7. Title taken
'My' book is already out there!
Dear Reader,
What do you do when your book-to-be’s title is already out there – even if – especially if – it belongs to a different genre?
I’m glad to say that writing my recent newsletter about getting back out there in a new post-Covid-restrictions world was the impetus to spur me back onto the high street. Finding some time to indulge myself by browsing a charity shop bookshelf last week I was dumbfounded to see my name on the spine of a book! Not my name name, I mean, not Rebecca Holden, but the name of my future book, my book-to-be, my work in progress. This not-mine title is the one I’ve chosen for my own book, a non-fiction book I’ve always needed to read but which nobody’s yet written. This book, though, challenging me from its innocent-looking shelf, isn’t my book. It’s not the one that I’ve been researching – living with – for years. It’s not at all about the subject I’m writing about. It’s fiction, in fact. A legal thriller.
I wasn’t even in the market for a new addition to my reading list as I stood in the shop, but of course I couldn’t leave it behind. I was fascinated to learn what ideas, stories and feelings another writer had hooked onto my title.
I haven’t shared my title with anyone – I’ve been guarding it jealously like precious treasure. I’m proud of it. I’ve even Dymo-taped its initials – five letters, that’s all I’m saying – to the front of my writing journal.
But what could I learn from between the covers of this interloper? Should I even read it yet?
Of course I’ve always got several books on the go – at the moment, two are for research for my own, and one is just for pleasure. But I’ve got this one now too, my title’s twin, no doubt read by its donor but new to me thanks to a £2 spend at the charity shop. Should I dive in?
Reader, I haven’t yet started it. It’s here in front of me now, looking innocent enough yet hiding who-knows-what between its covers. I’m getting used to the idea of picking it up. Sort of. I mean, it’s not my book, nothing like it. For a start, it’s fiction, and as far as I can tell from a read of the back and a cheeky pre-emptive flick, its story isn’t actually even a direct reference to its – my – title.
I will read it, of course I will, to see this author’s take on those five special words. I’ll let you know how I get on!
Love,
Rebecca
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I’ll still use it, I hope - the genre is completely different so I don’t think I’ll be treading on any toes. There’s a subtitle too, as is often the case with non-fiction. We’re talking waaaaaaay off, though (in terms of time, I mean)!
Arrrg! I hope you get to use your title anyway! Now I'm curious what the book is about :-)
My exact book title hasn't been used as far as I know, but I recently discovered that it now appears in modified forms on some other books. Luckily, they couldn't be more different...