Tuesday 21 February 2012

To Change or Not To Change


I need your help. I’ve been ego-googling, or rather, naval gazing à la internet; checking out what happens when I enter my name in Google, or that of my novel, Glass Houses. This shameful pursuit, talked only of in hushed voices, is in truth, generally accepted as a necessary tool to assessing a writer’s ‘profile’. If I am to persuade a publisher of my potential to move from dedicated writer to published author, I have to show that I have the profile and the ability to help promote and ultimately sell my books. After all, it doesn’t matter how big the book could be, if nobody knows it’s available to buy.
Jackie Buxton is doing OK, thank you. I can’t claim the swimming prowess of JB from the South Axholme Sharks nor the brain of Professor JB specialising in Post-modernism but Jackie Buxton - the writer is out there vying for the Google top spot.
Not so, Glass Houses, however. My completed manuscript is buried, it would appear, in the deepest inner core of planet Google. It’s way behind independent companies offering our plants a lifeline and boasting generous discounts, as well as a primary school with only 67 pupils. I can’t tell you exactly where my Glass Houses appears, having called a halt to the search after the 26th page of results.
It didn’t fare any better when I searched for Glass Houses, the book. Although the time wasn’t entirely wasted as I felt compelled to buy Glass Houses by Rachel Caine after clicking through so many recommendations and promotions - even though it’s really a book for teenagers and I can’t attest to being one of those, and I’m not knowingly a fan of vampire stories either.
There is no need to panic. Why would my book be a top response when it isn’t even available to purchase yet? We’re also advised not to be too precious about our manuscript’s title as it’s bound to be changed by the publisher under the advice of their marketing arm. But the publishing world is undoubtedly tough and part of me can’t help thinking that a title which would intrigue in the book shops, and which wasn’t a potentially tired repeat of a name already used, might keep a publisher’s interest a moment longer – and who knows, perhaps that’s the moment when the publisher decides that this book isn’t going in the rejection pile.
Changing the name of my book does have its drawbacks.  Glass Houses has enjoyed small success in competitions and would be recognisable to some loyal souls from Authonomy and Litopia, some of the writer’s sites in which I’ve been involved, as well as my reader friends in real life and on Twitter. I wouldn’t suggest it has a fan base but Glass Houses is certainly known to some.
Perhaps it’s foolish to essentially start again.  But if there already is a very successful Glass Houses out there, we’re going to have to start again at some point anyway, so why not now?
My original title for Glass Houses was ‘Knock for Knock’. I felt that Glass Houses was catchier and although only superficially giving an idea of the theme of the book, the theme was definitely less obvious in the name, Knock for Knock. Familiarity can breed contempt however, and I’m left wondering if Knock for Knock has more clout.
How many other books called Knock for Knock appear in a Google search? None.
I’m desperate to tell you why I chose Knock for Knock as a title but that wouldn’t be fair. Searching on-line or in a book shop, you wouldn’t be privy to this information and this is where I’d like to ask you to mentally put yourselves now. You’ve been given a book voucher for your birthday. The deal is: you have to buy a book from a new author. Glass Houses and Knock for Knock are side by side on display. Fixing only on the title, which would you pick up first? Perhaps you wouldn’t pick up either? I’d love to know why not.
Regardless of the choices on offer, you may feel it would be too risky to change a book title at this stage.
Whatever your reaction, I’d love to know. It will help me make my decision and I’ll report back next time.
Thank you!    

25 comments:

  1. Glass Houses every time. Knock for Knock doesn't do it for me at all. There is no question of anything, it's too complete. I don't suppose that makes sense sorry :)
    BTW even with a name like Smellie (yup it really is my surname) I am not the only Gillian Smellie in Googleland! My spirit thief is an accomplished runner so I know she isn't me at all!

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    1. Thanks, Skyblue and yes, it makes perfect sense and your absolute conviction comes through loud and clear, thank you! Great name, Smellie :)

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  2. Whenever I'm searching for a book, I'll always add the author's name too. So a search for Glass Houses by Jackie Buxton would come up trumps. If that helps at all...

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    1. Thanks Annalisa, I never thought of that. Obvious now. I'm edging back towards Glass Houses...! Thanks for reading.

