Books with the same title...

Quiksilver · May 8, 2008

When getting my query critiqued the other day, someone mentioned that there was another book out there with the same title as mine, except for a slightly different spelling. Rusalka as opposed to Russalka (my one).

I don't think there's any copyright on titles, but would this affect my chances of getting published (my writing notwithstanding, of course

)etc. I imagine it may have implications for marketing etc, even though the two novels are of a completly different genre (mine is mainstream literary, the other one is fantasy, I think)

Any thoughts appreciated

ORION · May 8, 2008

It won't make a bit of difference but keep in mind that publishers change titles all the time.
My novel is LOTTERY and there are several books with the same title--
It never was a concern... You can't copyright titles...

SPMiller · May 8, 2008

I often find that my short story titles are taken. Hell, even when I think I've stumbled upon a brilliant turn of phrase, I can almost always find it somewhere on the net via Google.

It's only moderately depressing, but as far as writing goes, there really is nothing new under the sun. Just write yours as best you can.

Ravenlocks · May 9, 2008

Off topic, but why is yours Russalka instead of Rusalka? If you're referring back to the original Russian word, it only has one S.

Quiksilver · May 9, 2008

Cheers for your answers, looks like I wont have to come up with a new title then

As for why it has two S's, I've taken the name from a Russian Ironclad battleship that sank in in the Baltic sea back in the 1800's. From what I gleaned in my research, it was spelt with two S's.

If you're interested:
http://www.shipwreckcentral.com/livedive/archives/russalka/

Cheers

ACEnders · May 9, 2008

Thanks for this thread. I had wondered the same thing. I'm glad it doesn't matter, but I also did know that titles often change before reaching publication. Which sucks because I become quite attached to my titles.

Kalyke · May 9, 2008

I think catch -22 was renamed because there were too many "number" novels out that year. I think that if you and the publisher feel that it might cause confusion, by all means think up a different title. I don't know if you can bribe the other person to do it.

C.bronco · May 9, 2008

When I got my copyright, there were several other The Haven listings. I was happy, however, that the others were movies, song titles and longer titles with The Haven in them.

Zoombie · May 9, 2008

I once asked my mom to get the newly released book of fantasy short stories by acclaimed polish author, Andrzej Sapkowski.

She came back with The Last Wish by Edward Robert Bulwer Lytton...It wasn't the same at all.

Charlie Horse · May 9, 2008

Well, I've written a book titled Harry Potter and the Sorcerors Rock. Is that a problem?

Gillhoughly · May 9, 2008

Rusalka ("the spirit of a maiden drowned by accident or force") with one "s" is a 1989 release from Del Rey Books, by multiple-award winner C.J. Cherryh.

I would suggest that the 2 "s" Roussalka is a bit too close for comfort, even if the story is quite different. It is an unusual word, after all.

Though there is no copyright on titles, yours being so similar might be considered a cheesy ploy to cash in on Ms. Cherryh's well-known novel. Consider it being on a par with calling a book "The Search for Red Oktober" or "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Heights."

You might change it to more than one word, like "Grave of the Roussalka" or "Roussalka Returns", whatever. Chances are good the publisher will change the name anyway, with or without your permission.

Ms. Cherryh is just too well known and respected in the trade.

A. J. Luxton · May 9, 2008

I'd agree with the above -- especially the part about changing it to more than one word.

The Word: Description thing works pretty well.

Like if I had written a book called "Lemoncakes" that was about a robot dog, and someone else had written a book called "Lemoncakes", I'd consider making mine "Lemoncakes: The Robot Dog and How He Almost Saved the Universe" or "Something Else in the Story: Lemoncakes."

Madison · May 9, 2008

Honestly I wouldn't worry about similar titles at all if the book is obscure. I've never heard of Rusalka and I'd bet most people haven't either. Like everyone has said, titles aren't copyrighted. Call your book what you want.

It probably won't hit shelves with the same name anyways...

And it certainly won't affect (effect?) your chance of getting published.

Gillhoughly · May 9, 2008

Madison said:
I've never heard of Rusalka and I'd bet most people haven't either.

Only Publisher's Weekly, anyone who's spent more than ten minutes on Publisher's Row, and anyone who has read any one of her 60 titles.

She is a major name, a Hugo-winner and, as stated, highly respected in the industry. (She's one of my drinkin' buddies, too, when I'm in her neck o' the woods. Ditto for her artist brother, David A. Cherry.)

Bet yer boots, even with an extra "s" your title will be changed by any house that doesn't want to commit a publishing gaff. It won't mess up your chance at publication, but changing it from the get-go will tell them that you did bother to do research and are respectful of a fellow writer's work.

Google is a writer's very good friend!

CDarklock · May 9, 2008

Madison said:
I've never heard of Rusalka and I'd bet most people haven't either.

Got to side with Gillhoughly on this. CJ Cherryh has a massive fanbase, and Rusalka was actually a really good book... which introduced the whole revenge-spirit thing to a Western audience quite some time before Ringu or Ju-On showed up.

