I have a recently rewritten novel that I need a title for. Originally, I called it Soul Searcher for two reasons.
One: the spaceship involved in the story is called Soul Searcher.
Two: the story is about a group of people searching for a missing man.
After a lot of thought, I decided I wanted to change it, but can't think of anything else I like apart from Amphora or Ampulla because the man they are looking for is a 'vessel' for some very importnat information which is the basis of the series, but I'm not sure - without the explanation just given - that people will figure that's why I titled it either one of those.
I like Amphora better, but would go with something else that means 'vessel' but I can't find a suitible word that fits or sounds right.
Any suggestions would be apreciated. I'd like to post my first thirteen for this but would like to have a title first.
Thanks.
Posted by franc li (Member # 3850) on :
Wessel? "We are looking for the nuclear wessels." Receptacle?
I think if you want it to be a ship name, it might be good to stick one of those fleet designation acronyms on it. G.M.S. Soul Searcher or something.
[This message has been edited by franc li (edited June 15, 2007).]
Posted by InarticulateBabbler (Member # 4849) on :
The Vessel sounds fine.
Posted by franc li (Member # 3850) on :
Whereas U.S.S. Vessel sounds a little surreal. Possibly like some kind of parody. It would be helmed, of course, by Capn. Mycaptain.
Posted by Matt Lust (Member # 3031) on :
I like the word "vessel" and The Vessel is fine but also very strong. Almost James Patterson in its simplicity.
I personally kinda like Prosaic titles.
(ADJ) Vessel would be more to my taste with the adjective describing the process/place/whatever of how the characters relate to the vessel. Maybe Soul Vessel
Posted by InarticulateBabbler (Member # 4849) on :
I suggested The Vessel because of the voyage and the man, and how you were searching for a title that said the vessel in some form.Why not keep it simple? If it has multiple meaning, more power to it.
Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
quote:Prosaic titles.
Prozac titles?
Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
I didn't think he meant "vessel" in the sense of a ship. I thought "vessel" in the sense of a container.
Posted by InarticulateBabbler (Member # 4849) on :
...or a conduit.
Posted by darklight (Member # 5213) on :
I did consider The Vessel but I wanted something to go with it. The <something> Vessel to indicate a human, a person, something biological but again, was not satisfied with the alternitives.
Posted by InarticulateBabbler (Member # 4849) on :
1. 1. Consisting or characteristic of prose. 2. Matter-of-fact; straightforward. 2. Lacking in imagination and spirit; dull.
I like titles that hint about the story's plot. Its a little "dull" some times but that's just the pragmatist in me I suppose.
[This message has been edited by Matt Lust (edited June 16, 2007).]
Posted by darklight (Member # 5213) on :
IB I really like that idea - thanks.
quote:I didn't think She meant "vessel" in the sense of a ship. I thought "vessel" in the sense of a container.
But I've been called worse
Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
When you post here under an assumed name, you've gotta assume some risk. Besides, when I use "he" or "his," it included "she" and "her"---when I speak of man, I speak of woman, embracing man.
Posted by Mauvemuse (Member # 5488) on :
quote: After a lot of thought, I decided I wanted to change it, but can't think of anything else I like apart from Amphora or Ampulla because the man they are looking for is a 'vessel' for some very importnat information which is the basis of the series, but I'm not sure - without the explanation just given - that people will figure that's why I titled it either one of those.
It seems like people have settled on The Vessel, but I like Amphora also. Ampulla, not so much. It makes me picture an amputated squid *shrug*.
Just editing because I learned how to quote. Yay.
[This message has been edited by Mauvemuse (edited June 17, 2007).]
Posted by Sunshine (Member # 3701) on :
Vessels are containers (or conduits, depending on the context). This could be human in the sense of the character the OP was discussing, or non-human (a ship). Vessel could have multiple contexts from the sound of the OP's WiP, thus giving the title more depth and interest. For example, (just specultating since I haven't read the piece), the reader could perceive the ship Soul Searcher as the vessel, but then connect it later to other meanings such as the individual who is a vessel. I like when titles have multiple contexts like this; it adds interest to the story as I read it and try to put the pieces together.
