Tuesday 9 November 2010

Can you help me choose a new title for my debut?

Ok, as I said yesterday I'd be honored to get your wonderful input on helping me choose a new title for my debut novel. If you click the 'Complete Novels' tab above you can read the summary and the first few paragraphs of my manuscript if you wish to know what the book is about first. Please don't feel obligated to do so, though. Sometimes it's good to see what catches your eye without knowing anything about the book. So let me know too if you chose blindly or not in your comment.

So ... have a look at the titles, and let me know which three are the most appealing. As I have to give my publisher three options to choose from. Or, if you want to suggest something completely different, go ahead! I'm all ears! (or eyes in this case :o)

Ok, here are some ideas I've brainstormed:
Melody
If I Were Music
If Music Were Wind 
Music Masquerades
Between the Octaves
Life Ticks Like A Metronome
Music Shadows
From Guitar to Dust
Slice of Silence

Whaddaya reckon?

Edit: Laurel suggested 'Hurricane Melody' ... Wow. That made me go all giddy. Great suggestion! So, add that to the list above :o)

57 comments:

  1. Without reading the sample passages I was drawn most to the title 'Between the Octaves'. It's different and compelling. Now I will read the passages :O)

    ReplyDelete
  2. After reading the sample passage I like If Music Were Wind. But I'd change it to If Music was the Wind.
    There's also, Wind Music, or Music of the Wind.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I like between the octaves! Congrats by the way. Wohoo!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Great choices! I'm torn between
    Between the Octaves and Music Masquerades.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Jess! I've read the excerpts of your story...and I like the titles: If Music Were Wind, Music Shadows and Between the Octaves. :) All the best!!! It's so exciting things are going well for you! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Without reading the summary, my favorites were "If I Were Music", "Between the Octaves", and "Melody". After reading the summary, I'm sticking with those 3! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Between the octaves, I love that, there is such a flow to it!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Jessica - How about "between the lines" or "between the notes"?"

    If you pick either one, let me know!
    :)
    Mark

    ReplyDelete
  9. Melody
    At The Heart of the Music
    Between the Octaves
    Strumming the Heartstrings

    ReplyDelete
  10. Okay, between the ones you've got listed, the only one that really grabs me is Between the Octaves. I'd pick that up off the shelf immediately.

    Here's a couple that popped into my head while I was musing over yours.

    The Rhythm of Silence

    Finding the Song

    ReplyDelete
  11. 'Slice of Silence' is a gorgeous title. The imagery is so interesting and makes me want to know what it means.

    'If I Were Music' and 'If Music Were Wind' are both cool.

    And I really think 'Music Shadows' has potential. Maybe tweaked a bit? I'm thinking 'Shadow(or Shadowed) Music'...or 'In Music's Shadow' or 'Shadow Notes' (??)

    I gotta say, 'Chords of Inquiry' would make an outstanding title to, IMHO.

    Can't wait to read everyone's advice!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I like "Life Ticks by Like AMetronone"

    Between The Octaves,
    and
    Music Shadows.

    Am I so pleased for you and wish you all the best.

    Yvonne.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Based on titles alone, I'd pick up Between the Octaves.

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love If I Were Music -- beautiful and very literary-fiction-ish!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi,

    After reading the premise and snippet from chapter.

    First off, congrats on securing a publishing deal. The snippet is lovely and gives insight to Melody's dilemma.

    Re the titles: this is purely from my perspective.

    Melody: yeah, it's her name, but it seems more in keeping with a single girl storyline, but "Melody's Muse" (being music) gives thought to what or who is her muse?

    If I Were Music: seems better suited to a poem.

    If Music Were Wind: again more poetic in connotation, and implying wind instrument as opposed to guitar. What if: Wind on Heartstrings.

    Music Masquerades: as masquerade infers element of deception. Does it fit in present form re the "music" aspect alongside Melody's dilemma? Well sort of because she's living a lie steeped in unhappiness, so how about: Masquerading Heart.

    Between the Octaves: I quite like this.

    Life Ticks Like A Metronome: No, don't like.

    Music Shadows: being as she's deprived of her music, why not: Music in Shadows

    From Guitar to Dust: a bit terminal in connotation.

    Slice of Silence: sort of reflects Melody's mood, but she does return to her greatest joy music, right?:
    Silent Music.

