Thursday, February 25, 2010

Brainstorm: Title

Lily gets to spend all day napping...


meanwhile my brain hurts trying to offer suggestions of book titles to the publisher. Here is the current thought:

Say It with Quilts: Easy Techniques for Free-Pieced Letters

The word "quilts" needs to be fairly far forward in the title, due to all sorts of indexing, marketing, cataloging reason. The words "liberated (associated with Gwen), "lazy" (everyone complained these letters weren't for the lazy) and "unruly" (might have negative connotations, plus really hasn't been established yet) are all out.

Needs to be understandable and clear - no guessing what the book might be about. Can't be overly clever. What do you think of the title under discussion?

72 comments:

  1. Quilts that speak: Easy Techniques for Free-Pieced Letters

    Then quilts is the first word. And all that jazz.

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  2. Oh, I like that Quilts that speak suggestion above.

    I don't think the SAY it with quilts gives me enough information and the feeling I get is to give quilts away as presents like saying it with flowers.
    "Write it in quilts" since you are going to teach how to make letters.

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  3. Quilts to read...is a variation of the above but I'm not sure I like it better. Ask sweet Lily when she wakes up :-)

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  4. I thought it was very clever until I read the comments, and I do think to the uninitiated it might sound like quilts to give away. Hmmm...I'll give it some thought.

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  5. yeah, I can see that. quilts to give away. but I have to say "speaks" doesn't work for me. I instantly think of training a quilt to speak the way you do a dog... argh.

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  6. Do you want it to tie in with your new website title?

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  7. I really like it! In fact, it sounds like a great website title too!

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  8. How about "Free-Pieced Alphabet Quilts?"

    Yes, you can do more than an alphabet sampler with the technique, but that's obvious.

    TK, a quilter

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  9. Say It Quilts

    Says it all - quilts with words always SAY something . . .

    Lettered Quilts or Quilty Letters

    (another thought train that I like maybe even a little better)

    I still like UnRuly Quilter for your blog, etc.


    GOOD LUCK trying to keep everyone happy (hope you keep yourself in that group!)

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  10. Suggestions:
    Quilting out Loud
    Quilting Bee--Spelling Bee
    Words Without End

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  11. "I'm Just Sayin'--Quilts that Speak"

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  12. Word Factory--Quilts that Talk

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  13. I like the first one. What popped into my head was "Quilt-speak", but I like Kim's better.

    Quoteable Quilts? Quilted Quotes? Alliterative, but probably not great, since I doubt your quilts have entire quotes pieced into them.

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  14. Yes, that title works. I especially like that it does NOT contain the word "strip" which invites all sorts of Trojans (how's that for a pun)?!

    suggestions? Hmm...

    Quilting Loud & Clear: Easy...
    (because loud and clear has the connotation of speech and so does...)
    Ad-Lib Quilting : Easy...
    Quilt Communication: Easy...
    Quilt Quips: Easy...
    Word Up, Quilters: Easy...(okay, I admit it, that one was thrown in for your amusement)


    another thought is that this book might be the route to establish UnRuly Quilting as your trademark. it's a new idea and a new name--make them both known! I think a book like this would blow the pants off any negative connotations of unruly!

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  15. Anonymous3:29 PM

    My suggestion:

    Quilt sayings: Free-Pieced Letters the Easy Way.

    Couldn't resist putting in my two cents worth.

    Cj.

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  16. Anonymous3:44 PM

    I really like your idea for the title. We tend to try to make the whole world happy and it is an impossible job. The "easy techniques part for free pieced letters" will clarify what is meant and should come up in a search format requesting that type of book. I like it. Liz

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  17. ...something like: Quilt Text Letters - Freely Pieced...

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  18. I like Kim's also; or how about "Outspoken Quilts: Easy Techniques..."

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  19. I like Quilt Out Loud... most of your work is high contrast, contemporary and makes a statement..

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  20. Quilt Conversation Starters...
    Quilts Well Stated...
    Quilted Conversation...
    Quilt Jibber-Jabber...
    Quilting Spoken Here...
    Quilting Without Spell Check...
    Quiltin

    (This is fun!)

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  21. OOPS...I posted too quick!

    Quilting in Any Language...

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  22. Quilts My Cats Can Read...

    (they do read, don't they?)

