Julie E. Czerneda's Blog, page 21
May 16, 2012
My Kingdom for a Title
Ever wonder where titles come from?
Me too!!
Seriously, titles are either Right There, Yahoo! or I swear they party in some deep dark inaccessible recess of the brain, refusing to come out. Ever.
Yes, I've had some success with my book titles. My favourite method is to grab a meaningful line from the story itself. Which presupposes the story itself exists before the title. Problem? At some point, one's asked to title books that don't exist yet. At all. There are valid reasons for this insane process: Contracts need titles. Promotion and catalogues. Covers. Talking about project X gets kinda old fast too.
I've tried to learn as I go, in this as well as every other aspect of writing. The titles for Esen's books are all plays on vision/sight, since she has different eyes depending on whim and I make jokes about it. Hence "Beholder's Eye" -- a literal title that, at first, kept showing up as "Eye of the Beholder." Sigh with me. "Changing Vision" and "Hidden in Sight" came after. The working title (because things do change) for the fourth and not yet written book is "Search Image." I'm very fond. We'll see. (Little Es humour there.)
"A Thousand Words for Stranger" came from a line in the story, too, but I was sure it would change. To my amazement, everyone liked it. The next titles had to be created far in advance of writing. The major factor? (This is embarrassing.) The cover design. I was really excited by it. There's a cool drop-down T and R on the first book. Yup. "Ties of Power" and "To Trade to the Stars" were attempts to look similar.
"In the Company of Others" was a panic-stricken last minute (on my part) change from the original title of "No Place Like Home" because my editor rightly pointed out the latter reminded her of The Wizard of Oz. (I liked "No Place..." so much, I used it for my novella in "Forbidden Planets.")
Still with me? Okay. Survival, Migration, and Regeneration .. a snap. I now understand the love of one word titles, and wish I could arrange for more.
Once I went back to the Trade Pact universe to write prequels, the title structure needed to match my completely irrational "series style." I picked the letter "R" as a likely one to replace the "T" (see how deep I am?) and then ran through combinations of words that worked for me. Okay, and had elements of flight/sky/air. "Reap the Wild Wind" "Riders of the Storm" and "Rift in the Sky" were the result. I'm quite fond. (Even with the unintended song thing.)I was even able to use the titles as lines in the books. Circular, but oddly satisfying.
Where am I? Oh yes. "A Turn of Light" It started life as "Night's Edge" but my editor (wise is she) thought that could cause issues with people who'd envision swords and/or knights and be disappointed. "A Turn of Light" is the best possible title, I now believe after writing the 1066 pages that go with the name.
Yes, I'm busy working on new titles. Right now. It never gets normal, believe me.
Oh, *series titles*?
Another blog, folks. Those make choosing novel titles a swing in the park by comparison.
Me too!!
Seriously, titles are either Right There, Yahoo! or I swear they party in some deep dark inaccessible recess of the brain, refusing to come out. Ever.
Yes, I've had some success with my book titles. My favourite method is to grab a meaningful line from the story itself. Which presupposes the story itself exists before the title. Problem? At some point, one's asked to title books that don't exist yet. At all. There are valid reasons for this insane process: Contracts need titles. Promotion and catalogues. Covers. Talking about project X gets kinda old fast too.
I've tried to learn as I go, in this as well as every other aspect of writing. The titles for Esen's books are all plays on vision/sight, since she has different eyes depending on whim and I make jokes about it. Hence "Beholder's Eye" -- a literal title that, at first, kept showing up as "Eye of the Beholder." Sigh with me. "Changing Vision" and "Hidden in Sight" came after. The working title (because things do change) for the fourth and not yet written book is "Search Image." I'm very fond. We'll see. (Little Es humour there.)
"A Thousand Words for Stranger" came from a line in the story, too, but I was sure it would change. To my amazement, everyone liked it. The next titles had to be created far in advance of writing. The major factor? (This is embarrassing.) The cover design. I was really excited by it. There's a cool drop-down T and R on the first book. Yup. "Ties of Power" and "To Trade to the Stars" were attempts to look similar.
"In the Company of Others" was a panic-stricken last minute (on my part) change from the original title of "No Place Like Home" because my editor rightly pointed out the latter reminded her of The Wizard of Oz. (I liked "No Place..." so much, I used it for my novella in "Forbidden Planets.")
Still with me? Okay. Survival, Migration, and Regeneration .. a snap. I now understand the love of one word titles, and wish I could arrange for more.
