There is something about creating titles that leaves me pounding my head against my desktop. I will happily craft characters with mangled minds, paint scenes of slow, ghastly deaths, and even churn out the occasional sex scene that would probably make my mother blush (she doesn't currently get to read those scenes), but I absolutely dread trying to create titles for books. My fall back is to just name the book after one of the key characters. It allows me to save the file on my computer and move on with the more important part -- writing the story.
Well, my editor has warned me that we need to rename my book and we need to do it soon if we are going to hit our expected publication date of August 2008. I knew I would have to rename the book; her words came as no surprise. Yet, the knowledge didn't save me from the twisting dread in my stomach. How do you sum up some crucial theme or emotion or plot point of the book in just a couple words? And at the same time, be witty, evocative, and engaging? Have I set my sights too high? Possibly.
In the meantime, I've shipped off 75 title suggestions to my editor and I have a feeling I'll also be begging my wonderful, patient agent for a few thoughts as well. This process might take a couple rounds....
In other news, I will be attending my first Romance Writer's Association conference next week. I'm a little nervous because I'm not sure what to expect. However, it will give me a chance to see some close friends and we plan to celebrate my new book contract. I will also have a chance to see my agent again -- who also needs to celebrate the book contract. But this will also be the first conference I have attended where I don't have to worry about pitching my book to an editor or an agent. It's Sold! It will also probably be the last conference I attend where I will not be promoting my published book. It'll be a strange limbo, but I plan to enjoy every moment of it.
And to those writers out there who are struggling to break into this business, the best advice I can give you is to never give up. Don't let the rejection letters get you down. Keep writing. It's a hard road and it will wear you down, but don't stop writing. The day will come where you'll get that wonderful phone call from an agent who thinks you are absolutely brilliant, making all that pain, doubt, and waiting worthwhile.
8 comments:
I was in that weird limbo stage last year too. Enjoy! It only gets more stressful from there. In a good way. ;-)
Jocelynn, congratulations! I peeked over here from Rachel's blog. How very exciting!! Enjoy the conference -- it's bound to feel kind of magical given your in between state. Kind of like a pause before taking a giant breath. :)
Congratulations :) Came over here from Rachel's blog also. Looking forward to your future blogs :)
Congratulations on your sale(s), Jocelynn! Ditto on how I arrived here, (Rachel's blog) and I look forward to saying hello to you in person next week. You'll have a wonderful time. :)
Thanks for the warm welcome! I'm sure I'll get comfortable with this blogging thing soon enough.
Congratulations! Came over to your blog from Blogging National. This is my second National and I'm still sooooo excited to be going.
I'm another in the "coming from Rachel's blog" caravan. It sounds like you'll have your "first sale" ribbon at nationals this year. You may feel now like you're in limbo, but going to nationals and wearing that ribbon is just amazing. (That was me two years ago.) People you've never met will come up to you and congratulate you on the sale--and ask you about your book. It's a great ice-breaker.
Congrats on the contract, and have a fabulous time at conference! Maybe I'll see you there and we can talk vampires. LOL
I also came over from Rachel's blog :) Congratulations!!!
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