Wednesday 18 January 2012

WIP Wednesday - Starlings, Kidnap and Libraries

After a year of thinking about the book, a handful of weeks working on a plan, and several minutes staring at the blank screen, I've finally started work on my next book, provisionally titled 'Cobweb Strings of The Rotting House'. I say provisionally titled because as much as I love it and am sure it would make a kick-ass short story title, I'm not certain it's memorable enough for a novel. I wonder about this after...

...hearing a couple of people in real life trying to remember the name of my novella, Theatre of Curious Acts. Maybe I need something shorter next time. More direct. Something you can't forget. Or perhaps they just never remember anything. I appreciate that last sentence.

I've left my WIP with HausStarlings fluttering about my Pearl and Miranda, and one of them is about to be stolen and forced onto the stage. I do wish the floorboards would stop creaking but I guess we'll save that problem for the next draft.

And in awesome news, a library in Columbus, Indiana has a copy of Theatre of Curious Acts. As a kid, I loved going to the library and never could have imagined I'd have an actual book in one. It would be bloody fantastic if my local library had a copy on their shelves, of course it would also be bloody fantastic if it still had shelves and a viable roof. The place is home to weeds and rats now. Boo! Hiss!

7 comments:

Pete said...

I'd say "Theatre of Curious Acts" is a wonderful and memorable title. Go with the 'they are forgetful people' theory.

Cate Gardner said...

I suspect they forget their own names, Pete :D

Deborah Walker said...

You should get one of your friends to order a copy from your local library. Then they'll buy it. That would be so cool.

Mihai A. said...

These are wonderful titles. And if these are not memorable, which are? Anyway, the content is very important too, since a title can be memorable, but all that is hidden behind it not. But I am confident in your abilities and talent that is not case. It wasn't so far with your wonderful works.
It is very sad to see the state of libraries and book shops. I love these so much but they are a species on the brink of extinction. And as much as people praise the easiness of online wandering I still miss the feeling of walking the aisles of libraries of bookshops. Especially since in my city (70,000 inhabitants) there are left only two bookshops and one library. It is a very sad thing.

Simon Kewin said...

I love your titles! They're striking and I don't think they need to be shorter.

Best of luck with "Cobwebs" (to, ahem, abbreviate the title!)

Harry Markov said...

I have to say that I like your provisional title. I think everyone will benefit from having long titles back in fashion. We seem to revive all sorts of trends, so why not this one.

Cate Gardner said...

A wonderfully evil plan, Deborah

My city is woefully lacking in a variety of bookshops too, Mihai. We have Waterstones and WH Smith and as far as I know, that's it.

Ha! Thanks, Simon

Hear, hear, Harry.