Thanks. And yeah I plan to make a trilogy of books all related to one another and then a prequel to my first book (to give an idea of how the MC grew up and why he is what he is). It's always good to have a title that connects in some way. I'm still debating my title.
My first suggestion is, when deciding what to call it, think about the theme more than the plot mechanism. What do you want people to remember your book as? A book about dreamwalkers? Or the book (note the difference between "a book" and "the book") about the experience of <insert character here>? Think about the titles that, when you read or hear them, instantly transport you back into the experience of the stories they identify. Are they so memorable and so evocative because they are clever references to some plot mechanism, or because they make you think about what the stories mean to you personally? Also, note that R.E.M. is also the name of a band. You might like the title "Reality and Other Falsehoods". It is the title of a book-within-a-video-game, but a Google search for the title only returns about 1,500 results, so I would say it is ripe for the taking.
I like REM, it's an excellent name for a 'dreamwalker series'. Some other names (no particular order, just names that may apply): 1. Switched On 2. DreamWise 3. Interlaced or Interlocked 4. Ignite 5. DreamLand 6. FortyWinks 7. Repose 8. Somnolent 9. DreamStormer 10. The Drifter 11. The Traveler Did you know: As you get older, you sleep more lightly and get less deep sleep. Aging is also linked to shorter time spans of sleep, although studies show you still need as much sleep as when you were younger. <-- thus it will be harder to get into the dreams of an older person, because you need deep sleep to dream...
The Doors of Possibility The Beautiful Face of Darkness Temporary Timelessness Infinite Nothings Good Night, <character's name>
I think this is good advice to an extent. I like Of Mice and Men, which (arguably) cleverly reflects the thematic premise of the book, as @daemon espouses. But I also like Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, because whenever I hear the title I recall that exciting story about Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Would you have picked a different title @daemon ? I reckon your title should suit what you've written. If it's a deeply reflective piece then a profound title might fit the bill. But there's nothing wrong with giving a What-It-Says-on-the-Tin title to something that's more plot- or character-driven. I'm not saying you have to be entirely blunt though. I think The Hunger Games is a good title: it says what it's about, but it's a bit mysterious until you become familiar with the story. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth when there's a mismatch between a title and a work's profundity. Twilight conjured up all sorts of promising ideas ("grey areas between truths and lies", "true nature being indeterminable in dim light", "the transition from metaphorical day to night", etc). And then I read the book. Had it been named I Fell in Love with a Sparkly Vampire, I'd have felt that I got what I paid for, and may have been willing to read the sequels. Although it's been a successful franchise, so maybe the real trick is to align your pretensions with those of your audience (no offense intended to anyone: I just have Biting Wit, or so the pretentious fans of my vampire comedy tell me...). That probably works the other way too. The feedback I got for Fred the Hedgehog's New Friend was mostly that toddlers just aren't ready for a manifesto about the failings of democracy. If you're writing for kids, go with a simple title. Teenage audience: spread the philosophical delusion on thick and you'll please the majority (joking, but worried that it may be somewhat true). Anyway, be realistic about what you've written and choose a title accordingly. This advice only reflects my opinions, not the absolute way of the universe. In terms of brainstorming for your story, I like the sound of What She Left In Her Wake, but I have no idea if your story is that wanky Please don't call it R.E.M.: I just don't get that title. (A joke about my insomnia, not actually knocking the title. On that note, as someone with a sleep disorder, I may be able to advise on 'how sleep works' if you have any questions.)
Probably not. "<hero's name> and the _____" works well as a pattern for the titles in a series of adventures. It identifies the books as parts of the same series while distinguishing them by the major landmarks in the hero's overarching adventure that they focus on. "Philosopher's Stone" is the natural choice to fill in the blank. Plus, some of the other titles that fit that pattern are actually quite intriguing -- "Chamber of Secrets", "Half-Blood Prince", and "Deathly Hallows" are great phrases to have in a title.
Keep in mind that if you submit to a publisher and they decide to publish your book, the title could end up being changed for marketing reasons. Also, from a practical point of view, I would focus on finishing the book first and worrying about the title later. It's a lot harder to produce a polished manuscript than it is to come up with a title.
Procrastibrainstorming? Do you mind giving a ballpark figure / % probability on the original title as designed by the author being used? How many of your books' titles were changed by the publisher?
Yeah but Dream Walkers sounds normal and just kind of eh. Idk for me REM Drifters seems more interesting and would catch my eye a lot more than Dream Walkers.
REM is a great start. The idea I had was something along the lines of, "Sandman". Is that still a thing?
Dreamscape There are apparently 5 levels of brain waves, from alpha, beta, theta (dreaming), delta and gamma: http://www.mind-your-reality.com/brain_waves.html#Part_2 Riding the Theta Waves Theta wave landscape Theta scape Theta state Theta people With @Sifunkle's permission, I would like to suggest: Theta twilight
Every time I hear that song I think of the movie "Crybaby." I think that bringing the sandman into it would be a cool idea. But as of now my bad guys are the Mara (creatures that give you nightmares by sitting on your chest) they are actually where the term Nightmare comes from. My MC is going to join a group of dreamwalkers who fight the Mara. So I was actually thinking of adding that to the title like... <Insert Main Title> : Book 1 of the Dream Protectorate Series
Don't know what the answer is to this one. I wouldn't even know where to look for this statistic. I haven't published any books, but I know a few other members have. Maybe they can share their experiences.
