howdy kids - happy new year!
Nothing Better carries on - and I'm planning/hoping to publish Volume 2 this year. with all the recent talk of Diamond raising their minimums I've had to do some thinking about how that will affect me as a publisher. the orders for Volume 1 would have been below these new minimums - so I assume Volume 2 would be as well. but Diamond is just our distributor to the Direct Market comics retailers - we also have a distributor for bookstores. so just because Diamond wouldn't order books, others would. it really only (possibly) changes how and where I would have the books printed - and how many.
the thing that's really been holding me back with Volume 2 though is I just can't come up with a good title. the books already laid out, I started the cover design... but I just can't settle on a subtitle. I've asked a few friends, talked it over with Cori a bunch of course, but still nothing. so I thought I'd reach out to the internet.
I'd like the title to correlate to Vol 1's "no place like home." i'd like it to, if possible, be an existing cultural phrase. i've written up some notes about Vol 2 to remind you of what happened and the themes of that book, along with some possible phrases/title suggestions.
IF SOMEONE COMES UP WITH A USEABLE TITLE I WILL REWARD YOU WITH SOME FREE BOOKS/ART/STUFF!
NB Volume 2 Summary and Title Ideas
-------------------------------------
Main Developments
-jane loses her virginity
-jane continues to question her faith
-jane struggles with the idea of what God is to her
-katt is faced with the challenge of defining her beliefs - what DOES she believe in?
-katt struggles between art and science
-katt makes a discovery about her art (a leap forward)
-prof filson points out to both katt and jane that they're on a journey or quest and that everyone is essentially on the *same* quest
Theme
-------
the main theme/s of this volume seem to be that the characters feel ungrounded/untethered, like they've been released into the wild and have nothing to hold on to - they're grasping at straws. released into the wild also in terms of... they're totally on their own, doing all kinds of crazy, new things. also that they're embarking on this great journey or quest...
-empty and alone
-void of meaning
-on the same quest
-the journey is what's important
-reflections
-released into the wild
-into the wild
-untethered
-off the hook
-ungrounded
-anchorless
-seize the day
-flesh and blood
-higher learning
-virgin territory
-a whole new world
-cutting loose
-insecurity
-the undiscovered country
-into the great wide open
-all in the family
-brave new world
-losing my religion
-questions and answers
-no direction home
-get out the map
-some assembly required
-yellow brick road
-far from home
-on the road
-road to nowhere
-crossroads
-a way home
-the way home
give it some thought. THANKS!
15 Comments:
Considering everything that happens in Volume 2, how about:
"College Is Where Your Heart Is..."
Your story contains so much of the character's journey to maturity, and such soul searching that this title might cover those themes. You have a lot of appropriate titles listed, but since none have jumped out at you yet and screamed "ME!", perhaps the one I've suggested may appeal to you.
For the first year or two I was in college, there was a feeling of adventure and trying new things. But there was also a feeling of change, chaos, and almost a sadness or regret for when life was simpler. Like the feeling of being lost while trying to find yourself. I think everyone feels this way when college starts, and I think "Nothing Better" does an amazing job of portraying these feelings.
I've always thought the phrase "You can't go home again" summed these feelings up. Adventure at going forward and a regret for never being able to go back to the way things were.
-Striking Forth
-Stepping Forth
-Onward and Outward
The things you mentioned made me remember "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" by Robert Frost (from my high school English class, I'm no poetry buff).
"The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep."
Something there about loneliness, yearning, thoughtfulness and the journey that seems appropriate to what you were talking about.
First suggestion that comes to mind is "Your Place or Mine" in regards to not only the loss of virginity but the dichotomy of art vs. science, the questions of faith, and just the overall theme of expansion into new places physically and metaphorically.
Second idea: "Far from the Tree," as the two main apples in question are departing from the world of their parents and are losing the connection to the branches that held them up previously, freefalling.
That's all I've got. I'm sure you'll find the right title somewhere. Love your comic, man.
-chad knopf
chadknopf@hotmail.com
Volume 2: The Road Less Traveled
Volume 2: Free Range
Going with the idea of "a whole new world" and the first title of "No Place like Home," you could stick with the Wizard of Oz themed quotes and do "We're Not in Kansas Anymore" or something along those lines.
How about, "Volume 2: Evolution"
I really like the Title "Sea Change" because that's what Katt and Jane really seem to be going through. It's an idiom for broad transformation.
P.S.
Great work, I'm really loving the philosophical dialogue and development of these realistic female characters.
-Kara
a long and winding yellow brick road.
(is that too long?...too bed. its perfect.)
Stranger in My Own Shoes
Into the Wild Blue Yonder
...That's all I can come up with. :)
I like the "We're Not in Kansas Anymore" that HeartsWrath came up with... it fits the theme and ties back to book one nicely.
For me, the first thing that came to mind was "A Leap of Faith". Trusting in God, trusting in other people and, to some extent, trusting yourself... All are leaps of faith. And "faith" can also refer to one's spiritual belief so it's a bit of a play-on-word. Though, it doesn't tie back to book one's title, I thought I'd put it out there anyway.
Good luck and thank you for all your hard work!
"This is who we are."
or maybe
"This is your story."
The first one is more of a reference to all the new things that Kat and Jane and the other more pivotal characters are doing.
The second line is actually straight from Auron in Final Fantasy X, when he says the line to Tidus, in essence telling Tidus that he can't rely on other people forever and that he must make his own way in life, and in this sense, it could become a reference to Kat's and Jane's questioning of their faiths and their constant attempts to define for themselves what they truly believe.
I like "We're Not in Kansas Anymore" too.
Maybe something like "into the deep"; seeing as they're digging into their thoughts and faith as well as plunging into the deep.
I know this is kinda late, I don't know if you're still looking for subtitles but I would like to put in a bid for Alice in Wonderland's, "Curioser and Curiouser."
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