Help Me Name My Third Book
Dearly Beloved You People:
So as we put the polishing touches on Spellbound, it’s time to start thinking more seriously about the third and final book in the Spellwright Trilogy. I have a good chunk of the book already written, but a recent realization sent me back to the beginning. Much of what is written will survive but in a different form. It’s not the most fun every to discover a missed step in a manuscript, but it is the way of the creative process, at least for me.
A far simpler problem is the matter of titling the third book. Since I first pitched the book, I’ve been using the working title Disjunction, which like the two previous titles works a name on several levels—likely most that’re reading this have realized that Nicodemus is the spellwright who can’t spell right. (As for how the title Spellbound figures into the story of book 2, well, it’ll hopefully hit you as something of a surprise.) Anyway, a bunch of friends have suggested I use the book’s alternate title, Disspell, which works okay thematically and has the added advantage of giving the whole trilogy a continuity of names—Spellwright, Spellbound, Disspell. I must admit the name is growing on me.
But let us ask the Dearly Beloved You People. If you’d be so kind, take a second to vote on the following poll.
In other book three news: The coming year is going to be a wild one, as I tie up the trilogy and finish up medical school by completing my ‘clerkship’ rotations. I won’t do anything so rash as guess when book three will hit bookshelves, but I’m expecting to take a bit more time with this one. And that’s not only because of med school; in my mind, ending a series is a very delicate matter and cannot be rushed. I want to give myself the time to end this trilogy the right way. That said, I made similar, very conservative estimates last year, and things seem to be working out just fine there. Fingers crossed for a threpeat.
Update: Seems that Disspell is pulling away from Disjunction, with good points made for both. Also suggested, regarding the keeping even more continuity among the titles, would be to come up with a title that began with “spell-“. I’d thought about that a while ago (and pondered it for a long time) but came up with nothing…well, nothing that wasn’t ridiculously funny: Spellcheck, Spellingbee, etc. But if you happen upon one such word don’t be shy about sharing it in the comments below!
Comments
35 Responses to “Help Me Name My Third Book”
Siân
7:00 am Dec-8-2010
I actually like the title “Spellblind” but figured that’s not especially helpful, considering you’ve decided on 2 already!
Sorry, just had to say it 😀
Siân
12:49 pm Dec-8-2010
I voted Disspell though, because it fits in with the naming better, and sounds more interesting to me.
Andrew Liptak
7:12 am Dec-8-2010
I think from a strict business sense, naming it Dispell makes a lot of sense, because you’ll retain that continuity of titles, which could likely help with a uniform look and branding or something along those lines: ‘The Spell Trilogy’ or something like that. Granted, there’s more that goes into that sort of thing, like the artwork, author’s name, etc, but keeping spell probably wouldn’t hurt.
Although, Disjunction feels much better as a title than Dispell does to me, but not knowing anything about the 3rd book, I can’t say for sure.
Hope that helps!
blakecharlton
7:21 am Dec-8-2010
it sure does. and you’re thinking, i believe, is fairly on par with what some folks in publishing have told me. it’s funny: on the current pass through the manuscript-so-far, i’ve been thinking of the book as Disspell and it’s changed how i think about the themes.
Andrew Liptak
12:41 pm Dec-8-2010
That’s interesting - I wouldn’t have thought that the title itself would be a huge impact, but it would, wouldn’t it, given that that’s one of the three or four things that hits a reader when they first see the book.
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7:14 am Dec-8-2010
[…] This post was mentioned on Twitter by torforgeauthors, Cassie, Michael, Mad Hatter, Amanda Makepeace, Blake Charlton and others. Blake Charlton said: Help me name the third book in the Spellwright Trilogy; pop over to the blog and vote! http://bit.ly/hNLTLw […]
blodeuedd
7:41 am Dec-8-2010
Lol, I haven’t even read book 1 (but want too!) 🙂 Still I came over to vote for Disspell
blakecharlton
7:45 am Dec-8-2010
heh. well, the way the voting’s going, looks like we can trade a title for a reading of book one 😉
blodeuedd
9:09 am Dec-8-2010
Lol, I think I would approve of that. I need a fantasy fix, and should do something about it
blakecharlton
10:03 am Dec-8-2010
deal! here’s to hoping it’s an addictive fix 😉
matt zellar
7:51 am Dec-8-2010
i think you should use disspell i havent read any of them so i dont much about the world but like other people it keeps consistancy with the other titles
Dave
7:59 am Dec-8-2010
Hey Blake, I’m voting for Disjunction; I think it works better because it sets up what’ll happen in the book and, because it’s so different to the first two titles, puts the reader in no doubt that the series is ending; the title itself draws attention to, er, itself. 😉 Hope that made sense! 😀
blakecharlton
10:06 am Dec-8-2010
thanks dave! it makes total sense. yeah, those are exactly the reasons why i chose Disjunction. I’m hoping to make a the third book an unexpected but (hopefully) satisfying twist on Ye-Ende-of-a-Olde-Trilogy book 😉
Mak
8:04 am Dec-8-2010
I get the appeall of Disspell as far as branding goes. I just have a hard time with it as a title. Disjunction seems more “title-ish” to my mind. Can’t say that if I saw Disspell on a binding in the book store that the title would make me look at the book. But that’s just me.