    Not meant as criticism, just what came tio mind after reading snippet. I shall skulk off now.

    best
    F

    ReplyDelete
  16. Francine: BRILLIANT feedback! Just what I'm looking for. Thanks a million! :o)

    ReplyDelete
  17. I liked Between the Octaves and from Guitar to Dust (did not look at samples) b/c they are both a clever play on words!

    ReplyDelete
  18. After reading the snippet and your short synopsis, the idea pressing in my head is

    Hurricane Melody

    This works on a couple of levels--her desire to take the world by storm, the way storms are often given women's names, the way music churns up and upends her life.

    I think you have some other lovely ideas here, but none suggest quite the level of conflict and kind of plot you have--they all sound very quiet and, um, meek. I get the sense Melody is aching for more storm in her life!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Wow. Laurel! I love that! Thank you!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. i like slice of silence, has a certain edge to it

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'm choosing blind I'll give you my top three in order I found them attractive:
    1: Slice of Silence
    2: Life Ticks Like A Metronome
    3: From Guitar to Dust

    ReplyDelete
  22. I read your sample...awesome and congrats on getting it published.

    The title that kind of popped from what I read was something different,

    Melody: The heart of the music.

    Again CONGRATS this is huge.

    ReplyDelete
  23. How about "Unchained Meloday"? Oh wait...hehh...

    I really like Between the Octaves. It has the most serious tone, I think, and anyone who's ever been a musician knows how much emotion gets poured out and digested during simple scale runs.

    ReplyDelete
  24. I like Between the Octaves. It's poetic and commercial.

    ReplyDelete
  25. This is for Dead in the Corner of my Bedroom, right? I realize you've probably revise some but it is still that story?

    I love Between the Octaves, and in fact I love all the titles that incorporate musical terms. You could even change Slice of Silence to Stanza of Silence, or Silent Stanza.

    That's all I have right now, good luck Jess!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Choosing blindly, I'd say my three faves are Between the Octaves, Music Masquerades, and Music Shadows (in that order). :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. I LOVE Between the Octaves...and I also really like Hurricane Melody. I think both are unique. And having read your first chapter (love.it), I think both work with the writing.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Blindly, I like Slice of Silence, If Music Were (was?) Wind, and Hurricane Melody. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  29. Ooo. . .some great titles.

    Before reading the summary, these titles called to me: Music Masquerades, Between the Octaves, From Guitar to Dust. Afterwards, there was one clear winner: Between the Octaves.

    Hope that helps!

    ReplyDelete
  30. I think you should play on the word/name Melody. A Sad Melody, Errant Melody, Haunting Melody, Lost Melody...

    Though since those weren't the choices you offered... I like 'If Music Were Wind'

    Melody on the Wind?
    Melody Carried on the Wind?

    I just love the wordplay possible with the name.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Hi Jess

    I'd put a vote for

    Melody

    but here is my suggestion

    Chasing Dreams

    it could be taken already for all i know but have fun choosing :-)

    ReplyDelete
  32. I like Hurricane Melody, but my first love was Between the Octaves.

    Titles are so fun! But kinda hard! Looking forward to following your journey!

    ReplyDelete
  33. I think the three I like the best from best to least best are:
    If I Were Music
    Melody
    Between the Octaves

    Good luck picking a title! You have some good ones out there.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I like Slice of Silence---especially if there's like a knife murder in it... ? yes???

    Omg, I absolutely SUCK at titles. I'm sorry. But it looks like you've got several good helpers here~ :o) <3

    P.S.
    Holy smokes, you blew the lid off 400! :o)

    ReplyDelete
  35. I live Melody and Music Shadows.

    ReplyDelete
  36. I'd go for something with Coda or Adagio, Allegro, Amoroso, or Pianoforte in the title. Storm in the Key of C. Storm Adagio. Amoroso Wind. Ideas for you to play with :)

    ReplyDelete
  37. It seems people like Between the Octaves, which is also my #1 choice.

    ReplyDelete
  38. My favorites are:
    1. Slice of Silence
    2. From Guitar to Dust
    3. Between the Octaves

    So delighted to hear your great news. Bualadh bos os ard!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  39. Interesting suggestions! I definitely think it should have something to do with music - maybe something to do with deviating from the familiar...

    Hmm. I'll put my thinking cap on!