Once I went back to the Trade Pact universe to write prequels, the title structure needed to match my completely irrational "series style." I picked the letter "R" as a likely one to replace the "T" (see how deep I am?) and then ran through combinations of words that worked for me. Okay, and had elements of flight/sky/air. "Reap the Wild Wind" "Riders of the Storm" and "Rift in the Sky" were the result. I'm quite fond. (Even with the unintended song thing.)I was even able to use the titles as lines in the books. Circular, but oddly satisfying.
Where am I? Oh yes. "A Turn of Light" It started life as "Night's Edge" but my editor (wise is she) thought that could cause issues with people who'd envision swords and/or knights and be disappointed. "A Turn of Light" is the best possible title, I now believe after writing the 1066 pages that go with the name.
Yes, I'm busy working on new titles. Right now. It never gets normal, believe me.
Oh, *series titles*?
Another blog, folks. Those make choosing novel titles a swing in the park by comparison.
May 11, 2012
All good things ...
I'm delighted to tell you that my editor loves A TURN OF LIGHT! The catches she made -- and there were 31 -- are all extremely doable and worth doing. None affect the overall plot or world, which makes such a difference in the revision process.
We're now tossing notions back and forth about what I'll write next. I'll post when I know, believe me.
If you're interested in the revision process I follow (at least this round), I've started posting photos and info on my fb fan page, which feeds through to www.czerneda.com
Of course, given how lovely it is outside, and that it's the Mother's Day weekend? I've a feeling I'll be revising flowers in the gardens. Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all Mums.
We're now tossing notions back and forth about what I'll write next. I'll post when I know, believe me.
If you're interested in the revision process I follow (at least this round), I've started posting photos and info on my fb fan page, which feeds through to www.czerneda.com
Of course, given how lovely it is outside, and that it's the Mother's Day weekend? I've a feeling I'll be revising flowers in the gardens. Have a great weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all Mums.
May 1, 2012
Clear the decks!
Why? My revision of A TURN OF LIGHT likely begins a week today. Oh goodness.
You see, it's a monster. Light and fluffy, with all manner of stuff in it I like, but there's 1066 manuscript pages. Simply running spell? Will take hours. ::laughs:: Let alone fixing whatever my dear editor has caught me doing or not doing, as the case may be. (Probably both.)
Thus, there best be nothing but TURN on my desk by Monday.
New plan. Finish the current WIP (a short story). Prep for Anime North (coming May 25th). Make sure the freezer's full of quick meals.
If you'd like to follow along, I plan to tweet the silliest parts of the process @julieczerneda
Meanwhile, May 3rd, read the next installment from TURN on www.czerneda.com
Wish me luck! zoom!
You see, it's a monster. Light and fluffy, with all manner of stuff in it I like, but there's 1066 manuscript pages. Simply running spell? Will take hours. ::laughs:: Let alone fixing whatever my dear editor has caught me doing or not doing, as the case may be. (Probably both.)
Thus, there best be nothing but TURN on my desk by Monday.
New plan. Finish the current WIP (a short story). Prep for Anime North (coming May 25th). Make sure the freezer's full of quick meals.
If you'd like to follow along, I plan to tweet the silliest parts of the process @julieczerneda
Meanwhile, May 3rd, read the next installment from TURN on www.czerneda.com
Wish me luck! zoom!
April 27, 2012
The Weekend Beckons
And so does a new story. I'm writing an "origins" tale to accompany my story "Water Remembers" in TALES OF THE EMERALD SERPENT. As my character is a wizard found in less than good shape, it's not only about where and where she was before,but what happened and why.
All while adding to, rather than spoiling, the huge story arcs throughout the shared world.
How fun is that!??
So, between gardening, family stuff, loafing around, and generally weekending, this new story will be tugging me towards the keyboard, or scraps of paper, or make me stare contentedly into space.
Hope you have a fine weekend ahead too!
All while adding to, rather than spoiling, the huge story arcs throughout the shared world.
How fun is that!??
So, between gardening, family stuff, loafing around, and generally weekending, this new story will be tugging me towards the keyboard, or scraps of paper, or make me stare contentedly into space.
Hope you have a fine weekend ahead too!
April 25, 2012
How do you know ...?
... if you've done your job?
As a writer, there's all manner of markers available. Word count. Stack of pages. Meeting deadlines. Selling a story. Editorial feedback. Books in stores.
I could go on, but to me, there's really only one way to tell if I've done my job and written a complete, worthwhile story. Do I, even knowing every word all too well, still feel a passionate response when I read it?
Having reread my latest, A TURN OF LIGHT, I can assure you by that measure? I've never done it better.
happyhappyhappyme!! I cried buckets!
Sorry you'll have to wait until March 2013
A Turn of Light
And yes, this is a strange line of work.
As a writer, there's all manner of markers available. Word count. Stack of pages. Meeting deadlines. Selling a story. Editorial feedback. Books in stores.