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  3. I think it's hard to visualise names and having known it as glass houses it's even harder to imagine it with a different title. Knock for knock sounds more violent to me, but dependant on the cover, it could give a different impression. Sorry but don't know is my answer.

    I share the name Charlie Wade with not only the little girl in Dallas, but also the drunken sheriff played by Kris Kristofferson in Lone Star. This always causes much delight to any new americans I meet.

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    1. Hi Charlie! I've had a few comments over on Twitter, unanimously saying I should stick with Glass Houses. I can't help wondering whether there's another title out there, not Knock for Knock, and do have a list of 30 scribbled on a scrap of paper attached to the notice board above my head but none of those are working for me at the moment either. If I could hook myself a publisher, I could ask their opinion...!
      So, Charlie Wade's your real name then, huh???

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  4. am going to throw spanner in works and only because you've actively sought opinion, and say that not 100% wild on either. They both sound generically titley if you understand me, maybe down to connection with sayings. I thought I preferred Knock for Knock (though kept thinking of knockers, and how your google search would be full of those busty friends who plague us on Twitter, or by endless doorknocker type sites). It also sounds rather Mills and Boon meets Martina Cole. Glass Houses however sounds a little bit wet. If the cover didn't play into the hands of knock for knock (ie no tough guy / feisty heroine gamely dealing with life's blow type illustrations) then I'd quite like that - more unusual than Glass Houses. Sorry not to be more anti-help than help.

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    1. On the contrary, Milla, this is brilliant. I can't believe I hadn't thought of Knock for Knock's busty Twitter type friends (incidentally, have they reached epidemic proportions - excuse the pun - lately, or are they targeting me?) and I can see how Glass Houses could seem a little twee. If I get to the point where I feel I can, and should, change the title, I shall look at other alternatives to Knock for Knock, too. Thanks, really useful.

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  5. Jackie, although I've been familiar with Glass Houses since Authonomy days, and do really like it as a title, I can't help feeling that Knock for Knock has much more punch. In answer to the question, 'Which would you pick up, knowing nothing about either book?' I'd pick up Knock for Knock every time. It just sounds more interesting to me – maybe not to everyone. Bear in mind that most of the people replying to you have known the book as Glass Houses for some time, and people as a whole are reluctant to see changes made to something they really like. I think the response from new, unprejudiced readers would be different.
    My opinion, for what it's worth!
    Love from Gerry.

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    1. Thanks Gerry, that's a really good point, Knock for Knock and Glass Houses aren't on a level playing field when it comes to people who know GH of old. I'm starting to think that neither title is perfect so, rather than what to change it to, I need to decide whether it's wise to change it at this stage (and whether it matters if I don't). Thanks for your thoughts as ever.

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  6. Gosh setting us homework now are you? I have been thinking quite hard about this and for what it is worth I think there may be a better title all together out there. I don't like knock for knock it sounds far too mechanical for me and I don't think Glass Houses leaps out either although of the two I prefer it. I somehow feel you need something of a bit more questioning (don't quite know what)so that you look and say I wonder what that is all about.(and then read the blurb of course and think this is the one for me). Although as you know I hate The Slap as a book it is a good title because it is intriguing and makes you wonder who slapped who. Having read my above statement I think perhaps I am being too hard on glass houses as I suppose you would associate it with people in gh, who are they so?? I don't think I am being very helpful but anyway they are my thoughts for today.

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    1. Lyn, I'm very impressed with the standard of responses to this week's homework :)And thank you, it is helpful. I've had a few replies from people in Facebook writing groups and on Twitter as well and generally, Knock for Knock isn't popular. I think it's the hardness of it, the 'mechanical' as you say. Glass Houses is more touchy feely but maybe a little too much! I always liked the idea of GH because it does have the obvious connotation of people throwing stones but the idea that should a glass house smash, it could never be rebuilt to look and work the same was also in my mind too. That for me was the intrigue behind the title but the trouble is, you would only see that after you've read the book which isn't really the point of the title, is it! People are also saying that it would be best to leave it at this stage - but not everybody - still not sure what I'm going to do!
      Thanks for reading and commenting.

