Rachel Aaron's Blog, page 32
February 18, 2012
My Problem With Titles
Last week I finished a new book I'm very, very excited about. It's not an Eli book, but the first book in what I hope will be a new series that, quite frankly, is about nine million miles away from anything I've written before. I call it my abusive boyfriend book, because I gave up on it 3 times while I was writing because I thought things would never work, but in the end, I never could quit it. I always came crawling back, and eventually, by blood, sweat, and keyboard pounding, I finished that sucker.
But unlike an actual abusive relationship, this one had a happy ending. I'm so glad I stuck with it and finished things, because this book feels like a breakthrough for me, writing-wise. Unfortunately, though, as different as this book is from everything else I've written, one of my career long persistent writing problems remains - I have no idea what to call the thing.
This is my eternal problem. See, I have tons of titles and tons of books, but none of them ever seem to be able to match up. Without fail, any novel I finish lacks a name. The Spirit Thief was just The Eli Book until it was time to query agents and I had to call it something. Same with another new book I just sold (but can't talk about yet, sadness). This book is currently The Lola Book (sensing a pattern?).
I'd been casually messing around with possible names for months, but now that the book is done, I've started seriously searching. I have a long list of possibilities already, but nothing sounds right. I can't even explain what I'm looking for, but I'll know it when I find it. And as soon as Google learns how to search for that, they'll have world domination in the bag.
In case you're wondering, this is how I pick titles:
Step 1 - Think of something cool.
Step 2 - Look it up on Amazon, if a book in my genre that came out in the last 5 years (or is super famous) already has this title, go back to Step 1. If title is free, go on to Step 3.
Step 3 - Look it up on Google. If title is already a band name/album name/linked to some tragic affiliation, go back to Step 1. Otherwise, proceed to Step 4.
Step 4 - Yay! A title!
Of course, I can name the book whatever I want, but in the end it's the publisher, not the author, who decides the final title. This is why a title isn't as big a deal as you might think it is, though, if you have an amazing title (Current favorites: Never Knew Another, I Shall Wear Midnight, All The King's Men, John Dies At The End), that can do amazing things. Even so, I like my books to have names. Good names, the sort I can send them out into public with. Shoving a book off into the world wearing nothing but "The {main character name} Book" just feels irresponsible.
But this book, though, this one is special. After all the trouble this little bastard put me through, I don't just want to find it a name, I want to find it a great name. A name that grabs you and won't let you go until you pick up the book to see what it's about. I want a name that sums up everything this book is about in one beautiful phrase...
But that's in my ideal world. Right now, I'd settle for something other than "The Lola Book." I feel like a mom with a tired kid at a department store. "We're buying the first thing that fits, and then we're going home. Don't like it? Well, if you'd told me your name at the beginning, we wouldn't be in this situation, would we, book?"
And book just glares at me with its black and white glare until I give in and go home, nothing purchased. Going to be one of those nights, isn't it, book?
But unlike an actual abusive relationship, this one had a happy ending. I'm so glad I stuck with it and finished things, because this book feels like a breakthrough for me, writing-wise. Unfortunately, though, as different as this book is from everything else I've written, one of my career long persistent writing problems remains - I have no idea what to call the thing.
This is my eternal problem. See, I have tons of titles and tons of books, but none of them ever seem to be able to match up. Without fail, any novel I finish lacks a name. The Spirit Thief was just The Eli Book until it was time to query agents and I had to call it something. Same with another new book I just sold (but can't talk about yet, sadness). This book is currently The Lola Book (sensing a pattern?).
I'd been casually messing around with possible names for months, but now that the book is done, I've started seriously searching. I have a long list of possibilities already, but nothing sounds right. I can't even explain what I'm looking for, but I'll know it when I find it. And as soon as Google learns how to search for that, they'll have world domination in the bag.
In case you're wondering, this is how I pick titles:
Step 1 - Think of something cool.
Step 2 - Look it up on Amazon, if a book in my genre that came out in the last 5 years (or is super famous) already has this title, go back to Step 1. If title is free, go on to Step 3.
