Books with the Same Title

E.G. Gammon · May 4, 2005

Let's say you are in the middle of writing a book and your book has the PERFECT title. You do a book search to find out if any other book has that title, and you find out that one does, but the book is nothing like yours (their's is an autobiography or something and yours is a - uh - space drama that takes place in the future - I'm just throwing something out there). Now, I know if the other book was something famous like 'Harry Potter' or something, you couldn't call your's that, but what if it's just a regular book - never a bestseller, etc... Can you use your title anyway? (Keep in mind, "your" book and the other book with the same title are completely different)

LightShadow · May 4, 2005

I've seen books out there with the same titles, so I don't think it's a copyright problem unless you either use a registered trademark, or your intentions are obviously to use the same title to attract buyers of such and such writer...however, my book I wanted to name "Lights and Shadows" but I discovered there was a mess-load of books already out there by that name, so I tweaked the title to "A Light in the Shadow," and it turns out to be a better title, and a more appropriate title, for my book. Thing is, titles sell books, and a hot title is worth its weight in gold. The title, basically, is the beginning of the story, and it needs to be something the potential reader/buyer will remember. Writing is a business, and it's all about marketing.

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Jamesaritchie · May 4, 2005

Title

EGGammon said:
Let's say you are in the middle of writing a book and your book has the PERFECT title. You do a book search to find out if any other book has that title, and you find out that one does, but the book is nothing like yours (their's is an autobiography or something and yours is a - uh - space drama that takes place in the future - I'm just throwing something out there). Now, I know if the other book was something famous like 'Harry Potter' or something, you couldn't call your's that, but what if it's just a regular book - never a bestseller, etc... Can you use your title anyway? (Keep in mind, "your" book and the other book with the same title are completely different)

You can put any title on your book you like. Whether or not the publisher will keep it is another story. Titles are one area where most writers have little or no control.

LightShadow · May 4, 2005

Jamesaritchie said:
You can put any title on your book you like. Whether or not the publisher will keep it is another story. Titles are one area where most writers have little or no control.

True, but if the title is good enough, and catchy enough, and original enough, they may use it...besides, the title, along with your query, is the first taste they get of the book, so even if they don't use it, the title got your foot in the door.

Jamesaritchie · May 4, 2005

Title

LightShadow said:
True, but if the title is good enough, and catchy enough, and original enough, they may use it...besides, the title, along with your query, is the first taste they get of the book, so even if they don't use it, the title got your foot in the door.

I agree. And despite what I said about the writer not having control of title, only one of my submitted titles was changed.

But having a good title that will attract an agent or editor is a very good reason not to use a famous title. If the agent or editor recognizes the title from another book, it can put a bad taste in their mouth before they even start reading.

LightShadow · May 4, 2005

Jamesaritchie said:
I agree. And despite what I said about the writer not having control of title, only one of my submitted titles was changed.

But having a good title that will attract an agent or editor is a very good reason not to use a famous title. If the agent or editor recognizes the title from another book, it can put a bad taste in their mouth before they even start reading.

Thing is, like I've said on a few other posts, they're looking for an originality that tweaks their interest enough that they want to see more. That's why it is so important to make sure that the query is excellent. I spent more time on the query and synopsis, sometimes it seems, than I did on the book, although I guess that's not entirely true. I spent a lot of time polishing, and I changed the title 3 times before I had something that fit the story, was original, and was an eye catcher.

Ralyks · May 4, 2005

Titles can't be copyrighted. But consider where your book will appear in the search rankings. I have a book entitled Conviction: A Sequel to Jane Austen's Pride & Prejudice. But there are so many other books with the title Conviction, and one famous one in particular, that it tends to come up low in the search rankings. I wish I had researched titles and that I had chosen a more unique title!

maestrowork · May 4, 2005

You can name your book the same title, but you're going to create confusion, unless the other book is an obscure book. Obviously, you shouldn't call your book Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter or Pride and Prejudice or Les Miserables -- the publisher will just laugh in your face.

Maryn · May 4, 2005

I am the proud owner of a raunchy 60s paperback entitled "The Sale of Two Titties," purchased solely because of its title. (What kind of family sell's Dad's old porn at an estate sale?)

