My titleage has a common touch

[pjthompson]

First the title Night Warrior turned out to be a severely overused title and I had to go through the agonies of finding a new one. Much whining was heard in the land (for months on end!) until a friend suggested another title that I liked. Then the moniker of another of my WIPs, Brother Wolf, turned out to have been used before so after much kvetching and whimpering, it became A Taste of Night. I actually wound up liking that one much better, but it's always difficult for me to reassign titles. They become such an integral part of the book for me that it's akin to amputation. Well, okay, maybe not quite that bad. Maybe just slicing off a little skin.

Anyway, just now while I was peeking at Amazon to look up Magic Bites by the lovely and talented and incredibly dynamic writer ilona_andrews...☺...I saw it had been paired with a book by Vicki Petersson that looked interesting—one of those "Buy both together" things. I clicked through to read up on that book, and saw she had a second one out. It's called The Taste of Night. Lo, and there was whining in the land once more.

At least Brother Wolf/A Taste of Night/Whatever the Hell is a WIP-on-Hold and I don't have to think of a title right away, but damn. This is getting tiresome. And I'm also thinking I might have to change the name of Charged with Folly, too, as the story seems to be evolving away from it. But maybe not. I won't truly know until I get there. And I ain't changing the title unless I absolutely have to.

In other news: Chapter 13 is done and a big chunk of 14 is, too. I also had to rewrite the end of chapter 12 again yesterday so 13 would make sense. I think it does, now.


Random quote of the day:

"The victor will never be asked if he told the truth."

—Adolf Hitler

Comments

[ilona-andrews.livejournal.com]

:iz dead of loff but still dynamic:

[pjthompson]

Now you've only got to sell 28,999 books.

[mrngglry98.livejournal.com]

Now that I think of it...what IS the significance of the title "Charged with Folly"? I haven't gleaned that yet from what I've read. Not that I'm one who should be talking about the significance of titles. The reasoning behind my Between a Rock and a Drag Queen doesn't even show up until something like Chapter 20 in the book. It was just the kooky working title I came up with before even starting the piece. ;)

[pjthompson]

Now that I think of it...what IS the significance of the title "Charged with Folly"?

It was the second working title I had. The first was "Barfing Angel" (referring to the opening scene). For obvious reasons, I couldn't use that one (though I was sorely tempted). CWF comes from a quote from Job: "Behold, he put no trust in his servants; and his angels he charged with folly." It made more sense in the original context, but it remains to be seen if it still does.

The reasoning behind my Between a Rock and a Drag Queen doesn't even show up until something like Chapter 20 in the book.

I don't think you necessarily have to explain the title early on in the book. I don't think I explained it in Shivery Bones until about midway through. It can make for a nice ah ha! moment for the reader when it finally shows up.

[sollersuk.livejournal.com]

You really do seem to be having title problems! At this rate it looks like something like "Brother Wolf's Taste of Night" might be your safest option!

[pjthompson]

lol - I suppose "A Taste of Wolf" is too repugnant...

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

That's a tough call on the book titles -- I mean, there are always movie sby the same name, and it's not like there's an unlimited amount of title that make sense for each genre. Was the other book old? I'd imagine there's a certain amount of time that needs to pass... and really, editors/publishers generally change titles to suit their whims anyway. I wouldn't worry about it too much if I were you (like, only if you're senindg it to teh agent/publisher of that other book).

[pjthompson]

Yeah, A Taste of Night was partially written before I did any of the novels you've read. And it started life as a thriller, which is part of why I shelved it. I didn't want to writer thrillers. But then some of the subtext started talking to me and I realized I had a paranormal on my hands--if I wanted another one. So...it's got a long way to go before I need to seriously worry about the title. It's just irritating, ya know?

[kmkibble75.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can understand that.

[geniusofevil.livejournal.com]

ah Hitler.

[pjthompson]

Quite a guy, huh?

[geniusofevil.livejournal.com]

I love how the quote instantly changes meaning when you know who said it.

[pjthompson]

Yeah--and how you can imagine it being said by some contemporary creeps, too.

[geniusofevil.livejournal.com]

exactly