Need Help on a Title for Short Story/Novel

[james_holiday]

I'm writing a short story/potential novel about four WWI soldiers who suddenly return home to their small town during the Great Depression era.

One is a strong silent rancher-type, one is a creatively blocked writer/heir to a vineyard, one is a former philosopher/gambler with a death wish, and lastly, one is poverty stricken and impotent boxer/ aspiring artist.

They all show hidden unburied talents, but are burdened by what they did during the war. Despite this, they all strive to find some kind of redemption..

Its about underdogs, unbroken spirits, perserverance, character and is full of horse symbolism.
I also got alot of inspiration from Nietzche 'Birth of Tragedy'..

for example,
Horse symbolism - represent carrier of burdens, coping under difficult circumstances, associated with war, sexuality.. Freudian interpretations. Jung interpretations..etc

Possible titles -

"The Dark Horse"
"Dark Horses"
"A Dark Horse"
"Wild Horses"


Which of those sound most catchy?

[lallison]

Since all four are cliches I would try to come up with something more original.

[anzki4]

How about something like: Burdened

[Dodo25]

Possible titles -

"The Dark Horse"
"Dark Horses"
"A Dark Horse"
"Wild Horses"


Which of those sound most catchy?

To me it's 'Dark Horses'. However, even that one doesn't sound like anything I'd want to read (if I had only the title for making that choice).

Even though it might be 'the norm', I do like including symbolism in the title, so 'horse' should probably go in there in some way, but it could also be indirect.

I looked up some 'horse terminology'. 'The Lung Line' sounds like a catchy title to me, it's a long rein used to exercise a horse (so it walks in circles). This could illustrate how the characters are stuck somewhere, or always return to the same memories or something like that.

If you don't find anything suiting, just write the story first and worry about the title later, that's what I normally do..

[james_holiday]

Cheers thanks alot guys..

Though, I like "The Dark Horse" because the story has nothing to do with horses whatsoever, but still sounds too much like "The Dark Knight" or something I wouldnt want to read.. I'll write it first, like what Dodo25 said.

[lallison]

Clever!

[james_holiday]

How about "There's No Place Like Home"

[hillwalker]

My humble advice would be to write the story first - then perhaps a particular phrase you have used in the telling will stand out as an apt title for the whole piece.

You seem to be in danger of using up all your creative juice in coming up with a title my friend.

[Alexander III]

The Forgotten Trott

[MrRegular]

Beasts of Burden?

[Mr Mahmoud]

"Delayed Dreams" or something like this.