Step 3 - Look it up on Google. If title is already a band name/album name/linked to some tragic affiliation, go back to Step 1. Otherwise, proceed to Step 4.
Step 4 - Yay! A title!
Of course, I can name the book whatever I want, but in the end it's the publisher, not the author, who decides the final title. This is why a title isn't as big a deal as you might think it is, though, if you have an amazing title (Current favorites: Never Knew Another, I Shall Wear Midnight, All The King's Men, John Dies At The End), that can do amazing things. Even so, I like my books to have names. Good names, the sort I can send them out into public with. Shoving a book off into the world wearing nothing but "The {main character name} Book" just feels irresponsible.
But this book, though, this one is special. After all the trouble this little bastard put me through, I don't just want to find it a name, I want to find it a great name. A name that grabs you and won't let you go until you pick up the book to see what it's about. I want a name that sums up everything this book is about in one beautiful phrase...
But that's in my ideal world. Right now, I'd settle for something other than "The Lola Book." I feel like a mom with a tired kid at a department store. "We're buying the first thing that fits, and then we're going home. Don't like it? Well, if you'd told me your name at the beginning, we wouldn't be in this situation, would we, book?"
And book just glares at me with its black and white glare until I give in and go home, nothing purchased. Going to be one of those nights, isn't it, book?
February 16, 2012
New Writing Post Up At Magical Words
Thanks to the ever amazing Kalayna Price, I've got a guest post up over at the fantasy writing blog Magical Words. It's about story structure, pacing, and figuring out what's wrong with a scene that doesn't want to go anywhere. It might also be about lighting things on fire, though I can't vouch for that. Anyway, I hope you'll check it out, and thank you to Kalayna for letting me butt my nose in!
Also! All contest entries have been mailed except for Busy Woman's! If you're out there, Busy Woman, I never got your info! Please contact me! This book has to go somewhere!
<3
Rachel
Also! All contest entries have been mailed except for Busy Woman's! If you're out there, Busy Woman, I never got your info! Please contact me! This book has to go somewhere!
<3
Rachel
February 15, 2012
Spirit's Oath launches today!
My Eli world novella, Spirit's Oath, launches today! Hooray!
Four years before the events of The Spirit Thief, Miranda Lyonette was a young apprentice Spiritualist on the cusp of a promising career. But on the eve of her return from bonding a wind spirit, a night that should have been a celebration, she finds instead that her father has come to take her home. Now, Miranda must choose between her duty to her family and her future at the Spirit Court. But while she's trying to make her parents see reason and avoid an arranged marriage to a man she can't stand, she stumbled across the one one spirit who needs her more than any other, a caged ghosthound who doesn't want her help. To save him, Miranda will have to earn the dog's trust, but what she gets in return is a friendship deeper than anything she expected. Amazon | Other vendors
The novella has no spoilers for the series, so you can read it without reading the other books, but it will probably be more enjoyable if you already know the major players involved. It's an ebook only release, but that means it's only $3!
The wonderful Mihir of Fantasy Book Critic has posted his review here, along with his review for The Spirit Eater. I hope you'll give the short story a try, I had a lot of fun writing it!
Four years before the events of The Spirit Thief, Miranda Lyonette was a young apprentice Spiritualist on the cusp of a promising career. But on the eve of her return from bonding a wind spirit, a night that should have been a celebration, she finds instead that her father has come to take her home. Now, Miranda must choose between her duty to her family and her future at the Spirit Court. But while she's trying to make her parents see reason and avoid an arranged marriage to a man she can't stand, she stumbled across the one one spirit who needs her more than any other, a caged ghosthound who doesn't want her help. To save him, Miranda will have to earn the dog's trust, but what she gets in return is a friendship deeper than anything she expected. Amazon | Other vendors
The novella has no spoilers for the series, so you can read it without reading the other books, but it will probably be more enjoyable if you already know the major players involved. It's an ebook only release, but that means it's only $3!
