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Hey that's my title!
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M.K.
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May 06, 2017 10:20AM
I am very happy to be 90% through the first draft of my next book. Yesterday as I started to feel my inspiration to write waning I checked my stats and sales and decided to pop my title into Google to check that it wasn't taken. I did some minor tweaks on the titles to my first two books to make them unique while still keeping to the title that had been in my mind for ages. For this next book, the title isn't only taken by another book. The book is a huge success with a movie. I'm so crushed, have any of you ever experienced this? How have you tackled this and what advice can you offer?
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Then, really think about them cause what you liked an hour ago you'll hate later. Try mixing and matching those and if they still don't work, or the titles are taken, start again but try to find words that speak to the premise of the story and hopefully it'll help.
Yes, I experienced it...and I didn't let it stop me. One of my mystery/thrillers is titled House of Cards, but the subtitle, Dead Men Tell No Tales, will distinguish it from others of the same title.
As well, the Kindle edition of my Antarctic Trilogy sports the title Cold Blood: The Antarctic Murders Trilogy.
I really am NOT concerned.
R.L. wrote: "Oh I can relate. My book had about 20 titles because everyone I decided on was taken. What I did was to think of the emotion in the book, that correlates to the actions of my characters. So I'd say..."I didn't even know that title generators existed, there goes another hour of my writing time today...
Theodore wrote: "Yes, I experienced it...and I didn't let it stop me. One of my mystery/thrillers is titled House of Cards, but the subtitle, Dead Men Tell No Tales, will distinguish it from others of the same ti..."
Wow, that is too funny. I was planning on a subtitle which could differentiate. I'll keep that in mind. Thank you!
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R.L. wrote: "Lmao, you'll breeze through it I'm sure"I was tempted to be blunter...as in, I didn't give a ...
Well, you get the picture. LOL
One of my books is titled Past Imperfect. There are others out there: Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey fame) and Joan Collins to name just two. But I had the title in my head for a long time and decided to go with it.
Michael wrote: "One of my books is titled Past Imperfect. There are others out there: Julian Fellowes (Downton Abbey fame) and Joan Collins to name just two. But I had the title in my head for a long time and deci..."Excellent! And why not?!
While looking for a certain book here on GR recently I saw that there were tons of books with this title. I had to go through three pages before I found the one I wanted-I couldn't remember the author's name but I knew the cover. So it isn't surprising that you found your title already used. Since it seems to be popular with a movie I would probably think of a different title if that happened to me but there can be so many that it may not matter much,
Actually I have one that is being beta read-hmmm, I better see how it is coming along, its been a while with no reports-which has the same title as one new book that came out not long ago. No movie for that one yet but I suspect its possible.
I will keep my title because it fits so well but I may add a very short phrase to it. Something unique to my book.
Alex wrote: "When the ideal title is only 3 words long (apparently) there is a limit to the number of variations available, especially if you want the title to make sense and to be attractive to potential readers."I have noticed what seems to be a couple of new fads with titles. Quite a few came out with a title of just one word, but at around the same time quite a few books came out with titles that are six to eight word sentences. Some of those were bestsellers. In fact it seems like more of those with long titles were bestsellers than those with one word titles.
Did the titles make a difference or was it the author's names? (Shoulder shrug) in some cases someone bought the long title before the author was famous.
With me though it has been the opposite. I have read more of the one word titles than the other.
I think the only thing that could possibly be an issue is if you happen to share a title AND a similar story. Maybe see what those other books with the same title are about, just to be safe? Your story is unique, and that's what blurbs/covers are for. Titles are hard; sometimes harder than actually writing the book. And as most everyone here has pointed out, there are really only so many titles in the world. Between books, movies, TV shows, music, etc. etc. the odds are not in our favor. But every book is an individual, and as L.E. has proven, a determined reader will find you no matter what!
I try to come up with unique titles that aren't being used. If they are I try to add a word to it to change it so its not the same as a bunch of others.
Isaac wrote: "Your..."
I referenced the one book I have the title I want for it, and I have another one I have one of those one word titles for, but I have two books I am writing I can't think of even a working title much less a final one. I keep calling one of the two the "Dragonpunk, steampunk, UF, historical fiction fusion I am working on." I need a title badly. :)
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Isaac wrote: "I think the only thing that could possibly be an issue is if you happen to share a title AND a similar story. Maybe see what those other books with the same title are about, just to be safe? Your..."
That is my worst fear, that I'll spend years working on a story, have it perfect, then someone in passing will say "oh that sounds just like X."
