MY BOOK HAS A TITLE!

For eight years, my book has existed without a proper name.

I’ve called it “my fantasy novel” in conversations. “The manuscript” in emails to my editor. “That thing I’ve been writing forever,” when people asked how it was going.

But today, I finally decided on the title!

“The Conductor’s Game”

(Actual book cover coming soon.)

How Titles Happen (Or Don’t)

I’ve tried so many titles over the years. Some were too literal, describing plot points that gave too much away. Others were too abstract and meaningless. A few were just terrible—the kind that made me cringe every time I typed them.

The problem with titling a book you’ve been writing for a long time is that you’re too close to it. You know too much about what the title could mean to see what it should mean.

The Moment It Clicked

Believe it or not, I used AI to help me generate title ideas. Multiple times… because nothing felt right.

After months of going over my options, I finally realized I had to make a choice.

And there it was. Not a lightning bolt like the original story inspiration, but a quiet recognition.

The Conductor’s Game captures several layers of the story without giving anything away.

It’s a title that promises intrigue, suggests fantasy without being too obvious, and hints at the kind of layered storytelling that took me years to unravel.

What Changes Now

Having a real title transforms how I think about this project. It’s no longer “the book I’m working on”—it’s The Conductor’s Game. When I mention it to people, I can say the title with confidence rather than stumble through explanations.

I am now polishing The Conductor’s Game. When I query agents, I’ll be pitching The Conductor’s Game. If I’m lucky enough to see it in bookstores someday, readers will be picking up The Conductor’s Game.

It has a name. And somehow, that makes all the difference. Hopefully, it doesn’t change! But if it so happens that it does, I’ll just go with the flow :)

What’s Next

I’m deep in developmental edits now, refining character arcs and tightening plot threads, correcting grammar, spellcheck, etc.

I’ll be sharing more about this editing process in future posts, including what it’s like working with a professional editor for the first time and the humbling experience of seeing your “finished” manuscript transformed into something even better.

For now, though, I’m savoring this milestone.

It feels right.