Thursday, April 02, 2009

Links


The fabulous Cally has posted a full page of wonderful writing links here. I am going to put a permanent link on my side bar so I can tap into it when I need it. She divides them by category - plot, structure and so on. Absolutely brilliant.


On the writing front - well I began reworking August Rock and moved through the first four chapters and thus far it all hangs together. However I also looked at the calendar! I am 30,ooo words into the new book. I have to submit to the RNA's New Writers' Scheme by the end of August. So with summer holidays just around the corner I had better resume writing. My goal is too have the rough draft finished by the time I head to Cornwall for the summer - that translates to the end of June. I feel reasonably confident about achieving this because even though I haven't been working on it, I know my brain has. I also accept that it will be a dirty first draft so there is no pressure to make it perfect. So beginning today even though the house/villa if full of teenage boys I will begin again (have pity on poor dd who never gets a look in with the ps3 now).


Now the other problem I have is the title. With the other two books I have begun with a title already. For this one I know what I want but it doesn't work because it geographically is in the wrong place. You see I have always loved the the name of the village - Come-to-Good. However the book is set on the north shore of the Helford River. I may end up calling after the house which as in the other two books is central to the story but I need to finalize the name. I spent hours with mil's old book on the workings of Cornish names to get the right prefix with the correct suffix to capture the essence of the location of the house. However as with all these things it is open to interpretation....


Do you need a title to write? Do you start with a title? Create one as you go? Do you care? Do you leave it to your publisher?

13 comments:

Deborah Carr (Debs) said...

I was thrilled to see Cally's links, I certainly need them right now.

Thanks for the reminder about the NWS, I'd better get a move on too.

Sue Guiney said...

do you need a title to write? Interesting question. My answer is yes, though I just need "a" title, any old title, to get me started. Then about halfway through the 1st draft the "true" title starts becoming more and more obvious. The title I have for my new novel I love, although I'm not sure a publisher would love it. I'd hate to have to change a title I chose though....

Jenny Beattie said...

The links are great aren't they?

I didn't have a title. Then I thought of one that would do for now and told my mentor when I sent the second lot of words. She came back and said it was fine as a working title but didn't think it did it credit to the sinister undertones going on through my story. I'm quite happy not to have fallen in love with a title, particuarly seeing as Cally is on her THIRD and knowing it gets changed all the time... so no, I don't need a title, in fact I think it would be disastrous to letting go ...

Chris Stovell said...

A title's essential for me to set the tone and capture the mood. I feel a bit rudderless without one. Off to explore the writing links. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

I've often written short stories from a title-based prompts. Something we often did on Cloud Line, though we've been very quiet on there lately. Some of these have now evolved into full length novels. I'm very title-driven at times, but other times I get absolutely stuck for them.

Talking of titles, I notice that many of your blog articles have the word "links" in the title. Which is nice.

As I mentioned on Cally's blog, I was thinking about putting a side-bar gadget on the NR blog, with all of her useful links. What do you think?

Julie Cohen said...

I need a working title at least. It helps me focus on what the book's really about. Whether I get to keep it is a different matter...not a chance with Mills & Boon, but I've kept all my own Little Black Dress titles so far.

I'm not sure if my current title for my wip fits, but it helps me at the moment, so I'm keeping it for awhile. Good luck with yours!

B.E. Sanderson said...

I always have a working title. I mean you have to use something for a filename, right? But they're subject to change - usually after I finish the book and before I start submitting.

Flowerpot said...

I rarely start with a title but this current one does have one for once! I always have a working title though.

Susie Vereker said...

Yes, I need a title to start with, but sometimes I change it. Then my agent says she doesn't like it then the editor says she wants to change it. Most exhausting and the hardest thing, apart from the blurb which is worse! August Rock is an excellent title.

Phillipa said...

Liz - I SO know how you feel about the importance of titles. I have to have one I like before I start off. I've changed two of mine so far and kept the other three. It's so much easier if you can begin with a title that encapsulates the theme of your book AND is catchy and memorable too, isn't it?

Good luck with the rewrite. P x

sheepish said...

Excellent links as always and well done to Cally for putting them all together. Titles are difficult as they mean different things to different people. It's probably best not to get too attached in case you have to change it for publication. But lets face it if someone offers to publish my book they can call it what they like!!!!
Except that I don't really mean that if you know what I mean. We must keep some artistic integrity.
Anyway I seem to be talking rubbish so it must be time for a drink. Have a good weekend.

Michelle Styles said...

I have to have a working title. But for the final title, it is a marketing decision. With M&B as Julie said, it is rare to keep a title. WIth other publishers, again there are a lot of marketing considerations. The general rule of thumb in the US is the closeryou are to making best seller status, the more likely you are to have your title changed. There was a brilliant article on this a few years ago in the RWR. Titles along with the cover art and back cover copy form an important part of the package.

Unknown said...

It's great to see how different people work - with or without. I think for me I need the title to focus it's just such a shame that the one I want doesn't actually work in the long run but it will stay was the working title for the moment.
lx
ps Capt. B. please put Cally's link on the NR site!!!!