you don't have to listen to me; I'm only offering ideas. So one word to give your story is pretty neat! (Even though I don't possess one work that does this. Oh well, it's not my style. I just like...having the whole first chapter in my title, judge at your leisure).
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
Have fun titling your stories! I want to know: Have you come up with something interesting? Have you found a really inventive title? Tell me in the comments!