Just being the curious creature that I am. But really what is so great about writing a series over a shorter trilogy or novel? I find myself not really enjoying a modern series as it starts to dissolve for me. The characters and the plots just seem to erode over time. I have read the Animorphs series as a youth, but that was over 16 years ago. Just wondering what makes the modern ones so popular and attractive to both writers and readers alike. (Not going to knock you for what you like to read/write). As negative as it sounds (sorry) I feel that it is the writer trying to milk a genre specific, long running storyline for all it is worth (just an honest opinion) . Instead of moving on to the next potential masterpiece they could create. Perhaps it has to do with trend and lack of willingness to break away from familiarity? IDK, that is why I think such thoughts, because I genuinely don't know. Again, I apologize if I offend. That is not my intention. Just being curious, and trying to learn and understand. (Please don't shoot me)
For me personally it's because a book goes by a formula, and if you liked it the first time, chances are you're going to like it again. What's more than the authors style though, every book builds a universe. The better the universe the more I want to dig in.
CONTEXT! Really I think that one word can explain everything you asked. A reader doesn't need as much explained to him when a book is part of a series and other books explain aspects other aspects. Now that doesn't mean they shouldn't explain some things but when you don't have to explain as much it gives you more options. Also as someone else said. If you like my story about this girl who is bad ass but yet are curious how she became bad ass because this book didn't explain it. Then you learn there is a book that does! Awesome! Right? As a writer it can be two fold. Laziness / love. I love my world so I just keep expanding and expanding. I want to expand it so much that it feels real. But it can be laziness. Like you said. If a person is just re-writing the same story twice that isn't love. That is "well this worked once. Lets do it again!" which can be bad but then again. A series is a style. There is obviously ways to do it right and wrong.
Interesting. So it can expand beyond the preference of the writer? Well that kind of sucks. Had not considered such a notion. As for the whole universe aspect, they do all seem to crack at some point down the line (similiar to a television show). Just a mater of how long it lasts before it loses it's luster and is stopped/cancelled (either due to lack of material, or by lack of readership). Have yet to see a series of books without end from either scenario that has a defined ending. Too bad I cannot ask an old friend of his experience with series books (the Anita Blake series by Lauarel K. Hamilton) , as he is enamert with a long running series that has not ended yet (that i know of).
I see your point. Fair enough. That word you made mentoin of, what is it? That is great you have a dedication to your characters and universe. In the end how does it end? Does it at some point lead to a well crafted conclusion, or is it going to leave wanting in a cut short cliff hanger? I have read another series that just cutoff abruptly 8 books in leaving me confused and disatisfied. That is why I ask of series writers.
My take on it is this. Currently I have my universe. It is set 200 years in the future after World War III (Magical Revolution) this way the dust has settled from the war and I have my world with the laws and set ups I like. My main story is about a orphan girl that has god-like potential. She begins to learn her origins and saves the world(4 books) but see when she saves the world. She did her thing. Her story more or less is over. I am not going to keep writing her perspective because I think it would have the error you hate or might hate about series. Which is repeating itself. Her story was about accepting herself and developing her power and once she did she practically became a god. So there is little left for her to learn. Little left to challenge her. So I write her off. In this case she leaves because her power can harm people if she is near them to long. It better than just repeated threat building. You know just pulling a new threat out my bum. 4 books but it has a nice conclusion. Not done though. I also have a book after her timeline about an assassin. Self contained but the assassin is part of a famous assassin group inside the universe. Actually this particular assassin fought against the girl that became a god before that fact. Yet since the perspective is from this new source. I don't need a bigger threat. The fact she is smaller makes it interesting. Funny enough you could read her story first. Literally. I have a draft of it. lol. Funny enough it wouldn't spoil the main story. Witch I suppose one exception. A few characters are seen in this book. Since the timeline is after. I guess if you read the other book next you would then know they aren't going to die in the other story. Also another book in the making. about the origin story of another character. Before I confuse you I am gonna drop a name. Elizabeth. She appears in the main story as a minor villian. She will have her own book documenting her origins and she will also appear in the story with the assassin. Again the order you read any of these stories doesn't really effect much, except realizing that obviously she doesn't die in the younger timeline. Actually reading her origins before the main story might be neat in the sense that you would feel sympathy and understanding for a character that depth is only grazed on. Another book idea is gonna take place two hundred years in the places history. During World War III. It is about the ascenstory of the assassin and the trials he went through to survive. I suppose again, if you read about his kids 200 years later. You sort of get that he won because if he died he wouldn't have had kids. Though these are all interesting they aren't the true answer to your question. The true answer comes from my second main story idea. Which is set 20 years after the first main story. It is about the daughter of one of the main stories heros as she goes on her own quest. Because of this set up, plenty of old characters make appearances. The god-like girl of the first main story does reappear too. When things get serious enough to warent it. I don't know how long this will be but it will conclude too at some point. I even have vague ideas of a third main story. A story set 30 years later at this point some of the characters that were only 18 in the first story are now approaching 80. These 3 is all I have currently plus my side stories. Probably enough for 20 books but more ideas will come all the time. My dream is to write all of these to send them to the world and for the world to love them. Then I want to find a fan of the work and pass the torch. I want the forth main story to be in the hands of someone else. My dream. I also wish to collaberate with people at some point. I want my world to belong to the world! Sorry for the huge wall of text.
