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)
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
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)
Edit: Laurel suggested 'Hurricane Melody' ... Wow. That made me go all giddy. Great suggestion! So, add that to the list above :o)
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)
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the sample passage I like If Music Were Wind. But I'd change it to If Music was the Wind.
ReplyDeleteThere's also, Wind Music, or Music of the Wind.
I like between the octaves! Congrats by the way. Wohoo!
ReplyDeleteGreat choices! I'm torn between
ReplyDeleteBetween the Octaves and Music Masquerades.
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! :)
ReplyDeleteWithout 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! :)
ReplyDeleteBetween the octaves, I love that, there is such a flow to it!
ReplyDeleteJessica - How about "between the lines" or "between the notes"?"
ReplyDeleteIf you pick either one, let me know!
:)
Mark
Melody
ReplyDeleteAt The Heart of the Music
Between the Octaves
Strumming the Heartstrings
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.
ReplyDeleteHere's a couple that popped into my head while I was musing over yours.
The Rhythm of Silence
Finding the Song
'Slice of Silence' is a gorgeous title. The imagery is so interesting and makes me want to know what it means.
ReplyDelete'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!
I like "Life Ticks by Like AMetronone"
ReplyDeleteBetween The Octaves,
and
Music Shadows.
Am I so pleased for you and wish you all the best.
Yvonne.
Based on titles alone, I'd pick up Between the Octaves.
ReplyDeleteI love If I Were Music -- beautiful and very literary-fiction-ish!
ReplyDeleteHi,
ReplyDeleteAfter 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
Francine: BRILLIANT feedback! Just what I'm looking for. Thanks a million! :o)
ReplyDeleteI like the last two.
ReplyDeleteI liked Between the Octaves and from Guitar to Dust (did not look at samples) b/c they are both a clever play on words!
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the snippet and your short synopsis, the idea pressing in my head is
ReplyDeleteHurricane 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!
Wow. Laurel! I love that! Thank you!!!!
ReplyDeletei like slice of silence, has a certain edge to it
ReplyDeleteI'm choosing blind I'll give you my top three in order I found them attractive:
ReplyDelete1: Slice of Silence
2: Life Ticks Like A Metronome
3: From Guitar to Dust
I read your sample...awesome and congrats on getting it published.
ReplyDeleteThe title that kind of popped from what I read was something different,
Melody: The heart of the music.
Again CONGRATS this is huge.
How about "Unchained Meloday"? Oh wait...hehh...
ReplyDeleteI 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.
I like Between the Octaves. It's poetic and commercial.
ReplyDeleteThis is for Dead in the Corner of my Bedroom, right? I realize you've probably revise some but it is still that story?
ReplyDeleteI 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!
Choosing blindly, I'd say my three faves are Between the Octaves, Music Masquerades, and Music Shadows (in that order). :)
ReplyDeleteI 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.
ReplyDeleteBlindly, I like Slice of Silence, If Music Were (was?) Wind, and Hurricane Melody. :-)
ReplyDeleteOoo. . .some great titles.
ReplyDeleteBefore 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!
I think you should play on the word/name Melody. A Sad Melody, Errant Melody, Haunting Melody, Lost Melody...
ReplyDeleteThough 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.
Hi Jess
ReplyDeleteI'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 :-)
I like Hurricane Melody, but my first love was Between the Octaves.
ReplyDeleteTitles are so fun! But kinda hard! Looking forward to following your journey!
I think the three I like the best from best to least best are:
ReplyDeleteIf I Were Music
Melody
Between the Octaves
Good luck picking a title! You have some good ones out there.
I like Slice of Silence---especially if there's like a knife murder in it... ? yes???
ReplyDeleteOmg, 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)
I live Melody and Music Shadows.
ReplyDeleteI'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 :)
ReplyDeleteIt seems people like Between the Octaves, which is also my #1 choice.
ReplyDeleteMy favorites are:
ReplyDelete1. Slice of Silence
2. From Guitar to Dust
3. Between the Octaves
So delighted to hear your great news. Bualadh bos os ard!!!!
Interesting suggestions! I definitely think it should have something to do with music - maybe something to do with deviating from the familiar...
ReplyDeleteHmm. I'll put my thinking cap on!
I'm totally stoked you liked my suggestion. Those two words were singing to me from your passage, in big fill-the-room voices.
ReplyDeleteBetween 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.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite is "Between the Octaves." Then "Slice of Silence." After reading the blurb I still like those but thought I might suggest "Deceptive Cadence."
ReplyDeleteBetween the octaves
ReplyDeleteSomething about it strikes me as fascinating.
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...
ReplyDeleteI'm doing this blindly:
ReplyDeleteIf Music Were Wind
Music Masquerades
From Guitar To Dust
I already love the slight change of tone you've created with your new opening... feels like a storm brewing. :)
ReplyDelete'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.
Hi Jessica -
ReplyDeleteI 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
I'm choosing blindly, since great titles are the first things that catch my eye at the bookstore.
ReplyDelete1)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!
Thanks for all your input everyone! You've given me some BRILLIANT food for thought! :o)
ReplyDeleteMy suggestion:
ReplyDelete"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
ps. I like someone's suggestion of "Hurricane Melody," too!
ReplyDelete'a song could last my life time,'
ReplyDeleteI loved those word, and they brought me these ideas:
Lifetime Melody
Medley of a Lifetime
The Song of a Lifetime
Broken Strings
Have fun :)
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."
ReplyDeleteBut, but... I'm confused. I thought publishers assigned titles based on their own mysterious marketing wisdom?
I'm still partial to the original title but my top 3 in order of preference are
ReplyDeleteBetween 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
If I were music ...hands down
ReplyDeleteMusic Shadows has the most potential to me, I like the subtle hint of the darkness that is implied :)
ReplyDeleteAnother suggestion might be something like "Life in a Minor Key" or something :)