It’s rather difficult to report on a book that does not yet have a title. How do I specify the book I mean?
The working title was To Thread the Labyrinth. When I completed my first draft, I thought I might drop the “To” and call it Thread the Labyrinth. (The story does feature a physical labyrinth, as well as a metaphysical one). But my second reader pointed out some cogent reasons why highlighting the labyrinth in the title might not be a good idea.
My next idea for the title was A Legacy Arcane, but my first reader found that overly dark, while my second reader felt that the legacy reference was too oblique.
My first reader then suggested Talisman’s Reach, and I liked it. I liked it a lot! So did my son and my daughter. I thought I had my title! But then it was pointed out to me that the talisman in my story is never once referred to by that word. So now I am cast into confusion again.
Be that as it may, I do have progress to report!
My first revision pass in September was the most extensive, following the excellent feedback I received from my first reader. My second revision pass in October caught some really important details pointed out by my equally excellent second reader.
This week I fixed all of the typos plus a few other telling specifics found by my superb proofreader.
The book is ready to enter the production process that will make it into both an ebook and a paperback!
But I need a title first.
::puts thinking cap back on:: 😀
Maybe change the talisman from whatever you were calling it to “talisman”?
I could, of course, insert a reference to the pendant as a talisman. But I feel like the story is complete and well done as is. I hate to mess with it just because I’m having title trouble.
In fact, what did you call it? “Necklace’s Reach” is no good. Pendant?
Yes, pendant. Pendant’s Reach…um. No better than Necklace’s Reach, I think. That is, no. 😉
Labyrinth’s Reach?
My second reader said she liked all the Labyrinth variants better than anything I’d come up with subsequently, but…I’ve rather gone off Labyrinth myself now.
::author tears hair:: 😉
Ok. Last comment. I swear. But I think you need a poem. Go read a poem that feels like your story, and then use a line or phrase from that.
I was just thinking about you today, and how you’ve successfully derived inspiration from poems for your titles. Clearly I should follow your example!