“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”
Or would it? The rule may apply to flowers but I’m not that sure about books. I have to wonder if “Twilight” would have become a monster hit if it had been published under its original title “Forks” and if “Fifty Shades of Grey” would have turned into a bestseller if E.L. James had stuck with “Master of the Universe?”
All together now..."By the power of Gray Skull..."
The classics have had their share of name swaps as well. Do you think the switches were for the better?
1. George Orwell – “The Last Man in Europe” turned into…”1984.”
2. Bram Stoker – “The Dead Un-Dead” became…”Dracula”
3. Margaret Mitchell – “Tomorrow is Another Day” switched to…”Gone with the Wind.”
4. William Faulkner – “Twilight” was swapped to…”"The Sound and the Fury.”
5. John Steinbeck – “Something That Happened” was exchanged for…”Of Mice and Men.”
6. Jane Austen’s father – ”First Impressions” became…”Pride and Prejudice.”
7. Leo Tolstoy – “All’s Well that Ends Well” was traded for…”War and Peace.”
8. F Scott Fitzgerald – “Trimalchio on West Egg” was tossed in favor of…”The Great Gatsby.”
How about you? Do you judge a book by its title?
(Trivia: Before Ever After changed titles TWICE — names that I’m taking with me to the grave 
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I had to read it and didn’t like it with the new title either. Lots of plot holes only Forks… I mean Twilight understands.
Plus, Ever After Happily (or was it Happily Ever After?) was the title when I read your book and it didn´t make me like it less
OOpss… was I not supposed to spill those beans?
Hey, stranger! Long time no see! How have you been???? (And yes, that was ONE of the two original titles!
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I mean Twilight FANS understands.
There does seem to be something lacking in most of those original titles. How funny that Faulkner’s novel was originally called Twilight. And The Dead Un-Dead, I’m so stealing THAT. Can’t believe they tossed that out in favor of Dracula.
Haha! Shucks! You beat me to it
wow Fifty Shades of Grey was titled as Master of the Universe??? hmmm good thing they changed the title hahaha.
I know, right??? Good call! Haha!
Wow. This is like the single most compelling argument for having a publisher and editor keep that gate!
LOL! InDEED
Master of the Universe just sounds silly. That said, if the huge number of people who read it before publication is anything to go by, maybe its just me thinking that, although fan-fiction is easier to forgive for bad titles. Pride and Prejudice wins for its alliteration.
I was quite surprised by Grey’s original title – but as you pointed out, enough people liked it to make the book the phenomenon that it is. Can’t argue with success
I do just a book by its name but more-so by its cover art. Yes, I am one of those people…… :O)
*raises hand shyly* me too
I do love me good titles, and it is very interesting when I as a book translator have to translate the title along with everything it carries, the sound, the style, the poetic aspect of it, double meanings….. Your BEFORE EVER AFTER would be untranslatable in my language and we would have to come up with some new title
Titles must be very difficult to translate! I’m super curious about what the translation for Before Ever After’s polish edition will be
I’m curios too, you must tell me
Polish is also a Slavic language like Serbian, but not very similar…..
I will admit that it is the title that first peaks my interest. I will also admit to buying a book because I like the cover. The line After all tomorrow is another day is my favorite last line of a book…..I have a tattoo to prove it….but I don’t like it for the title. Looking forward to finding out what your next book will be called:))
Now THAT is a cool tattoo! I’m officially jealous. I haven’t gathered the nerve to get one just yet
Titles are a big deal. (And I’m terrible at coming up with them.) I can’t imagine War and Peace being called All’s Well That Ends Well. ugh.
As for flowers, I think even the rose would be less “rose-ish” if it were called pretty-thorn-bush or skunk cabbage.
Hahaha! Good point. I don’t think the rose as a “skunk cabbage” would be quite as in demand on Valentine’s Day
One of my favorite novels of all time is Dracula. I think the novel would have sounded less cool if it was published as “The Dead Un-dead”. So, yeah, I do judge a book by its title (and by its cover…literally).hehe I’m not a fan of Twilight, but I don’t think that “Forks” would have been a big box office hit.
And can you imagine how difficult it would have been to name the rest of the books in the Twilight series if the first one was called Forks?
Some of those titles wouldn’t have mattered so much. Like First Impressions could have worked just as well. We’d just know that book by another name and wouldn’t think anything of it.
Some of them, though… Well, it’s hard to say. I bought a book, once, based solely on the title. -That- will never happen again.
That must have been one really good title! Can you whisper it?
Stars in My Pocket Like Grains of Sand
What a great title! The book was horrible, though. It’s one of the few books I actually just put down and didn’t finish reading.
Not often. I usually base my opinions more on the blurb (or even the cover).
I’m swayed by blurbs too – particularly if I like the author giving the blurb
Interesting question. Now you are having me wondering what the title of your book was…I think that it is where a publisher can have some added value. It is difficult to understand how a title will be perceived…
Absolutely! When I told my agent about my original title, she laughed out loud. Yup, that’s how bad it was. Haha!
Yes. There is something to having the perfect title. I have to be honest, I didn’t get yours until I read the very last word of your book, and then I smirked, because well… I like magic like that. hee hee.
Awww…
You know I’m doing my happy dance now, right? 
Master of the Universe? I can’t think of another title that fits this book. But thanks for sharing this piece of story in every writer’s life.
I can’t even count the number of titles we considered for Before Ever After before finally finding “the One.” Crafting a title is definitely one of the most challenging things a writer has to do
Oh yes, I do! And by the book cover too! I’m trying, no, make that STRUGGLING, to write my first novel now. I think I’ll be writing the title last, just like what I do most of the time on my blog.
I wouldn’t have read Twilight if its name is Forks, or even 50 Shades if its name is Master Of the Universe. Thank heavens that they didn’t turn that way! ‘Coz for goodness’ sake I think only God is the master if the universe! But yeah, Twilight & 50 Shades were my first loves.
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