Saden Rise

[Nina]

At a conference an author talked about not naming books after things that don't exist, but I go back and forth. It's a fantasy, why can't I?

Saden Rise

the other title is:

The Black Sunrise

But the whole series is about Saden Energy and how its use changes the world. It seems appropriate that the title reflects the main plot. The Black Sunrise is a mage name for an eclipse, which happens during the book.

[violet]

That's absurd. One of my favorite books is GRACELING, a made up word/being. What about the HUNGER GAMES? Also made-up.

There are countless titles that hold true to this.

I'd love to know which author said this....

[Tabris]

The Tar Aym Krang by Alan Dean Foster
The Pride of Chanur by CJ Cherryh
The Faded Sun: Kutath by Tanith Lee
Anackyrie by Tanith Lee
The Collapsium by Wil McCarthy
Dark Lord of Derkholm by Diana Wynne Jones
The Pinhoe Egg by Diana Wynne Jones

Shall I go on?

[AnyaHarker]

Agreed. I'd really like to know what author said that, because I completely disagree. Completely.

Go with what feels right for your book.

[Nina]

It was a Newspaper conference ages ago, I could try finding the notes. I thought about all the examples of titles from books that are made up, but it made me worry that it would be a hindrance as a new writer.
So Saden Rise is okay?

[Tabris]

There should be some kind of question or connection in your story, and the title should fit your book. Remember that FIRST and FOREMOST, your title is a sales tool.

The ONLY purpose of your title is to make someone intrigued enough to pick up the book and flip it over to the back cover copy.

I personally don't like "Saden Rise" because it's not intriguing to me. I'm not really concerned with what a Saden is, and if it's rising, that sounds kind of good to me, so it doesn't create a feeling of distress. It's not quite exotic enough for me to say, "I've got to find out what this is."

If you had something like "Saden Falling," for example (bear in mind I know very little about your story, but I'm sure that title wouldn't fit) you might find yourself thinking the fall would be a bad thing and the object of the book was to prevent it.

Or "Saden Burning" feels a bit dynamic.

"Saden Rise" might just be the name of a hilltop, right? So to my taste, no, it's not intriguing enough to make me flip over the book and look at the back cover copy.

Your alternative title, The Black Sunrise, embodies a contradiction (sunrise is usually bright; black usually connotes darkness or evil whereas sunrise connotes beginnings and goodness) so it carries a dynamic tension that Saden Rise does not.

But overall, no, I don't think made-up words in the title are a hindrance to a new writer. (BTW, my first novel sold with the title Tabris, and the publisher changed it.)

[MittensMorgul]

I'm halfway convinced that it doesn't really matter what you call your novel, since publishers/editors often suggest a "better" title. I've been fiddling with my title, unconvinced it's any good. Or I might just be sick of hearing it after months of working on the novel/talking about it/editing/etc.

I do like Black Sunrise better, though, since I don't know what Saden is. It doesn't sound particularly ominous, at least compared to Black Sunrise. That sounds like a Bad Thing, at least to me.

[HarrisSP]

As a non fantasy reader, Saden Rise intimidates me, and to be honest, sounds like every other cheesy fantasy novel. However, is there some connection to Satan-Saden? If so, that might peak my interest.

I'd go with the Black Sunrise. Then, when it hits it big, you can name your 2/3/4/5/6 book whatever the hell you want.