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  7. Definitely keep Glass Houses! :)

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  8. Not knowing anything about your book, if I had to choose between the two titles, I would probably choose Glass Houses. But is there a phrase in your book that you could scoop for the title? I did that in my novel and as the book is not out yet, it doesn't show up on Google at all, so it may be a good choice. I have another book I'm hoping to get out in a few months that, on Googling it a couple of years ago, nothing came up. I just did it again, and now the first page and a half list a book with almost the same title. So I guess you can't win where titles are concerned because you can't copyright them. Could you use a subtitle to distinguish it from others?

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  9. Hi Diane, that's a good point, you can do all this planning and someone nips in front of you right at the final hurdle! And thank you, I really like the idea of a subtitle - it allows me to use Glass Houses but show (hopefully) that there's more to it than might first appear. I really appreciate you stopping by my blog and best of look with your own writing. When is your book out? Are we allowed to know what it's called??

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    1. Thanks for asking. The book that will be out first will be in e-book format only and is called "A Graveyard of Dreams" with the subtitle "Breathing New Life into Buried Dreams". I just got a print copy of this (full-color) book and am extremely pleased with how it looks (except for the few mistakes I have found so far). The novel is "Look for the Rainbows" and the subtitle is "A Story of Hope". I still have to create web sites for both and do final proofreads. I have a short excerpt from "Graveyard" in the side column of my current (all-purpose) blog that I periodically change. I will also be offering a free series of Daily Inspiration Messages following the theme of "Graveyard".

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    2. Very exciting, Diane, keep us posted! I particularly like, 'Look for the Rainbows', that's a title which would make me pick up.

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  10. I would choose Glass Houses,I have no idea what your book is about but that title conjures up a book I would like to read. Just a thought but as Blogger is part of Google maybe if the title of your book was part of your blog's title it would show up high on the list of google searches, mine is about 4th from top although it's not a book name just a blog title. Try doing a post and name it Glass Houses,publish it and then do a search on google.com.

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    1. Hi Cassam, Glass Houses is certainly more popular of the two. The blog post title is a good idea. I missed a trick not calling this one Glass Houses ;) I think we might know what the title to my next post when I - duh-duh-duh - name my decision might be?? Well done in getting your own title to 4th place and thanks for reading and commenting.

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  11. I think i would choose glass houses too, but i must admit reading all those other comments i agree that it might just need something else like 'people who throw stones...'. i really don't know .....perhaps you need a little group meeting like advertising/marketing where everyone says random names write them all down and see which is the catchiest? xx

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    1. Thanks Antonia. I do like the idea of some kind of subtitle - it would be along the lines of: a shattered life can never be re-built to look the same - obviously, I need to work on the snappiness of that :) Thanks for reading!

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  12. Hi Jackie, of the two I prefer Glass Houses. There was a novel called The Glass Room published a few years ago, a bit similar but I wonder if that really matters - for example there are several books called The Piano Teacher (very boring title, actually!) Glass Houses immediately makes me think of 'people in GH shouldn't throw stones' - so if that is a relevant theme, then good, if not, maybe less so.

    I'm not keen on Knock For Knock - I know it's an expression but I realise I don't actually know what it means, therefore it doesn't do anything for my expectations of the book.

    You got me repeating your experiment with my own title, which comes up on the second page of Google search attributed to me via my blog. Unfortunately I can't tell you why or how but WordPress blogs do generally seem to come up high in Google searches.

    I know people say a really amazing title can be a clincher but many published authors tell of having to change their titles as you say and I doubt if the title would count against you in a submission if the recipient loves it in other respects. Good luck and I am now really intrigued to see what you decide!

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    1. Hi Isabel, I'm sure I've heard of, or even read, The Glass Room, you've got me thinking now. I can reveal that I definitely wouldn't change Glass Houses to Knock for Knock - I think the comments here plus others on Twitter and FB must be about 90/10 in favour of Glass Houses - I'm glad I asked!

      The 'People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones,' idea is very relevant to the book but is only part of it and I wouldn't want the title to imply it was only this and thus that the plot was bit 'thin'. I may be reading far too much into it, of course, many people are saying that the covering letter, synopsis and extract are the only things that would sway the decision. I do like to dot my 'i' and cross my 't's though so can't help thinking about the title too. I'll let you know what I've decided in the next couple of days - suspense! Thanks for reading and commenting and well done getting your title (just off to see what it is) to the second page.

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    2. 'Nothing Happens for a Reason' - nice!

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