    ReplyDelete
  40. I'm totally stoked you liked my suggestion. Those two words were singing to me from your passage, in big fill-the-room voices.

    ReplyDelete
  41. Between the Octaves is the strongest title, in my opinion. But since you asked for three, I'll also put in a vote for If Music Were Wind (though I might not use this if you also keep it as the first line) and Slice of Silence.

    ReplyDelete
  42. My favorite is "Between the Octaves." Then "Slice of Silence." After reading the blurb I still like those but thought I might suggest "Deceptive Cadence."

    ReplyDelete
  43. Between the octaves

    Something about it strikes me as fascinating.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Some very good title possibilities here. Based on the lyrical quality of the writing, and the first person feeling of the opening paragraphs, I'd suggest either MELODY (which is quite lovely and something I'd want to buy) or IF I WERE MUSIC. It reminds me of the opening of Twelfth Night, If music be the food of love, play on/Give me excess of it...

    ReplyDelete
  45. I'm doing this blindly:

    If Music Were Wind
    Music Masquerades
    From Guitar To Dust

    ReplyDelete
  46. I already love the slight change of tone you've created with your new opening... feels like a storm brewing. :)

    'Between the Octaves' seems to be very popular so far. It was the title that stood out to me the most, too.

    I think that there it could be a little dangerous to make the music play on words too obvious, however (in regards to some of the other titles). You don't want it to seem like a cutsey pun (especially that Jane is now Melody!), because I don't think that's the tone your going for.

    Have you looked at types of musical compositions as names? 'Requiem' springs to mind, for example... mass for the dead.

    ReplyDelete
  47. Hi Jessica -

    I picked "Between the Octaves" both before and after I read your summary and opening. Beautiful writing, btw! :)

    My own two-cents? "Strum"

    (my other one was cheesy, but I'll throw it out there, just in case... "Out of Pluck")

    Good luck to you! :-D

    ReplyDelete
  48. I'm choosing blindly, since great titles are the first things that catch my eye at the bookstore.

    1)Melody- There's just something intriguing about a good one-word title.

    2)If I Were Music- I would want to pick this book up to find out what exactly the title meant.

    3)Slice of Silence- It's both eerie and lovely.

    Best of luck!

    ReplyDelete
  49. Thanks for all your input everyone! You've given me some BRILLIANT food for thought! :o)

    ReplyDelete
  50. My suggestion:

    "Music Becomes Her" or, a slightly more literary title,
    "The Heiress of Athens"

    My top 3 from your list

    Music Shadows
    Music Masquerades
    Life Ticks Like a Metronome

    ReplyDelete
  51. ps. I like someone's suggestion of "Hurricane Melody," too!

    ReplyDelete
  52. 'a song could last my life time,'
    I loved those word, and they brought me these ideas:

    Lifetime Melody

    Medley of a Lifetime

    The Song of a Lifetime

    Broken Strings


    Have fun :)

    ReplyDelete
  53. I think "Dead in the Corner of my Bedroom" is the most intriguing. The other ones just didn't catch my attention that much. If I had to choose one, though, I'd say "Between the Octaves."

    But, but... I'm confused. I thought publishers assigned titles based on their own mysterious marketing wisdom?

    ReplyDelete
  54. I'm still partial to the original title but my top 3 in order of preference are
    Between The Octaves
    From Guitar to Dust
    Slice of Silence

    So excited for you :) Matter of fact I'm going to eat a cupcake and drink a beer in your honor today ;p

    ReplyDelete
  55. Music Shadows has the most potential to me, I like the subtle hint of the darkness that is implied :)

    Another suggestion might be something like "Life in a Minor Key" or something :)

    ReplyDelete

“I'm using my art to comment on what I see. You don't have to agree with it.” ~John Mellencamp

“Allowing an unimportant mistake to pass without comment is a wonderful social grace” ~Judith S. Marin

“I don't ever try to make a serious social comment.” ~Paul McCartney

“I'd make a comment at a meeting and nobody would even acknowledge me. Then some man would say the same thing and they'd all nod.” ~Charlotte Bunch

“Probably what my comment meant was that I don't care about the circumstances if I can tell the truth.” ~Sally Kirkland

“We're not going to pay attention to the silliness and the petty comments. And quite frankly, women have joined me in this effort, and so it's not about appearances. It's about effectiveness.” ~Katherine Harris