In french: vessel is vaisseau, and spaceship is vaisseau spatial.
Posted by debhoag (Member # 5493) on :
soul catcher? like dream catcher/sun catcher?
Posted by RMatthewWare (Member # 4831) on :
Any title should convey what the story was about. I had a hard time naming my novel until I stood back and asked what it was really about. It's about the search for an ancient book called ,the Book of the Dragons.
Naturally, I'm calling it The Search for Peace Admist the Times of Trials.
Just kidding of course.
Matt
Posted by HuntGod (Member # 2259) on :
Amphora is hard on my tongue for some reason, Ampulla makes me think of an ampule.
Vessel feels a little pretentious.
Might wanna consider building the title off the protag's name with a journey or voyage synonym.
Posted by darklight (Member # 5213) on :
The problem I have is I either think of a good title immediatley, or struggle with it for ages. This one has really got me stumped.
I like titles that have more than one meaning, which is why I went down the vessel route. I think the problem is since I re-wrote the story, some of it has changed and there's a new story line. Another large part of the story is that the MC and the man he searches for have both been used by lots of people.
I often take a line from the novel and use that as the title, EG: The world, like a ball of wool.
Heck, I don't know what I'm going to call it.
<pulls hair out>
Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
I like the idea of multiple meanings in a title. I remember thinking Tim Powers's "The Drawing of the Dark" was a good title for a fantasy...but, when I settled down and read it, found it meant something not usual for the field.
Posted by franc li (Member # 3850) on :
Did Charon's boat have a name? The one he ferried souls to Hades in? Just wondering. Probably The Lucky Mermaid.
Posted by Alye (Member # 5017) on :
there is a site called omniglot on which you can look up words in hundreds of different languages. Maybe something there will spark you. And if you just have writer's block, you can spend hours pretending you are doing really important story research there.
[This message has been edited by debhoag (edited June 19, 2007).]
Posted by darklight (Member # 5213) on :
Because I'm fed up of spending half my waking day trying to find a title for this thing, I've got some chioces.
1. Silver Bullet.
2. Jamie.
3. Merchandise.
4. Legacy.
All are connected to the story.
Silver bullet can have two meanings. Its a spaceship, though not an important one, and becuase of Silverman who helps my protagonist.
Jamie is the man they are searching for.
Merchandise because in the end that's all my protagonist is to the other MC.
Legacy because it was what happened in the past that drove some of the characters to do what they did.
So that's it. Any thoughts?
Posted by debhoag (Member # 5493) on :
Silver Bullet. - too stephen king
2. Jamie. too blah
3. Merchandise. too plain
4. Legacy. - halfway there - combine it with another word to give it some spin? Legacy Chronicles, the Amphora Legacy? What's your MC's name? or the guy he's looking for?
Posted by Sunshine (Member # 3701) on :
I liked Soul Searcher the best. Have you posted your story yet?
Posted by darklight (Member # 5213) on :
Sunshine: Have I posted my story yet? I think I'm making every excuse possible not to post it!
It's been ready for several weeks, but I keep coming up with reason why not to post the first thirteen. The latest one is that I've found a problem with the first paragraph of the first thirteen and I need to change it. But I aim to post it the beginning of next week (when I've finshed the project I'm working on now).
As for the title: I'm just going to stop obsessing over it for now.
Posted by Sunshine (Member # 3701) on :
You're the chef, but if it's any help I was very intrigued with your posts and look forward to seeing it.
Posted by MotherSky (Member # 5534) on :
I like "The Vessel." It has something intriguing to it, and it seems like theres so much more to a book that would be titled that than meets the eyes.
It seems. . .Ethereal, mysterious. I like it a lot.
Just my thoughts.
Peace~
Posted by houstoncarr72 (Member # 5544) on :
We could probably suggest titles that are more apt once we've read your story.
Posted by darklight (Member # 5213) on :
I have now finshed the novel I was working on. I have a short story to read and comment on, then I will post the first thirteen of this story. I will give it the working title of The Vessel for now but that may not stay.