Think the publisher laughed in the author's face? I like to think so. It certain reminds me that any title I come up with is perfectly all right, whether somebody's used it or not.

Although I never read all the way through this book--classic pulp porn with typos and printers error galore, and terrible writing--my skimming assured me that it doesn't bear any relation to Dickens or to the sale/rental of breasts. Yeah, I know you wondered...

(If the T-word is on the other side of the line, my apologies.)

Maryn

LightShadow · May 4, 2005

T-word accepted. Ultimately, it comes down again to originality, and a title that properly reflects your book.

Jamesaritchie · May 5, 2005

Story

Maryn said:
I am the proud owner of a raunchy 60s paperback entitled "The Sale of Two Titties," purchased solely because of its title. (What kind of family sell's Dad's old porn at an estate sale?)

Think the publisher laughed in the author's face? I like to think so. It certain reminds me that any title I come up with is perfectly all right, whether somebody's used it or not.

Although I never read all the way through this book--classic pulp porn with typos and printers error galore, and terrible writing--my skimming assured me that it doesn't bear any relation to Dickens or to the sale/rental of breasts. Yeah, I know you wondered...

(If the T-word is on the other side of the line, my apologies.)

Maryn

True confession time. Many years ago, on a lark, I wrote a short story called "A Tale of Two Titties." This makes me wonder how many other writers have had the same idea?

maestrowork · May 5, 2005

I wrote "Olivia Twisted."

zeprosnepsid · May 5, 2005

Well this is a bit of an aside but I rather like this story. "Field of Dreams" the movie originally had the same title as the book "Shoeless Joe" but the studio decided to change it. When the director of the film called the author of the book to tell him the bad news, the author didn't care. He said "Shoeless Joe" was the title the publisher put on it. His title was "Dream Field". How funny.

Nonetheless, Field of Dreams is a better title than Dream Field I think.

But as a new or not established author, the better and more memorable your title is, the better I think.

Lenora Rose · May 5, 2005

EGGammon said:
Let's say you are in the middle of writing a book and your book has the PERFECT title. You do a book search to find out if any other book has that title, and you find out that one does, but the book is nothing like yours (their's is an autobiography or something and yours is a - uh - space drama that takes place in the future - I'm just throwing something out there). Now, I know if the other book was something famous like 'Harry Potter' or something, you couldn't call your's that, but what if it's just a regular book - never a bestseller, etc... Can you use your title anyway? (Keep in mind, "your" book and the other book with the same title are completely different)

Titles Cannot be copyrighted. Period.

Not that this invalidates any of the other considerations raised. But if the book is different enough from yours that (In genre and likely audience crossover), go for it.

E.G. Gammon · May 5, 2005

Lenora Rose said:
Titles Cannot be copyrighted. Period.

Can't they be trademarked, like logos?

RGame · May 5, 2005

What about basing your title on someone else's title? I'm writing a story about a character who turns invisible and has to deal with being an outcast because of it. Hopefully it's a somewhat humorous story about how the guy deals with being invisible, with the focus being more on the freakishness of his condition instead of taking invisibility seriously.

The title I came up with is "The Invisible Mankowski," which hopefully implies that it isn't a totally serious book. Would that title cause a problem? I don't think so, but there's also the possibility it might sound too cute. Would anyone here pick up a book with that title?

Jamesaritchie · May 5, 2005

Dickens

maestrowork said:
I wrote "Olivia Twisted."

I don't think Dickens would be very happy with either of us.

LightShadow · May 5, 2005

Depends on what the pros think up there in their offices. They like it, you get it. They don't, it changes. Sometimes I wonder about the powers that be in the publishing world. I understand they understand the market more than we do, but are they helping or hurting when they change stuff around?

fallenangelwriter · May 5, 2005

legally, you are free to use the title of an already existing book.

whetehr it's a good idea, if the book is famous, is questionable. but tyhere are a lot of really great titles already on books, many of which few people have heard of, so i wouldn't worry if there turned ouyt to be another book under the same name.

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