They started shipping CAVES OF BUDA today. Whee!
::tosses confetti::
And while I have a whole plot semi-outlined for the next novel, as well as this kick-ass format for the novel (how the chapters are going to fit together) I have no title. And until I find a title that I’m really happy with, I find that I’ve been oddly hesitant to talk about the novel on the whole.
For me, generally, the title is one of the first things I think of. But I had odd problems coming up with a title for CAVES OF BUDA (and I still think there was a better one that I could have found but just didn’t.) And am having the same problems with this one.
I have come up with a title, for better or worse (and no, that’s not the title) and I’ll probably just end up using it out of default. This novel just isn’t interested in naming itself though.
I’m sure other writers have this same sort of problem, don’t you?
Titles are hard for me. They generally come last when I’m done understanding all the influences in the books. Until then, they get working titles, usually one word, usually the name of the main character. So The Worth of a Shell was ‘the Dlane book’ and A Rosary of Stones and Thorns was ‘the Asrial book’ and so on.
This might have to do with the fact that I don’t outline anything; I know the beginning and the end but never the middle, which is usually where the title springs from. Do you outline things more clearly? Maybe that’s why you have a better idea of the title sooner. 🙂
I am an obsessive outliner. I learned a long time ago that I can’t start a new piece without knowing where it ends. If I do, I generally can’t finish.
And after the initial outline, while I’m working on the piece (particularly with this last book), I found that I’d come to a scene, not be sure about it, but instead of barging into it, I’d sit down, think about it, possibly outline it, before writing it.
So yeah. I outline.
(heading to Reader’s Oasis to order my copy)
I find that either my titles come immediately, or I agonize over them for weeks and months and years.
I’m the exact same way, except that until recently, all my titles just came. I’ve only recently started struggling. And it isn’t for everything, it’s just single pieces, now and again. (I already have the title for the novel that I plan on writing after I finish this one. . .)
I’m wretched with titles. File names are usually the main character’s name. Often I end up with a high-concept summary of the story — which means accurate but somewhat blah — thus “Seven Myrmidons Against Thebes” and “Paul Bunyan and the Photocopier.” So when I actually find titles like Death and Happenstance, I’m really really happy.
—L.
I usually like my titles. But I understand that rush when the absolutely “right” one comes along.
Exactly. One of these days, when I finally find something for the thing currently called More Poems About Ants & Architecture, I’ll probably flip.
—L.
Titles can be an annoyance. :> Sometimes the perfect one comes to you immediately, othertimes, they dangle out of reach for ages. And sometimes, you just gotta go with something to call the story/book while writing it. :>
“Whatcha working on?”
“Um… y’know, that book. The Chinese hopping vampire book.”
“Didn’t you have a name for that?”
“Yes, well, ‘Leap Day’ didn’t sound right, so now it has no title.”
“Oh. Well. Good luck with your… um… Chinese hopping vampire book.”
Now you’ll wish you stuck with “Leap Day” just as shorthand. :>
Right now my shorthand is “The Heian Project” (since it’s a novel set in Heian era Japan – about 1000 AD.) Which I could never use as a title. But it is convenient shorthand.
Cool. I like Heian fiction.
—L.
If coming up with the title is your worst problem…
…then it doesn’t sound so bad, indeed.
Z
P.S.: I’m assuming you’ve tried dedicating an entire meditation session (sitting or t’ai chi) to letting the title come to you?
Re: If coming up with the title is your worst problem…
And if coming up with the title was the *only* problem, then it wouldn’t be bad at all. (^_^) But I still have all those other pesky things to do as well, like more research, coming up with an actual outline, *selling* the thing, then writing it. . . .
The titles that floated up this morning while meditating were, unfortunately, lame. Thought I had it at one point, but it turned out to be too similar to the title of a different book and I don’t want to use it.
Not too worried. I’ll figure out something. It isn’t something I have to decide tomorrow. Plus, if I get really stuck, I can always throw the court open to my editor and my agent and let them help.
