Titles

[pegkerr]

Well, one thing has been clearly demonstrated to me by my slog through various bookfinding websites today.

I'm not going to title this book The Ice Palace. That title has been used too often. This is all very premature, of course (as I am not yet entirely convinced I'm actually going to finish writing the frigging thing), but at least it's nice to rule that out. Two other ideas, tentative at best: I could use the title of the ice palace necklace, Down All Those Glittering Halls (read the story behind that here) or I could use a title that minnehaha B. suggested, taking the idea from my Glare Reports: Glare. I'll be soliciting help for ideas more seriously when I'm further along and actually convinced this book is really going to happen, but hey, if you have an idea for a title for The Ice Palace the ice palace novel, leave me a comment. Silly is ok; we're just brainstorming at this point.

And while we're at it, I never really like the title for Emerald House Rising very much, but I couldn't think of anything better, and I didn't have a LiveJournal back then so that I could ask for suggestions. What should I have titled it instead?

Edited to add: And of course you do all realize that even if you manage to come up with a title for the book I like, the editor who buys it may overrule it anyway. And that's assuming I find an editor to buy it!

Comments

[madlori.livejournal.com]

You could take a page from Bradbury and call it "Fahrenheit 32."

[rysmiel.livejournal.com]

There are those of us who refer to that Michael Moore thing as Kelvin 661.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Or Zero Celsius!

[magentamn.livejournal.com]

I know this is kind of weird, but I went back and read the original post about the necklace, and I wonder, shouldn't you try *wearing* the necklace while you write? Or do you already? I think Elise's jewelry is strong juju, and maybe that's part of the charm (double entendre meant)

I suspect a lot of us think of it as the Ice Palace book. That's fine as a working title. Glare sounds too much like a hard-boiled detective novel, IMHO.

To paraphrase a cliche: If you write it, it will sell.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

I'll try wearing it the next writing session I have!

[kalquessa.livejournal.com]

I quite like "Down All Those Glittering Halls". Nearly all of my working titles for things are simply the main character(s)' name. I hate thinking of titles for books and poems. Of course, I think up titles that have no home all the time...

You may consider something about your theme of chosing between a heart of flesh and a heart of stone. "Iceheart" has a nice ring to it, but unfortunately looks a lot like "Inkheart" which is taken and more-or-less famous. "A Choice of Hearts" is rather obvious and might overburden your theme a bit, but sounds nice. Anyway...just brainstorming, like you said.

[aome.livejournal.com]

Iceheart

How about "Heart of Ice"? Or is that too common and romance-novel-y? I was just thinking how the palace has a heart (core) of ice, as well as some of the characters. "Under the Ice"?

I like the multiple meanings of "Glare", though. And, for the record, I felt EHR was a perfectly fine title. "Diamond in the Rough"? Refers to the heroine at the outset, as well as the uncertain status of the Diamond throne, but also probably a woefully common title.

[kinetikatrue]

This is probably utterly useless, but I've got a line from a song running through my head in relation to this: 'Fish got to swim and birds got to fly.' It just speaks to me about how summer magic has to work in one way while winter magic has to work in an entirely other and that's right and good. Natural, even.

[rysmiel.livejournal.com]

I rather like Down All Those Glittering Halls. Glare however suggests to me a thriller with people with guns chasing each other around and blowing each other up, in Antarctica or halfway up Everest or something.

[kate_nepveu]

I have a similar reaction to _Glare_, though as a working title it amuses me.

[penmage.livejournal.com]

This was my reaction, too, to both title suggestions. I really like Down All Those Glittering Halls a lot.

[fairmer.livejournal.com]

Another vote for Down All Those Glittering Halls. Or, perhaps, The Glittering Hall. Or, perhaps, something related to winter magic. A House of Winter Magic? Or the definite article instead.

I love brainstorming titles. And Brussels sprouts. (I hear they aren't common loves, is what I'm saying.)

[mrissa.livejournal.com]

I like Brussels sprouts....

I wish I could be of help, but I just barely pulled out of calling my poor book "The Not The Moose Book" before the draft was done.

[vass]

A House of Winter Magic

YES.

Other ideas:

The Winter Palace
Frozen Architecture

I also like Brussels sprouts, but don't call the book that.

[peacockharpy.livejournal.com]

I add my vote to Down All Those Glittering Halls, or alternately, Glittering Halls.

Other ideas:

Frozen

Winter Heart

Below (reference to temperature, and fish below ice... yeah, kind of blah)

Is there a word for when frost makes designs on the windowpane?

[lizardlaugh.livejournal.com]

ooh! I like Winter Heart, but I love Down All Those Glittering Halls too. :D

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

Um . . . the Heart of the Glittering Halls?

Hmm.

[peacockharpy.livejournal.com]

The Heart in the Glittering Halls?

I keep wanting to think of a title that evokes the act of building, or design, or architecture in some way... like Blueprints, but that's not right either. I'm hampered by lack of knowledge.

Also, because I keep coming up with a zillion mystery titles (On Ice, Snow Job, Iced, Chill Factor...) but am struggling for one that sounds lyric and fantastic.

[jbru.livejournal.com]

Glittering Heart?

[mizkit.livejournal.com]

Oh. I'm glad you couldn't think of anything else. *sheepish look* I loved the title Emerald House Rising. It's part of why I bought the book. :) I may be forced to go re-read it now to see if I could come up with another title. (Woe. Woe is me.)

Down All Those Glittering Halls is long, but it's evocative. Hm.

Not coming up with anything brilliant. Must think about it. Your characters are Solveig, Jack...and who?

[papersky.livejournal.com]

Heart of Flesh? Though I like the necklace name too.

(Thought: arteries.)

[fairmer.livejournal.com]

Heart of Flesh, Heart of Stone?

[papersky.livejournal.com]

Oh, and where I come from, when frost makes patterns on the window pane, we call it Jack Frost.

[rivka.livejournal.com]

I just assumed that was why Jack is named Jack.

[peacockharpy.livejournal.com]

*displays Floridian ignorance*

Here in Florida, Jack doesn't visit so often. :)

I did know about Jack Frost, but I thought he made the patterns, and didn't know if the patterns had another name beside, er, frost patterns.

There's another title. Frost Patterns.

[pegkerr.livejournal.com]

I've heard them called frost lace or frost flowers.

[jbru.livejournal.com]

While I like Down All Those Glittering Halls, I think it's too long for the book. Perhaps simply Glittering Halls?

Or you could go with Winter Carnival, Fire and Ice, Halls of Winter/Ice/Snow or even What Are the Fish About?

So You Asked For A Silly Title...

[huladavid.livejournal.com]

How about _The_Ice_Fishing_House_, maybe?