Post B1we4AXAYHeGvF5eNc by lffontenelle@mastodon.social
(DIR) More posts by lffontenelle@mastodon.social
(DIR) Post #B1wPMiFuPqaZPMOvvE by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-01-04T12:22:34Z
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It's time to stop not having a title for "The Novel I Can't Talk About Until It Is Done"And no, I will not really call it "The Novel I Can't Talk About Until It Is Done" I want the title to be easy to search for, memorable and very cool-sounding. It should also NOT make people angry when they compare it to the book. Maybe I should call it:PsammophoreThis is a pretty word from myrmecology that describes the basket-like hairs on the head of some ants. Titles are hard.
(DIR) Post #B1wPjbJsMzuIYaAdc0 by burnitdown@beige.party
2026-01-04T12:26:39Z
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@futurebird Untitled Goose Book :goose_glasses:
(DIR) Post #B1wPw0kNen2CtTUABk by sahqon@beige.party
2026-01-04T12:28:53Z
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@futurebird But now I kinda wish books had the working titles and rejected titles listed crossed out under their "final" title :D
(DIR) Post #B1wQAW9dgKPQM9DWs4 by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-01-04T12:31:33Z
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OK maybe not. Here are the themes:* hidden systems, hidden rhythms* inexhaustible technological hubris of silicone valley* loneliness what does it mean to be "alone"* the End Times, Prophecies* New York City* Ants* the crippling self-doubt of academics* how massive systems can fall apart* the poorly rendered places on the edge of realityIt's hard to talk about it without really talking about it.
(DIR) Post #B1wQEB8lklaoLBYXWy by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-01-04T12:32:13Z
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@burnitdown Too goofy. I need a title that's a little more pretentious feeling.
(DIR) Post #B1wQXRb4nBgosjz0QC by thejessiekirk@ohai.social
2026-01-04T12:35:41Z
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@futurebird Maybe something Classical where it's a single, provocative word is the way to go. Like "The Garden" or "The Desert"?
(DIR) Post #B1wQY6pLV2SukryTr6 by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-01-04T12:35:43Z
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@sahqon I would also enjoy that.
(DIR) Post #B1wQdJCAwU3OYv8G92 by Hellybootwader@mastodon.scot
2026-01-04T12:36:43Z
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@futurebird Antipathy
(DIR) Post #B1wQmm3d0F0AgOeDom by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-01-04T12:38:28Z
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@Hellybootwader This has legs. Six of them, I think.
(DIR) Post #B1wRUdrcpNZq0px2jw by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-01-04T12:46:18Z
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@toolbear @cstross This seems like good advice to keep in mind.
(DIR) Post #B1wRbu4ywBdwKZf42C by CatDragon@mastodon.world
2026-01-04T12:47:40Z
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@futurebird Ant Thropology
(DIR) Post #B1wS58WyHogtY6h0EK by cstross@wandering.shop
2026-01-04T12:52:53Z
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@futurebird @toolbear Oh, a couple of bits I forgot!1. Your author name (either your real one or a pseudonym) needs to be pronounceable/spellable by somebody with the basics of English spelling rules, or folks will find it hard to ask for your book in a shop.2. Your author name should NOT be Stephen King (unless that's you, Steve?)3. Titles should be pronounceable/spellable too: same reason.(All deeply boring, but non-discoverability is a potential career-stopper!)
(DIR) Post #B1wSRXbFlER3fcNXFI by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-01-04T12:57:03Z
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@burnitdown But going on this:Exuberant Ant-Themed Science Fiction Propaganda Book?(This would be a title for a comedy. It's SF drama. )
(DIR) Post #B1wTIPT6iveLnbmJeK by PizzaDemon@mastodon.online
2026-01-04T13:06:34Z
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@futurebird The Hive BlindWhen you can't walk, crawlDianeticsMoses Morphosis
(DIR) Post #B1wTqb28ERjrVrShvs by itgrrl@infosec.exchange
2026-01-04T13:12:46Z
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@futurebird from your description I thought “Liminality” might be fitting, although a quick search shows me that its already in use in anthropology so… ¯_(ツ)_/¯ 🤔
(DIR) Post #B1wU0U80lBfwzbvYhc by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-01-04T13:14:28Z
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@shapr murmuration of birds?myrmerations
(DIR) Post #B1wU9c2EjRMc7bZwHY by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-01-04T13:16:13Z
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@itgrrl The "liminal spaces" online communities have had a huge influence on me. Some very important and moving art seeps out of those communities. Important as in relevant to this particular historical and social moment.
(DIR) Post #B1wUD7vMcpOjtQ2Wps by catselbow@fosstodon.org
2026-01-04T13:16:47Z
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@futurebird ANTithesis
(DIR) Post #B1wUZq5J7PxdDzWLoW by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-01-04T13:20:56Z
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@c0dec0dec0de I love this and will steal it for the OTHER ant story I've been working on where the ants have their own planet and it's like Victorian England for some reason.(It's a much more fun and playful world and this belongs in it.)