David I · May 9, 2008

Use Her Name said:
I think catch -22 was renamed because there were too many "number" novels out that year.

Sorta. Actually, Catch-22 was initially entitled Catch-18. It was changed so as not to be confused with Leon Uris's Mila 18, which had just been published. (Uris was a Big Deal at the time, while Heller was an unknown.)

True, titles are not copyrighted. But there are very good reasons to pick a unique title. If you pick a title that has been used before, especially if it has been used by a bestselling author, when someone looks on Amazon they are likely to find your novel buried beneath twenty other titles--if they bother to flip through all those others. Or, worst of all, people may buy another book, mistaking it for yours.

IceCreamEmpress · May 9, 2008

Madison said:
I've never heard of Rusalka and I'd bet most people haven't either.

I think most people who are older than 30 and who are avid readers have heard of it. And those are the people to whom the query is going.

Madison · May 9, 2008

okay... sorry

I'm much younger than thirty. I've never heard of that book. But still, the publisher will change the title so I don't know if it really matters. I know nothing except AP European history right now... ten million hour exam today. hoo - rah.

David I · May 9, 2008

"Rusalka" isn't all that obscure a concept, by the way. Rusalki figure in any number of tales and stories. There's even an opera from more than a century ago entitled "Rusalka."

There's nothing wrong with using the word "Rusalka" in your title, and no reason to spell it with one "s", either--the rules of transliteration from the Cyrillic alphabet aren't set in stone.

But, as Gilhoughly suggests, you would probably be far better off working the word into your title rather than letting it stand alone. And in doing so, you could also let it be known that your book was about a ship rather than an malevolent water spirit.

ACEnders · May 9, 2008

Gillhoughly said:
Only Publisher's Weekly, anyone who's spent more than ten minutes on Publisher's Row, and anyone who has read any one of her 60 titles.

She is a major name, a Hugo-winner and, as stated, highly respected in the industry. (She's one of my drinkin' buddies, too, when I'm in her neck o' the woods. Ditto for her artist brother, David A. Cherry.)

Bet yer boots, even with an extra "s" your title will be changed by any house that doesn't want to commit a publishing gaff. It won't mess up your chance at publication, but changing it from the get-go will tell them that you did bother to do research and are respectful of a fellow writer's work.

Google is a writer's very good friend!

So if there are other books with your title... you should change them? IT'S OKAY TO CRY is the title of several books when I googled, and COMING HOME is a movie.

My other book is neither though.

Gillhoughly · May 9, 2008

ACEnders said:
So if there are other books with your title... you should change them?

It never hurts to be original!

My second book's name is identical to to several other books, a CD album, and I'm sure several short stories released long after my 1990 title.

A few months before my book's release a romance came out with the same title. Freaked, I brought this up to my editor, who told me not to worry about it. As it is, my book is still in print, and the romance is long gone. (Too bad, as it was very well-written!)

The point is, at least make an effort!

Do this with character names, too.

And you'll find this to be VERY helpful.

Ravenlocks · May 9, 2008

Quiksilver said:
Cheers for your answers, looks like I wont have to come up with a new title then

As for why it has two S's, I've taken the name from a Russian Ironclad battleship that sank in in the Baltic sea back in the 1800's. From what I gleaned in my research, it was spelt with two S's.

If you're interested:
http://www.shipwreckcentral.com/livedive/archives/russalka/

Cheers

Cool! That's a good reason to spell it that way.

What about calling your book The Ironclad Battleship Russalka? As folks mentioned above, that distinguishes you from Cherryh and also clarifies that your book isn't about a ghost.

Matera the Mad · May 9, 2008

I made Google sweat looking up my title and characters. It led to one name change and a lot of interesting reading.

The_Grand_Duchess · May 9, 2008

This thread made me think of some myspace spam I saw a while back.

Where some guy had titled his self published book "The Heart is a lonely Hunter".

Do NOT be that guy.

Zelenka · May 9, 2008

I usually do a search on Amazon and Google to see what comes up when I think of a title and luckily most of mine are okay. I had one story though that was provisionally titled 'Necromancer' and you can imagine how many hits that came back with...

I think if it's an ordinary phrase or word then it's not so much of a big deal if there's another book with the same title, unless that book is one that's really big in the bestseller lists right now. If it's something more obscure, then there's a greater chance people could think of the other book, I think.

Books with the same title...

Sailed away years ago

Prodigiously Hanged

How novel.

Self-Banned

I have plans...

Dragon of the Multiverse

Speaking in metaphors

Grumpy writer and editor

Wibbly-Wobbly. Timey-Wimey.

summertime...

Grumpy writer and editor

Yes!

Hapless Virago

summertime...

Self-Banned

Grumpy writer and editor

How novel.

Bartender, gimme a Linux Mint

I record everything.

Going home!