"Past Sins" or "Spooky Jones in Hell"?
Added 2019-05-14 00:19:53 +0000 UTC
Hey y'all,
I'd love to get your help in choosing a title.
One of the most important things I can do to keep this comic sustainable is to bring in new readers. So, in the next few months, I'm going to start a big advertising push on Facebook, which will connect to an "onboarding" email sequence to guide new readers step-by-step through all my comics—and through any potential speed bumps.
And one of the biggest speed bumps I've noticed has been with the first two censored chapters of Legendary. While it made a lot of sense at the time to post up pages with sections blacked out so non-patrons would be able to continue enjoying the story, let's face it, it's not the best look for brand new readers who are binging their way through. Frankly, people get pretty confused by it.
So, I've decided it makes the most sense to remove the censored pages of Legendary Chapters 1 and 2 from the site, replace them with a short summary, and turn what is now Legendary Chapter 3 into its own standalone comic. That way new readers will only see pages that are fully intact, and all the public pages will essentially have the same level of "spicy" keeping the tone of the comic consistent.
(Of course, Patrons like you will always be able to access the completely uncensored pages of Legendary here. And I'll still include the Spooky and Anaado story in any printed book with the two 18+ chapters. This is just about making the webcomic a better experience for new readers.)
Turning Chapter 3 into its own comic also gives me the opportunity to come up with a new title.
"The Death of Spooky Jones" made a lot of sense to me while I was writing the story. (And it still makes sense to me now, from the 50,000 foot view of everything to come.) But since our hero doesn't actually physically die in its pages, I've noticed in the comments that some readers find that title confusing, even click-baity.
And, upon reflection, I don't blame them. I think I can do better. So I've come up with two, new potential titles for what is now "The Death of Spooky Jones": "Past Sins" and "Spooky Jones in Hell."
What I like about "Past Sins" is that it has the film noir vibe I like for all stories that feature Spooky Jones. I think it also connects quite well with the content of the story overall.
What I like about "Spooky Jones in Hell" is that it also totally connects with the content of the story and, since it is so on the nose, might be more likely to encourage new readers who have just finished "Engaging the Enemy" to check it out and continue reading. I suspect "Spooky Jones in Hell" might just sound like more fun to read than "Past Sins" — particularly for readers who have recently become fans of our short, dark, and fluffy magic-using hero.
But I wanted to get your take. As members of the Woolfpack, y'all are the most dedicated readers of my work, and I think you will know best what's going to appeal to other readers like you.
Which do you think would be a better title for the story?.
Let me know with your vote below! And thank you all as always for making The Young Protectors even possible! :-)
Comments
Thank you very much, William. :)
Alex Woolfson
2019-05-22 02:29:44 +0000 UTCGood points all around, Someoneelse. In answer to your questions: - That's a very good suggestion to think about changing the homepage. I do still think that Artifice is the best introduction to my work, but there might be an even better landing page that could give a good overview of all my comics and how to proceed. I'll have to think on that (and think on how to make that work with my webcomic site, which is designed to show a webcomic on the home page.) - Ultimately, my plan is to move all the comics from webcomics.yaoi911.com to amwcomics.com. It's a bit of a magilla to do that technically, so I've been procrastinating. :) But it's my plan to do that at some point. In addition to Yaoi 911 not really being my brand anymore, it's also a bit confusing for true yaoi/BL fans since what I'm doing doesn't 100% track with those genre tropes. And if there's anything I've learned over the past 8 years, it's to make sure that I'm very clear about what genre promise I'm making to prospective readers. So I'll be letting go of my long-neglected Yaoi 911 blog, and moving everything over to amwcomics.com and alexwoolfson.com soonish. And thank you for the props! (And long-term support!) I really appreciate it!
Alex Woolfson
2019-05-22 02:21:38 +0000 UTCI would expect very few folks to start with this chapter, so if you think folks would keep reading with "Past Sins," that's good to know. :)
Alex Woolfson
2019-05-22 02:19:26 +0000 UTCWhew! One brain cell says 'thank you!" I had thought I just remembered blurbs and short tales about Spooks' mis-adventures in Hell. He was apparently a tough and lucky little bastich to have survived and come out physically whole and healthy. Healthy in the fact that in the stories it comes across that he is a bit of a "player". What goes on in his head? We shudder at the thought. I do hope that Spook's and Kyle have along relationship though. They could both use the stability and both have much to offer the other I think. To Alex, the sex panels are great, you announce that this is an 18 plus comic that we all know is the best you can do to protect readers. Applause for that. I like your idea of offering a more open version for the masse's (masses?) and I hope you get to many thousands of more followers.
william clapie
2019-05-16 19:12:25 +0000 UTCNope, as of now, even Spooky doesn't know why he showed up in Hell on his (apparently) 13th birthday. So you're right here with the rest of us. :-)
Theadora
2019-05-16 14:16:02 +0000 UTCYeah, I was thinking about combining them too, and "Spooky Jones: Past Sins" is what I came up with; partly to make it perfectly clear that this is a Spooky story.
Theadora
2019-05-16 14:14:46 +0000 UTCI did vote for "past sins" , just to make a choice. I don't recall if we have had a reason for a 13 year old boy being in hell in the first place? Did he "play" at Necronomicon? Did he "play" at demon summoning? Or did Spook's have a history as a psycho and murder his whole town? His brain was blown because he was the only human to physically see magic and demons floating around and in reacting to that he inadvertently blew away his whole two in a hormone fueled adolescent panic attack? I am a bit lost. Can't wait to find out. Or be reminded. I am getting senile from all the brain hits I have been taking in life!
william clapie
2019-05-15 23:26:23 +0000 UTCI can see the argument for not making it too subtle, but as others have said, I think "Spooky Jones in Hell" is just a bit *too* literal, so I'd go with "Past Sins". I imagine this is all part of your Master Plan, but if you're looking to attract new readers, the homepage of the website should probably be some kind of enticing overview - right now, it takes you to the title page of Artifice, which is a bit odd. And thinking of naming, have you considered changing the URL as well? I think "AMW Comics" has a much more grown-up feel than "Yaoi 911", and better reflects how Young Protectors has developed. (Which, just to be clear, is a really good thing; it's a really amazing comic, and I want to see much much more of it!)
