I wrote this book and came up with a really clever title. Then, while browsing through the on-line e-library I came across another book with the SAME title. Dang. And it was also YA. Double dang. And it had been published. Triple dang.
So, of course I had to read it. The premise and even time frame was completely different than mine (mild phew). I loved the voice and the characters. Well, I have to say, it's a good book.
What's the book, you exclaim!? PLAYING WITH MATCHES by Brian Katcher. Here's the hook: While trying to find a date, Leon befriends a lonely disfigured girl. Like I said, it's good. You should read it.
When I got home I had to look the author up on Goodreads, see if he's written anything else. Let me pause here to say I read three and a half books on my three week journey. Side point, I didn't stop reading the half book because it was uninteresting etc. I stopped listening to the book because the narrator's voice and the way she interpreted the characters started grating my nerves. Has this ever happened to you? I'm chalking it up to travel irritability.
Back to Goodreads: I look up PWM and lo and behold there are ELEVEN books listed there called Playing with Matches. (Interestingly, two of them have to do with unfortunate dating experiences.)
Hum. I think I'm going to leave my title alone. At least for now.
Have you ever had someone "steal" your title?
About Me
- Elle Strauss
- I write Young Adult and Middle Grade fiction. I'm a married mom of four, and live in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, famous for beaches and vineyards. I'm fond of Lindt's sea salt dark chocolate and hiking in good weather. My Young Adult rom/com time-travel CLOCKWISE series and contemporary/otherworldly Middle Grade IT'S A LITTLE HAYWIRE are now available on Amazon.
I think it's getting harder and harder to be original with titles and not end up with something that's entirely too far out. There are plenty of title-alikes, as you say.
ReplyDeleteI was looking at some of the Amazon Breakout Novel semi-finalists to read a friend's entry and one of the other entries had the same title and one of the characters was named the same as my NaNoWriMo novel from a few years back. Reading the sample on Amazon the voice and setting were completely different from mine.
ReplyDeleteThe same titles. Weird, but true. A friend of mine who is a writer ended up with a title very similar to mine. I think she was a bit anxious about it, but her editor picked it. Besides my book is still unpublished so I can't be cranky because her editor picked a similar title.
ReplyDeleteThe more books that get published, the harder it is to come up with something truly unique, I think.
ReplyDeleteNever thought of looking on Goodreads for matching titles. Luckily, mine hasn't been used yet.
ReplyDeleteYes! I was so bitter. I really wanted the title 'The Ex Factor' - a play on the popular show in the UK called 'The X Factor'. But GRRR! It had been taken!
ReplyDeleteNot yet, but that's unfortunate! I'm trying trying trying to come up with a title for my WIP right now, and I got nothing!
ReplyDeleteYep. A lot of the titles I've come up with have already been used. One of them was 'Twilight'. But then again I'm sure a million people have wanted to use the title Twilight at some point ;)
ReplyDeleteAt the moment I've been trying to come up with a nice, memorable title, like the Forest of Hands and Teeth (which I think is an *amazing* book title). Something witty and possibly poetic (err, poetic in the sense that it's nice to the ear).
:)
I had this happen to me the other day. I was in a bookshop and saw a book with my title for the second book in my series. Sad :(
ReplyDeleteCaroline Kennedy has a book out called She Walks in Beauty; so does Siri Mitchell... I just found that out today... I love Siri's books!!
ReplyDeleteI recently published my mystery novel "TIES THAT BIND" only to find it's a very popular title. Of course, none of the others I have come across are even close to my story line, but still...dang lol
ReplyDeleteWhen I wrote the first draft (probably about 2yrs ago), I know I Googled it, but oh well. That's it's title, and it's perfect.
Wow, that's a really cool title. I don't blame you for wanting to keep it! My book title is kind of common, and I know there are plenty of books out there with the same title. If I need to change it, I will. But I'll cross that bridge if I get there :D
ReplyDeleteI like the title Playing with Matches. I never thought about searching Goodreads for titles. That might be a good idea when I finally come up with one I like.
ReplyDeleteYou're so right - the more that gets publish the hard it is to find a title that is catchy and hasn't been used.
ReplyDeleteHowever, could you still use it...given that the "premise and time frame" is different. It could still work for you!
Have you talked with your agent about it?
I wish you luck with it though as it is definitely a frustration, to say the least.
Also...welcome back. I hope you'll be posting a few more photos of what sounded like an amazing trip.
Cheers, Jenny
Jenny - I will keep the title unless I find a publisher who's uncomfortable with it, which would be a nice problem. I'll start posting pic about my trip soon. Glad to hear you're interested! Thanks.
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