After naming my frist novel, I found tons of books called Blank-Game (Ender's not being the only) so I went to Barnes and Noble.com to search for my title for the second: Redemption. And there were only 400+ search results, the frist being a novel called Redemption.
That's kinda the name I wanna go with, though. What are the rules with naming the novel another novel's name? Do I need to come up with a second word? Like Reagan's Redemption or something?
The real question is, do you want to risk your book being confused with others by having a similar or identical title?
Um ... "Redemption Game" ... "The Redeemer's Game" ... "Reagan's Repurchase" ... "Game Salvation" ... "Buyback or Bust" ...
Just 2c, Pat
Posted by InarticulateBabbler (Member # 4849) on :
There's a good chance the title of your work will be changed anyway (so I urge you not to get too attached to the title). Titles have gotten changed because another publishing house is offering a similar title (and it would overshadows yours) or because the marketing department thinks they'll have a better chance with another title. Sometimes, they'll let you choose another one (ie: make a list of ten you'd be happy with and they'll choose the one they think will do better), and sometimes you won't have a choice. So, it's best not to marry your 1st choice.
Posted by Reagansgame (Member # 8149) on :
Hey, that's great news. Publisher deciding and all. I'm spent when it comes to creativity right now. Pefecting the ending taxed all the creative right outta me.
Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :
I love the alliteration of Reagan's Redemption - the only caveat being that my first thought is President Ronald Reagan.
Posted by Reagansgame (Member # 8149) on :
There's actually a board game out revolving Reagan's presidency. I've played with Reagan's Redemption, but keep getting the feeling of overkill, because the M/C in the book is an author, and the other M/C is his M/C, named Reagan, and the series he writes is called The Search for Redemption, but, it's fitting too, because of how the second one ends. one of the bit players in the book points out the how absolutely annoying alliteration is, but that's because it's wholesale in our neck of the woods, everything is cutesy-wanna-be. We live in a town that tries to be Carmel, CA.
Posted by Zero (Member # 3619) on :
Well, I honestly think that whatever name feels like the "truest" name, will work fine.
Posted by Robert Nowall (Member # 2764) on :
I'm a big fan of posting under one's real name.
Posted by Crystal Stevens (Member # 8006) on :
I do know a few years back that one of the Pern novels was entitled THE WHITE DRAGON. Then, not long ago, I saw another book by the same title. Sorry that I can't remember who wrote it.
And yes, it's true the publisher has the right to choose the title of a book submitted by a fairly new author, though I have heard that the big name authors can usually name their own.
Posted by InarticulateBabbler (Member # 4849) on :
quote:And yes, it's true the publisher has the right to choose the title of a book submitted by a fairly new author, though I have heard that the big name authors can usually name their own.
Bernard Cornwell had his book Harlequin changed to The Archer's Tale after being a best seller of more than 30 novels. He's not happy about it, but it was a purely marketing decision. His American publisher changed the name because they didn't want it to get confused for a harlequin romance. Usually, bigger named authors are given the choice to create a list.
Posted by marchpane (Member # 8021) on :
Ah. So that's why they changed the name! That did confuse me a bit - I'd only ever heard of it as Harlequin and when a friend started talking about The Archer's Tale I had no idea what they were on about. Great series, btw. I love Cornwell's work. I can't tell you how excited I am about Azincourt, if only I had the money for a hardback!
Did they rename the other 2 books over there as well?
*shuffles back on topic*
I think a good title is even more difficult to come up with than a winning story, so I'm not surprised that there are a few very similar ones out there. Unless you start calling it something like Harry Potter and the Redemption of Reagan I reckon you're good...
[This message has been edited by marchpane (edited October 02, 2008).]
Posted by InarticulateBabbler (Member # 4849) on :
quote: I can't tell you how excited I am about Azincourt, if only I had the money for a hardback!
Mine's in the mail. I ordered it in advance (from Amazon.uk) and it has shipped today! I'm psyched. I just got Conn Iggulden's Wolf of the Plains, too.
Posted by marchpane (Member # 8021) on :
Good stuff! It is quite cheap on Amazon, actually. I might be persuaded. It's only my favourite historical fiction author writing about my favourite battle... what are student grants for? I can call it research
I haven't read Conn Iggulden's series yet, actually. I was tempted to, but someone whose tastes usually mirror mine told me not to bother... it's on the 'to read eventually' list, but some way down as I'm halfway through a couple of series at the moment.
[This message has been edited by marchpane (edited October 02, 2008).]
Posted by InarticulateBabbler (Member # 4849) on :
I think that if you like Bernard Cornwell and David Gemmell, you'll like Conn Iggulden. His Conqueror series (about Genghis Khan) is better--IMO--than his Emperor series (about Gaius Julius Ceasar), but I like them both. I like Cornwell's Grail Quest series and Warlord Chronicles better than his Starbuck Chronicles or Stonehenge; they're all good--just some are better.
And, though I ordered from Amazon.com.uk, I'm in the States. I like getting books 6 months to a year ahead of time.
[This message has been edited by InarticulateBabbler (edited October 02, 2008).]