Someonelse
2019-05-15 18:51:18 +0000 UTCI voted for "Past Sins", but I'm wondering if there's a way to combine them. The best that I've come up with, off the cuff, is "Young Sins in Hell".
Nate Mentor
2019-05-15 10:13:50 +0000 UTC“Past Sins” for me seems more in keeping with the other chapter titles. Also, I don’t remember who said it above, but “Spooky Jones in Hell” did give me a bit of a clickbait vibe. One additional consideration: if I’d just read “Engaging the Enemy,” I don’t know that I would care what the title of the next chapter was. I’d just want to read it. So for me the question is how many people do you expect to START with this chapter (or find this chapter first)? I suspect the impact of the title decreases in relation to the number of people who are reading it as a continuation of what they’ve already read. So go with what works for you!
Malik M.L. Williams
2019-05-15 03:02:37 +0000 UTCThank you, QueBijoux!
Alex Woolfson
2019-05-15 01:21:49 +0000 UTCI, too, am more drawn to Past Sins because it sounds like the noir movies I love. However, for your purposes, SJiH seems better from a marketing perspective. Potential readers know the Spooky is the main character, and where the story will take place. Truth in advertising! I don’t think that is really spoiler-y, either. So, my vote is for SJiH.
QueBijoux
2019-05-15 01:05:46 +0000 UTCThat's a very clever title, Nadin. But with its dream reference, I think that might give a bit too much away. :)
Alex Woolfson
2019-05-14 17:51:01 +0000 UTCThank you, Klaus. I'm glad to hear that makes sense to you.
Alex Woolfson
2019-05-14 17:50:06 +0000 UTCThe "audience" I'm hoping to appeal to (and build) is essentially y'all—dedicated readers who care enough about the work to support it. If you can, just try to picture yourselves as having only just read "Engaging the Enemy." Which title would make you want to keep reading?
Alex Woolfson
2019-05-14 17:49:42 +0000 UTCThank you, Goodyear.
Alex Woolfson
2019-05-14 17:45:43 +0000 UTCAn interesting point. Thank you, Kevin.
Alex Woolfson
2019-05-14 17:45:31 +0000 UTCI hear you. It's ostensibly a play on George Bernard Shaw's "Don Juan in Hell" which was a favorite of my father's. But whether anyone else would get the reference is very debatable. ;)
Alex Woolfson
2019-05-14 17:41:23 +0000 UTCI don't know but somehow neither of the titles appeals to me x'D Maybe I'm just picky? I just randomly came up with "A Nightmare on Hell Street" Which is partly funny bc of the hint to the movies which might not fit the overall feeling of other chapter titles though x'D
Nadin Brokop
2019-05-14 06:16:49 +0000 UTCI think it is a really good idea to remove those two chapters.
Klaus
2019-05-14 04:49:06 +0000 UTCWhile I gravitate toward the tone of "Past Sins" for indeed fitting the vibe better, "Spooky Jones in Hell" might be a little more enticing to a newer reader because it is, well, pretty descriptive about what's to follow. So who is the audience? Also, and this is a superdupergluper quibble, but I'd like "Past Sins" more if there was an additional word. Even something that fits with the vibe like "His Past Sins" or "Sins Long Past", but two short words reads a little off for some reason. Just a smidge. I'm weird. :D
Adam Irving
2019-05-14 04:45:58 +0000 UTCMy vote will always go to anything with a Noir-vibe if it's an option. I also agree with the others that it's less clunky, and less spoiler-y.
Goodyear
2019-05-14 02:53:38 +0000 UTCI think Spooky Jones in Hell actually takes away from the story. You already expect him to end up there, so there is less mystery/surprise. At the same time, many readers might find SJiH to be too much foreshadowing. "Clearly our cute, fluffy nice guy won't be stuck in hell. Tell me it's a trick, Alex!!!" Might just be me, but without a clue like that when I read it, I totally bought into everything happening as was laid out.
Kevin Barnard
2019-05-14 02:24:35 +0000 UTCIMHO, a homophobe would focus on "OMG this webcomic starts off with a gay superhero and gets EVEN MORE GAY!" . . . not on a vague two-word title for this particular chapter. ;-) But I can see "Spooky Jones in Hell" as enticing - same for "Past Sins" though. ::bows::
KendallPB
2019-05-14 02:17:22 +0000 UTCSame here, plus it seems to fit more with titles like "Engaging the Enemy." "Spooky Jones in Hell" feels like it's a little too on-the-nose, but I recognize that's a strength, in its own way.
KendallPB
2019-05-14 02:13:35 +0000 UTCI really like the subtlety of "Past Sins"
Brormorc
2019-05-14 01:58:27 +0000 UTCI can see the arguments for "Spooky Jones in Hell" but it just sounds a little ... clunky to me.
Arthur
2019-05-14 01:55:42 +0000 UTCIn addition to finding "Spooky Jones in Hell" more descriptive and enticing, I think the "Past Sins" option allows an unfortunate reading: With Anaado's sultry look and Spooky on the cover, the "sin" could feasibly be about two males in an intimate relationship. No one who's enjoyed previous material is going to think that, but you don't want to inadvertently supply fodder to non-allies.
brashion
2019-05-14 00:31:40 +0000 UTC