(DIR) Post #B1wV5AdqjnUfxUcMGu by sovietfish@todon.eu
2026-01-04T13:26:34Z
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@futurebird Semaphore may be a good title if there are sections in which, for example, an academic character explains in passing that it's a false cognate for psammaphora, or if there are other tastefully indirect ways of associating the two ideas based on being homophones to a 5 year old. This might be too literary, or just not jive with other themes of the book. But a suggestion of: you may enjoy sitting down with someone who loves wordplay to try to finagle your dream title into something more easily discoverable. (It's a pretty fun problem to imagine trying to solve with a friend over coffee, to me, at least.)
(DIR) Post #B1wWlU3J3lR2HBGVIO by rayhindle@mastodon.social
2026-01-04T13:45:25Z
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@futurebird Titles are hard, especially when the editor/publisher insists on changing it!
(DIR) Post #B1wXaIMiGsdKnYZTsG by dougwade@mastodon.xyz
2026-01-04T13:54:37Z
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@futurebird you could go super science-y sounding, like “Solenopsis invicta”
(DIR) Post #B1wY4m50MHTPdwp1fc by asakiyume@wandering.shop
2026-01-04T14:00:06Z
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@futurebird That is a gorgeous word with a cool meaning.
(DIR) Post #B1we4AXAYHeGvF5eNc by lffontenelle@mastodon.social
2026-01-04T15:07:10Z
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@futurebird Perhaps something with two more widely known words, like "basket hairs" (more an example than a suggestion)
(DIR) Post #B1wraKg9fS7l3axb4i by Sharksonaplane@mastodon.sandwich.net
2026-01-04T17:38:43Z
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@futurebird I think some of the themes themselves make for fascinating titles! "hidden systems, hidden rhythms", "inexhaustible technological hubris", "the poorly rendered places on the edge of reality," etc.or you could also smush them together. "technohubris and the liminal anthills"
(DIR) Post #B1wtmvkvqF4pQtKUoS by llewelly@sauropods.win
2026-01-04T18:03:25Z
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@futurebird but will you title the sequel "Psammofive" and the prequel "Psammothree" ?
(DIR) Post #B1xFi7mlt0J8HmIsHw by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-01-04T22:09:06Z
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Current candidates for working title for "The Novel I Can't Talk About Until It Is Done":Pick the one that sounds the best?This is a working title but those can end up sticking. I want to call the project something better than "The Novel I Can't Talk About Until It Is Done"
(DIR) Post #B1xGbbZErNTEZyQdmq by Moss@beige.party
2026-01-04T22:19:04Z
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@futurebird Personally I think Myrmerations is brilliant
(DIR) Post #B1xI2BcJYDBHru6e3s by LJ@zirk.us
2026-01-04T22:35:06Z
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@futurebird i have a trunked novel that I called YAGSIP. Acronym for Young Adult Ghost Story In Progress. LOL.
(DIR) Post #B1xK9QauSnv8Ft1v4S by shovemedia@triangletoot.party
2026-01-04T22:58:48Z
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@futurebird do not overlook the incredible stickiness and potential memeability of The Novel I Can’t Talk About Until It Is Done. Gives A Heartbreaking Work Of Incredible Genius vibes
(DIR) Post #B1xLb7JTqNEAWCe1Sq by catselbow@fosstodon.org
2026-01-04T23:15:01Z
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@futurebird I picked psammophory because it's an odd, worrisome word that will roll around in people's heads.Embossed and gold-tinted on a book cover* it will catch the eye and intrigue the potential buyer.* Accompanied by a striking but subdued ant picture
(DIR) Post #B1xPnkv6oNioeHWk2y by lufthans@mastodon.social
2026-01-05T00:02:08Z
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@futurebird T'nic tau iidas bonus, you get two pi in the middle
(DIR) Post #B1xQ7K3uNYVJ8pyOfY by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-01-05T00:05:42Z
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@lufthans What is "T'nic tau iid" ?
(DIR) Post #B1xQwaAsEWO5sjfpk8 by lufthans@mastodon.social
2026-01-05T00:14:56Z
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@futurebird T(he)'n(ovel)ic(an't) ...It could be tti for short :)Or tnti because it's explosively imaginary
(DIR) Post #B1xR3ugSNVPTW9wT0C by futurebird@sauropods.win
2026-01-05T00:16:17Z
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@lufthans 🤣 I thought it was... Swedish or Icelandic something.
(DIR) Post #B1xTMCTNB4p1oHfaPQ by australopithecus@mastodon.social
2026-01-05T00:41:58Z
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@futurebird @lufthans TNICTAUiiD (The Novel I Can't...etc)
(DIR) Post #B1xV4z1e7Xj35ccQuu by MedeaVanamonde@beige.party
2026-01-05T01:01:16Z
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@futurebird The Unfinished Manuscript…which is what Greg Benford kept calling Greg Bear’s final novel
(DIR) Post #B1xYvjhc7cNwmC5xMe by ricosuave@mastodon.online
2026-01-05T01:44:24Z
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@futurebird That's a toughie. Could it be "The Novel That's Finally Finished"? "The Finally Done Book"?
(DIR) Post #B1xsP9uldvPPbBzV2W by lufthans@mastodon.social
2026-01-05T05:22:34Z
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@futurebird might very well be :)Or the beginnings bringing ant language into writing