My drabble for the Garbage Can Challenge:
Clutter
She’s not the type to throw things away lightly and it shows. Her filing cabinet looks like Staples threw up, lying in wait for that moment twice a year when she unearths something “lost” and it vindicates her stepping around all the clutter for the next six months. If she just holds on and looks busy, maybe it’ll all come back. The sense of purpose that made her make all those index cards for the book she never wrote. The love that prompted all those birthday cards from people she hardly sees, these days. If she throws out the physical proof, is it like saying they never existed? She isn’t sure, but after tossing a few token items that aren’t totems, she sifts the stuff and puts it back.
If she throws out the physical proof, is it like saying they never existed? She isn’t sure, but after tossing a few token items that aren’t totems, she sifts the stuff and puts it back.
Jesus, erika. You just nailed one of my single greatest regrets: I didn't put it back.
Allyson, there's a side road from one of Cindy's suggestions: what is it that draws people back to a fandom community, even after it's clear that they've screwed up and aren't wanted, or aren't compatible?
x-posted from my LJ:
I'm not bad at coming up with titles -- as long as they're not for my own books. I suck at that. And I was always better at historical titles than contemporary ones.
And now I need a title for the book I handed in April. The working title is "With Six You Get Murder," which was cute, but I really only used it because it made me giggle. It's not going to work for the book.
Why? Because the title has to convey as much romance as mystery, if not more. It also has to be on the light, funny side, because I know that's how it's going to be marketed.
So, think things like songs titles or movie titles to riff on. Think stuff like "I Love You to Death" (title of last book) or "My Love Life is Killing Me" (title of novella in last book). Right now all I've got is "The Chef Who Loved Me," which is too chick lit for Editor's taste, I think.
Elements are: Manhattan, hotel, British chef, American publicist, sex, murder. Go!
::whimpers:: Please?
"Accent on Murder" (Accent covering both your hottie UK chef and the stuff people sprinkle on food)
"Someone is Kissing the Great Chefs of Europe"
OK, I need more coffee. Will ponder.
British Food Is Killing Me
(I know. No romance. The smart-ass in me insisted on typing it.)
The problem you may run into with food-related murder titles is that series by Diane Mott Davidson with the caterer. You could peruse her books for inspiration and/or to make sure you're not using anything she's used.
Is that an issue for books? Only in the same genre, or published within a certain number of years of each other? I have no idea.
"And the Chef for Dessert"
"And the Chef for Dessert"
Oh my god, I love this! ::making notes::
Is that an issue for books? Only in the same genre, or published within a certain number of years of each other?
Yeah, you don't want to use a title that's already been used, although if it's completely different genres, it doesn't matter as much. Or if the previous book is really old or out of print.