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  23. I really like the original title, but I also like the 'Outspoken Quilts' or 'Quilt Out Loud'. I also agree, though, that using 'Unruly' is good and might be a good chance to establish your brand.

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  24. Anonymous6:41 PM

    I like the suggested book title. If I saw a book with that title, I'd probably take a closer look. :o) I'm going to assume you'll have a great quilt on the cover that will showcase just what the title is about.

    I think I'd stay away from Quilt Out Loud... Isn't that Mark Lipinski's tagline, slogan, or something or other?

    ~Erin

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  25. I like Quilt out Loud a lot as it's modern and makes a statement. I think the sub-title should contain UnRuly to help brand the book with the website. Here are two that are variations of the already proposed suggestions:

    Quilt out Loud:
    Create Free-Pieced Letters Quilts with UnRuly Quilting Techniques

    Quilt out Loud:
    Learn to write in quilts by with UnRuly Quilting Techniques

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  26. It works for me. As does, Letters to Quilt By, Speak Easy Quilts, Wordly Wonderful Quilts, Why Not Words, the Language of Quilts, and If you can say it, you can quilt it. But I think that last one is too long. Love the Pokey picture.

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  27. How about:
    Word Quilts
    Fun with Free-Pieced Letters

    (now my brain hurts too!)

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  28. I like your idea "Say it with Quilts" because it's clever, without being too clever and it really does describe what you do. I also like "Quilted Conversations" because I'm a big fan of alliteration (my Christian name and Surname both start with S, which I've always really liked). :-)

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  30. I think I like your original one best too - it's catchy, and the explanatory words say exactly what it's all about.

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  31. I am so bad with titles. There are so many that would be good, but in the end you need to be happy with it.

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  32. I like it. I got it right away. I also like The first suggestion of Quilts that Speak. Read my Quilts from "wlstarn" caught my eye too though. All very clever and straightforward.

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  33. I like it. I did not misunderstand it on first read...I think it is good.

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  34. Sounds straight forward but intriguing to me! :) I stopped by from OMQD, just to say hi and poke around :) hope you are having a great day!

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  35. I like your title; it's deeper than it first appears.
    Also "Wordy Quilts: Quilts that won't shut up" (just kidding!)

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  36. Someone is right- Quilt Out Loud is a tagline as well as a website for a quilt show on QNN... *sigh* that was my fav

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  37. Spell-bound quilting (or something like that)
    If a quilt could talk...

    I also like Quilt out loud
    So many fun options...I'll try to think of some more so you'll have more to dabble with!!! ;)

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  38. I like Say it with quilts, etc. Great title. And I think Quilt Out Loud is already taken. Isn't that a show with Mark Lipinski?

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  39. Yep -- Quilt Out Loud! is a show on QNNtv.com with Mark Lipinski and Jodi Davis.

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  40. Anonymous11:18 PM

    I like your suggestion (Say It With Quilts: East Techniques for Free-Pieced Letters), but you could also use "Say It on Quilts: Easy Ways to Free-Piece Letters."

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  41. How about "Talking Quilts: Easy Free-Pieced Letters the Unruly Way"? or something along that line? Just thinkin' here...

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  42. Anonymous5:31 AM

    how about Quilt talk- easy pieced letters techniques

    Dawn in MA

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  43. So "Wonky Words" is not in the running? I haven't read through all the suggestions, but think that Funky Kim nailed it with the very first one! BTW, I love "Unruly Quilter" for your website!

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  44. As someone who has sold many a quilt book in her time, a catchy title is important. "Say It With Quilts" sounds too generic.

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  45. I like Say it with Quilts and Quilts that Speak...the difference between the 2 titles is that one implies (I'll teach you how to)Say it with Quilts, the other implies (let me show you some) Quilts that Speak, although adding the subtitle Easy Techniques makes that moot. I also like Outspoken Quilts,it does link better to the unruly quilter idea...tough decision...is it yours or the publishers? maybe give them more than one?

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  46. My first thought was "Words (then in tiny letters- Won't) Escape Me"

    Then I read that "quilts" needed to foremost and I can't think of anything better than what you have already....

    Good luck, I'm sure you'll hit on the perfect thing, Tonya!