The wonderful Mihir of Fantasy Book Critic has posted his review here, along with his review for The Spirit Eater. I hope you'll give the short story a try, I had a lot of fun writing it!
February 14, 2012
Day 7 Winner and the Grand Prize!
Our day7 winner is....Hanna C! Hooray! If you will send me your info, including your address and who you'd like your book made out to, I'll send it out.
And now, the grand prize gift card! Everyone was eligible for this, even people who've won other prizes (if that happened, I'd just give the double winner the gift card and pick someone else for the extra signed book). Fortunately, though, the random number elves felt like spreading the wealth, because out grand prize winner is...Courtney E. Richards! Yahoo!! Courtney, you've won the $50 Amazon card and a signed book! Yay! Please send me your info including all the usual book stuff (address, who you want it written out to) and the email address tied to the account you'd like the Amazon gift card to go to (or I can just mail it, as you like).
Thank you EVERYONE for participating! This was a huge success and I could not be happier. I will totally be running contests like this for my other new releases, so please add me to Twitter (@Rachel_Aaron) and RSS (feed links are on the left) to keep up with announcements and priz-ize-zes!
Also, for those who are interested, I have an Eli Novella coming out tomorrow about how Miranda met Gin. It's only $3, so I hope you'll give it a try! I'll be posting more about that later, but I just wanted to shout out since the date is so close.
Again, thank you to everyone who reviewed, posted, and otherwise spread the word! Eli loves you all! And if you didn't win one, I really do hope you'll pick up the omnibus just to see for yourself what a nice piece or work Orbit did with it. It's a thing of beauty for sure.
Thank you, everyone, congratulations to the winners, and I hope you have a great day!
<3s forever,
Rachel
Day 6 Winner!
And our day 6 winner is....Busy Woman! Not too busy to read a book, I hope! Yay!! If you will send me your info, including your address and who you'd like your book made out to, I'll get it to you pronto.
Today is the very last day of my contest! Also, Valentine's Day, but that's #2. Anyway! I'll be picking today's winner plus the grand prize, a $50 Amazon Gift card to spend on the books/goods of your choice, at noon EST today! If you still haven't entered, there's still a chance to win, drop down to the official contest post and leave your comment to get in the pot. Rules are there as well.
Thank you so much to everyone who entered! You guys really made me get all emotional! Thank you :D
- R
February 13, 2012
Day 5 Winner!
And our day 5 winner is....Tirzah Duncan! Hooray!! If you will send me your info, including your address and who you'd like your book made out to, I will ship it off!
There are only 2 more days (today and Tuesday) left to go, which means 2 more books plus the grand prize! I'll be announcing Tuesday's winner and the grand prize at noon tomorrow! So if you still haven't entered, or want to enter again to increase your chances, drop down to the official contest post and leave your comment to get in the pot. Rules are there as well.
Almost there!
- Rachel
February 12, 2012
Day 4 Winner!
And the number elves have picked....Ezzierae as our day 4 winner! Congrats!! If you will send me your info, including your address and who you'd like your book made out to, I will ship it off!
And if you didn't win yet, don't worry, there are still 3 more days left plus the grand prize to go! Everyone who has already entered is still eligible to win in every day hence, so keep posting. New entries also go into the pot, so everyone has a shot!
And things don't stop just because it's the weekend! I'll be announcing today's winner tomorrow morning, as per usual. If you haven't entered yet, drop down to the official contest post and leave your comment to get in the pot. Rules are there as well.
As always, thank you all for being so great!
- Rachel
February 11, 2012
Day 3 Winner!
And the winner for yesterday's drawing (as picked by my random number machine) is....Imaeko!! YAY! If you will send me your info, including your address and who you'd like your book made out to, I will mail it post haste!
Don't worry, there are still 4 more days left, and the grand prize to go! Everyone who has already entered is still eligible to win in every day hence, so the sooner your enter, the better your chance! New entries also go into the pot, so everyone has a shot!
And things don't stop just because it's the weekend! I'll be announcing today's winner tomorrow (Sunday) morning, as per usual. If you haven't entered yet, drop down to the official contest post and leave your comment to get in the pot. Rules are there as well.