jrday62647
8:17 am Dec-8-2010
Hi Blake…I understand your problem. I really like the original title, but I can see where your friends are coming from. I don’t like Disspell (even visually on the cover)…I hope it does not come to be, but I am afraid it will. LOved the first book and can’t wait for the second. Take your time on the 3rd…and enjoy the process.
John
Gail Carriger
8:32 am Dec-8-2010
How about Spelless? Ha, I kill me. I voted for Disspell, always go with the theme, better to be marketable then cute.
Mundane Name
8:46 am Dec-8-2010
I had to vote for disjunction. I don’t think people will be confused if the third book does not have “spell” in the title. In fact the name disjunction is a perfect play on the fact that the name breaks with the prior naming pattern.
Rob
9:15 am Dec-8-2010
Have to say that I prefer Disjunction, because it breaks the pattern of the first two, which is exactly of course what disjunction is all about. I think it’s brilliant and works on more levels.
blakecharlton
10:08 am Dec-8-2010
great minds think alike. as i mentioned above, that’s exactly why i chose that title. but i do see the argument for creating some amount of continuity…one of the advantages and burdens of writing in series is to make each book distinct and yet make them all feel ‘of a piece’ if that makes sense.
Stefan Fergus
9:18 am Dec-8-2010
I think, of the two, I prefer the word “Disjunction”, but “Dispell” works better alongside the other two.
Of course, if Nicodemus has overcome his cacography by then, you could simply name the novel, “Spelled”…?
Moses Siregar III
10:27 am Dec-8-2010
My first instinct was Disspell, because it sounds more enjoyable and genre-appropiate. OTOH, people won’t know if it’s spelled “dispell” or “disspell,” so that’s a weakness for that title when people are searching for the book online.
Hollie
12:12 pm Dec-8-2010
I can see the logic behind using Disspell, continuity etc… but there’s just something about Disjunction that rolls off the tongue better. Got more punch.
Bill Pearson
1:39 pm Dec-8-2010
If you really want to start it with a “spell-” title may I suggest Spellbreaker. Though in all honesty I would go with Disspell as it would be the only one on Amazon… but then again you can’t find it with Google as they correct your spelling.
Simcha
1:55 pm Dec-8-2010
I like the sound of Disspell better, it has a smoother sound than “Disjunction.” Plus disjunction sounds very mathematical which for me is a bit of a turn-off.
Gloria Oliver
2:06 pm Dec-8-2010
Voted for Disspell before reading the rest of the post.
If you must keep spell in front, then you could consider “Spellgone”? (Was going to say Spellloast but that’s way too many L’s!)
Good luck!
Dawn
2:08 pm Dec-8-2010
I voted for “Disspell” but I’m not sure I like it 🙂 For interesting words that start with “Spell” how about “Spellcraft” or “Spellborne”
Just thinkin’ out loud 🙂
Tyson
4:54 pm Dec-8-2010
I was never a fan of “Disjunction” as a title. It sounds too SciFi-y for my taste. And it doesn’t fit the other two. But I wouldn’t worry about the “spell” not coming at the beginning on the third book. You could call it an homage to Robin Hobbs and her method of naming her trilogies.
Jebus
5:38 pm Dec-8-2010
I prefer Disspecll in keeping with the theme of the titles, but would also like to think there’s a Spell word out there that would fit.
Spellpart
Spellunion / Spelldisunion - wow, that looks weird.
Spellfree
Spelltear
Eh, I dunno.
Tom
8:44 pm Dec-8-2010
Spellshock
Lee Konstantinou
10:23 pm Dec-8-2010
I sort of like Spellcheck…
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11:31 am Dec-9-2010
[…] Fiction/Fantasy Blake Charlton wants input naming the third book of the Spellwright Trilogy Tor/Forge is giving away a mystery box! Steampunk.com wants nominations for the Steampunk Book of […]
Caramba
9:57 am Dec-17-2010
Spellwords
Spellwar
Spellgraphy
Spellmage
And of course, with the introduction of the new super-hero:
Spell-Man
blakecharlton
11:54 am Dec-17-2010
the world would be a better place with The Amazing Adventures of Spellman!
Cherry Q
10:27 am Dec-5-2013
so when do you think it will be comeing out
blakecharlton
3:36 pm Jan-27-2014
sorry for the super late reply. it’s all very unclear bout the pub date. but the book is done and sitting on my editor’s desk!