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  47. I like Outspoken Quilts, the Unruly Way. Just a thought

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  48. How about Quilt Wonky Words: Easy Free-Piecing the UnRuly Way. There! I combined a couple of other people's suggestions....

    Your working title suggestion is good, just not YOU enough.

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  49. Ah, they are No fun, so practical.

    I love UnRuly Quilter, but I do see their point.

    I like "Say It with Quilts: Easy Techniques for Free-Pieced Letters" alright, but it is not much fun is it?

    How about...

    SpeakEasy Quilts!

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  50. does it matter that there was already a book called "say it with quilts" by Diana McClun and Laura Nownes? I like "quilts that speak" better!

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  51. Hi, I am relatively new to quilting and love to peek in at your blog. How about QUOTABLE QUILTS for the title before the colon, then your tag title "Easy Techniques for Free-Pieced Letters." A little alliteration is always nice, and since the best things we say are quotable, then the carefully chosen words you incorporate in your quilts certainly are too!

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  52. QUILTING THE WRITE WAY: Easy Techniques for Free-Pieced Letters?

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  53. So many great suggestions, some of them I LOVE only to discover they've already been used, for instance Quilt Out Loud and Spellbound. Obviously can't do Say it WITH Quilts - good catch. Say it ON Quilts maybe.

    I like Word Quilts etc or Wonky Word Quilts. Free-pieced Alphabet Quilt or Free-Pieced Letter Quilts too.

    No, I don't get to make the final decision. I get to make suggestions. I would LOVE to have unruly in the title or subtitle, but we'll see.

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  54. Anonymous6:33 PM

    Go with the first thought - I've found it usually works best to not overthink . . .

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  55. Anonymous6:35 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

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  56. Free-Piecing Letters the Unruly Way!

    Oh that is so naff!

    After reading through all the comments, I'm reverting back to your original idea, but there is still something which niggles. Not sure what. Perhaps the length of the title?

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  57. Say it with quilts is the title of one of the books by the "Quilts,Qullts, Quilts" ladies so I think it would be confusing.

    How about the word "messages" like Quilts with Messages.

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  58. How about: "Spell It Out"

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  59. Quilts That Have Something To Say

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  60. Anonymous3:03 PM

    I love "Read My Quilts!"

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  61. How about "Stitch, Whack, and Spell: Easy Free-pieced Letters from the Unruly Quilter"

    I think "Word Quilts: Easy Techniques for Free-Pieced Letters"

    is the most straightforward title suggested and then down below you could add "From the Unruly Quilter" to get your new trademark/web page in.

    "Outspoken Quilts: Easy ..." is more fun and you could still add "From the Unruly Quilter" down below.

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  62. I would definitely avoid titles that are similar to previously published books. That is what makes finding a book on Amazon hard. I liked "Say it with Quilts" but if it has already been used, then even "Say it on Quilts" could result in someone not being able to find your book if they don't know your name or the title exactly.

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  63. I like your Free-Pieced Letter Quilts or Wonky Word Quilts. My idea is Free-Pieced Quilt Letters - the Easy Way

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  64. Goodness, the title seems perfect.

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  65. Great. You certainly don't want to be clever in a book title - it needs to tell you quickly what it is about, so it goes from the hamnd (via the till) to the bag!

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  66. Quilts with words

    Fun and wonky word quilts

    The writing on the quilt:)

    I also liked - Quilts with words - fun with free pieced letters

    I also like your title

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  67. I haven't had time to read all the suggestions yet, but Quilts Talk and then your subtitle popped in to my head when you asked.

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  68. Brandie12:35 PM

    Write it, Quilt it - Letters Without Patterns
    Think it, Quilt it - ...
    Think it, Quilt it, Do it - ...
    hmmm - lots of good ideas above. I am a huge fan of your go for it without a pattern approach.

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  69. Hmmm. No ideas from me so it will be interesting to see what you choose... For some reason the current name under discussion seems to stilted and long for fun and friendly TONYA. My two cents.

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  70. Lots of good ideas brought up. I can say that the title as you shared doesn't seem to capture your energy.

    Free Pieced Letter Quilts?
    Talking Quilts - Easy Techniques for Free-Pieced Letters?

    I also like the idea of playing with the notion of letter as a Homograph - the quilt itself as a letter (the kind you write to a loved one) made up of letters.

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