Titles are hard for me. They generally come last when I’m done understanding all the influences in the books. Until then, they get working titles, usually one word, usually the name of the main character. So The Worth of a Shell was ‘the Dlane book’ and A Rosary of Stones and Thorns was ‘the Asrial book’ and so on.
This might have to do with the fact that I don’t outline anything; I know the beginning and the end but never the middle, which is usually where the title springs from. Do you outline things more clearly? Maybe that’s why you have a better idea of the title sooner. 🙂
I am an obsessive outliner. I learned a long time ago that I can’t start a new piece without knowing where it ends. If I do, I generally can’t finish.
And after the initial outline, while I’m working on the piece (particularly with this last book), I found that I’d come to a scene, not be sure about it, but instead of barging into it, I’d sit down, think about it, possibly outline it, before writing it.
So yeah. I outline.
(heading to Reader’s Oasis to order my copy)
I find that either my titles come immediately, or I agonize over them for weeks and months and years.
I’m the exact same way, except that until recently, all my titles just came. I’ve only recently started struggling. And it isn’t for everything, it’s just single pieces, now and again. (I already have the title for the novel that I plan on writing after I finish this one. . .)
I’m wretched with titles. File names are usually the main character’s name. Often I end up with a high-concept summary of the story — which means accurate but somewhat blah — thus “Seven Myrmidons Against Thebes” and “Paul Bunyan and the Photocopier.” So when I actually find titles like Death and Happenstance, I’m really really happy.
—L.
I usually like my titles. But I understand that rush when the absolutely “right” one comes along.
Exactly. One of these days, when I finally find something for the thing currently called More Poems About Ants & Architecture, I’ll probably flip.
—L.
Congrats on getting the darn book pushed out the door, Leah! And also on the Locus recs–
I don’t know if you remember me, but we met in the bar at Torcon, the one with the very rude French waiter, via Jeremy T.
Pleased to find out you have a livejournal!
–e.bear
Glad to find you as well. Yes, I do remember meeting you. Thanks for the welcome.
Titles can be an annoyance. :> Sometimes the perfect one comes to you immediately, othertimes, they dangle out of reach for ages. And sometimes, you just gotta go with something to call the story/book while writing it. :>
“Whatcha working on?”
“Um… y’know, that book. The Chinese hopping vampire book.”
“Didn’t you have a name for that?”
“Yes, well, ‘Leap Day’ didn’t sound right, so now it has no title.”
“Oh. Well. Good luck with your… um… Chinese hopping vampire book.”
Now you’ll wish you stuck with “Leap Day” just as shorthand. :>
Right now my shorthand is “The Heian Project” (since it’s a novel set in Heian era Japan – about 1000 AD.) Which I could never use as a title. But it is convenient shorthand.
Cool. I like Heian fiction.
—L.
If coming up with the title is your worst problem…
…then it doesn’t sound so bad, indeed.
Z
P.S.: I’m assuming you’ve tried dedicating an entire meditation session (sitting or t’ai chi) to letting the title come to you?
Re: If coming up with the title is your worst problem…
And if coming up with the title was the *only* problem, then it wouldn’t be bad at all. (^_^) But I still have all those other pesky things to do as well, like more research, coming up with an actual outline, *selling* the thing, then writing it. . . .
The titles that floated up this morning while meditating were, unfortunately, lame. Thought I had it at one point, but it turned out to be too similar to the title of a different book and I don’t want to use it.
Not too worried. I’ll figure out something. It isn’t something I have to decide tomorrow. Plus, if I get really stuck, I can always throw the court open to my editor and my agent and let them help.
Congrats on getting the darn book pushed out the door, Leah! And also on the Locus recs–
I don’t know if you remember me, but we met in the bar at Torcon, the one with the very rude French waiter, via Jeremy T.
Pleased to find out you have a livejournal!
–e.bear
Glad to find you as well. Yes, I do remember meeting you. Thanks for the welcome.