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I just got my manuscript back from my editor, and one of the things he said was that the title didn't really work for him (and he's right--it's an okay title, but could be better). So I'm on the hunt for a new one. It's driving me crazy, because I know the perfect one is out there hovering right beyond my reach, but it refuses to step up! This will be self-published, so no help from the publisher, unfortunately. Hoping I can get some ideas here.
It's an urban fantasy story, set in essentially modern times. The concept I'm trying to encapsulate is "something that's caught between two worlds/decisions/philosophies and could go either way depending on outside forces," or else "something that a small bit is visible on the surface but most is hidden" (like an iceberg). For the first one, it fits in three ways:
1. The MC is a mage who has a mundane "secret identity," so he's constantly torn between keeping his powers hidden and being drawn into using them to deal with supernatural threats.
2. The MC's apprentice is torn between learning white magic from the MC and succumbing to the temptation of a seductive woman who's a dark mage.
3. A very powerful supernatural entity is trapped between two worlds, and trying to manipulate various characters into helping it break into our world (which would be catastrophic).
The second one fits because:
1. The MC is the type who puts up a cheerful, sarcastic, charming front to the world, but hides a lot of his darker personality.
2. The apprentice is hiding from both the MC and the woman, trying to walk a fine line between the two of them so he can keep his options open.
3. The entity has a small bit of itself in our world, but most of it is still trapped in its home dimension.
I'd like the title to be fairly short and punchy, and definitely an "urban fantasy-style" title. This is the first book in a series. There's no consistent style among the titles of the other books, except that they're all short (3 words max).
Thanks for any ideas!
It's an urban fantasy story, set in essentially modern times. The concept I'm trying to encapsulate is "something that's caught between two worlds/decisions/philosophies and could go either way depending on outside forces," or else "something that a small bit is visible on the surface but most is hidden" (like an iceberg). For the first one, it fits in three ways:
1. The MC is a mage who has a mundane "secret identity," so he's constantly torn between keeping his powers hidden and being drawn into using them to deal with supernatural threats.
2. The MC's apprentice is torn between learning white magic from the MC and succumbing to the temptation of a seductive woman who's a dark mage.
3. A very powerful supernatural entity is trapped between two worlds, and trying to manipulate various characters into helping it break into our world (which would be catastrophic).
The second one fits because:
1. The MC is the type who puts up a cheerful, sarcastic, charming front to the world, but hides a lot of his darker personality.
2. The apprentice is hiding from both the MC and the woman, trying to walk a fine line between the two of them so he can keep his options open.
3. The entity has a small bit of itself in our world, but most of it is still trapped in its home dimension.
I'd like the title to be fairly short and punchy, and definitely an "urban fantasy-style" title. This is the first book in a series. There's no consistent style among the titles of the other books, except that they're all short (3 words max).
Thanks for any ideas!