As always, thank you all for being so great!
- Rachel
February 10, 2012
Day 2 Winner! (plus review roundup)
There have been some awesome entries! You guys really bring a tear to my eyes. Thank you for all the help!!!On to winners! The winner for Day 2 according to my Random-o-matic is... Booklover 31! Hooray!! If you will send me your info, including your address and who you'd like your book made out to, I will mail it post haste!
There are 5 days left of books to give out, plus the grand prize to go! Everyone who entered so far is still eligible to win in every day hence, so keep the entries coming! (If you tweeted on day 1 or 2, you can tweet again for another entry if you're so moved. Think one tweet a day, ^__^)
As usual, I'll announce today's winner tomorrow morning! If you haven't entered yet, drop down to the official contest post and leave your comment to get in the pot. Rules are there as well.
Thanks everyone for entering!
And just because they made me fantastically happy (and I haven't done a review round up in a while), here are more Eli Omnibus book reviews!
Whatchamacallit Reviews was far, far too kind. Thank you!The Bookbag had some lovely things to say. And yes, the omnibus is very, very big. More story for your money!The Black Gate reviewed The Spirit Thief a while ago, but better late than never!And finally, this isn't actually a review but Bakka-Phoenix independent bookstore has the Eli Omnibus as one of their February recs, and you know I love me some independent book stores!If I missed a review, let me know, and congrats again Booklover 31 on the win! Contests are so much fun! :D
There are 5 days left of books to give out, plus the grand prize to go! Everyone who entered so far is still eligible to win in every day hence, so keep the entries coming! (If you tweeted on day 1 or 2, you can tweet again for another entry if you're so moved. Think one tweet a day, ^__^)
As usual, I'll announce today's winner tomorrow morning! If you haven't entered yet, drop down to the official contest post and leave your comment to get in the pot. Rules are there as well.
Thanks everyone for entering!
And just because they made me fantastically happy (and I haven't done a review round up in a while), here are more Eli Omnibus book reviews!
Whatchamacallit Reviews was far, far too kind. Thank you!The Bookbag had some lovely things to say. And yes, the omnibus is very, very big. More story for your money!The Black Gate reviewed The Spirit Thief a while ago, but better late than never!And finally, this isn't actually a review but Bakka-Phoenix independent bookstore has the Eli Omnibus as one of their February recs, and you know I love me some independent book stores!If I missed a review, let me know, and congrats again Booklover 31 on the win! Contests are so much fun! :D
February 9, 2012
Day 1 Winner!
And the winner for yesterday's drawing (as picked by my random number machine) is....Deshipley! YAY! If you will send me your info, including your address and who you'd like your book made out to, I will mail it post haste!
Don't worry, there are still 6 more days left, and the grand prize to go! Everyone who entered yesterday is still eligible to win in every day hence, so the sooner your enter, the better your chance!
I'll be announcing today's winner tomorrow morning, so pull your friends in and make them enter too :D! If you haven't entered yet, drop down to the official contest post and leave your comment to get in the pot. Rules are there as well.
And also, thank everyone so much for all the lovely comments. You guys SERIOUSLY make my life. If I had the money, I'd give you all books. And if you ever see me, I will sign anything you put in front of me. Seriously. Anything. I'll sign dogs.
Go enter, and let's give away some more books!
- Rachel
Don't worry, there are still 6 more days left, and the grand prize to go! Everyone who entered yesterday is still eligible to win in every day hence, so the sooner your enter, the better your chance!
I'll be announcing today's winner tomorrow morning, so pull your friends in and make them enter too :D! If you haven't entered yet, drop down to the official contest post and leave your comment to get in the pot. Rules are there as well.
And also, thank everyone so much for all the lovely comments. You guys SERIOUSLY make my life. If I had the money, I'd give you all books. And if you ever see me, I will sign anything you put in front of me. Seriously. Anything. I'll sign dogs.
Go enter, and let's give away some more books!
- Rachel