I could go on, but to me, there's really only one way to tell if I've done my job and written a complete, worthwhile story. Do I, even knowing every word all too well, still feel a passionate response when I read it?
Having reread my latest, A TURN OF LIGHT, I can assure you by that measure? I've never done it better.
happyhappyhappyme!! I cried buckets!
Sorry you'll have to wait until March 2013
A Turn of Light
And yes, this is a strange line of work.
April 22, 2012
Happy Earth Day
Because writers, especially SF ones, always have opinions about the planet, I was asked, along with fourteen other authors, by the Toronto Star to opine on our future wrt climate change. You read the article here.
http://www.toronto.com/article/723921
The book I'm referring to in my comment is The Future Of Lifeby E.O. Wilson. I highly recommend it. Readable, positive, far-reaching.
http://www.toronto.com/article/723921
The book I'm referring to in my comment is The Future Of Lifeby E.O. Wilson. I highly recommend it. Readable, positive, far-reaching.
April 20, 2012
Audiobooks!
I've had all appendages crossed for some time now, hoping for exactly this. From the mail I've received over the years, I'm not the only one ;-)
::drumroll!!!::
My first two trilogies, The Trade Pact (Sira & Morgan) and the Webshifters (her blue blob of goodness, Esen) have been bought by Audible.com. Not only bought, but now in production! w00t!!! How exciting is that?
It turns out the "Glossary of Weird Words I Made UP" that I prepared for DAW's ever-patient copyeditor are just the ticket for Audible's folks to use when ::coughs:: figuring out how to say them all naturally.
Stay tuned. I'll post release dates (and funny along-the-way things) as I have them.
Audiobooks!! At last!!!
::drumroll!!!::
My first two trilogies, The Trade Pact (Sira & Morgan) and the Webshifters (her blue blob of goodness, Esen) have been bought by Audible.com. Not only bought, but now in production! w00t!!! How exciting is that?
It turns out the "Glossary of Weird Words I Made UP" that I prepared for DAW's ever-patient copyeditor are just the ticket for Audible's folks to use when ::coughs:: figuring out how to say them all naturally.
Stay tuned. I'll post release dates (and funny along-the-way things) as I have them.
Audiobooks!! At last!!!
April 16, 2012
The Day After a Con
I have to laugh. It's always the same. My creative side is in overdrive, between the stimulation of great conversations and learning New Stuff. The rest of me is unutterably lazy and demanding downtime. Somewhere in the middle lies the unpacking drive and the must-follow-up with folks list.
Which, of course, is why I go to conventions. Other than the lazy/downtime bit. Writing's a solitary life. It's not only inspiring to listen to other writers (and readers, love them!) but reassuring. We share the same struggles and hopes. We giggle at copyedit foibles and sigh with compassion over deadlines and Real Lifetm. Best of all, though?
We remind ourselves why we do it in the first place. It's a great and joyous occupation, telling stories. Cheers to all writers out there!
Which, of course, is why I go to conventions. Other than the lazy/downtime bit. Writing's a solitary life. It's not only inspiring to listen to other writers (and readers, love them!) but reassuring. We share the same struggles and hopes. We giggle at copyedit foibles and sigh with compassion over deadlines and Real Lifetm. Best of all, though?
We remind ourselves why we do it in the first place. It's a great and joyous occupation, telling stories. Cheers to all writers out there!
April 11, 2012
Non-genre books that influenced my writing
Today's SFMindmeld feature is all about that. Here's my answer, along with those of several other authors.
http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2012...
http://www.sfsignal.com/archives/2012...
April 10, 2012
Ad Astra April 13-15th Toronto
Such a wonderful convention! If you like books or writing or both, this is the place.
You'll spot me on these panels: Short story contest (a judge); Worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs; Creating Culture; Idea Doodling; and Sequels. This year, I'm doing a writing workshop on Sunday morning entitled "Skills of the Trade: Revising and The Pitch" in which I shall force sleepy people to have fun and learn stuff.Sign up is at registration. I've a reading -- from what will be a surprise. Last, not least, there's an author autographing en masse Saturday from 1-3 pm.
See you there!
You'll spot me on these panels: Short story contest (a judge); Worlds of Edgar Rice Burroughs; Creating Culture; Idea Doodling; and Sequels. This year, I'm doing a writing workshop on Sunday morning entitled "Skills of the Trade: Revising and The Pitch" in which I shall force sleepy people to have fun and learn stuff.Sign up is at registration. I've a reading -- from what will be a surprise. Last, not least, there's an author autographing en masse Saturday from 1-3 pm.
See you there!
