Sep 12, 2010

Random Rant

I need to let out some serious steam.  Read at your own risk...this is going to be really opinionated...  So, today I was just doing my normal Sunday routine of blog hopping when I ran across a new novel to come...ELIXIR by Hilary Duff--first I've seen of this one--and AHHHH!!!  I'm so mad right now!  Here's why:  The title to one of my Works In Progress is called ELIXIR.  Actually, it's the title of my favorite one, the one I hope to be the book that one day gets published.  So this officially sucks!!!  First of all, nobody wants their WIP book title to be used before they get the chance to use it.  :(  But what makes it worse that Hilary Duff is the author.  I hate when actors or singers try to write fiction.  (Is it really their talent that gets them published?  Probably not.  And are they really writing this on their own or do they have other writers and editors helping them out?  Probably.)

In truth, most likely I will never get published.  Under this title or any other.  I know that; it's the simple fact of things.  And Hell, I may never even finish my novel I've title ELIXIR.  But still this bites and I guess I need to face the fact that Hilary Duff beat me to the punch.  Ugh.  See, now I'm rambling. 

Has this ever happened to you? 
Oh, and I am so not changing my title and I am refusing to ever read her novel.

16 comments:

Miranda Hardy said...

No, this hasn't happened to me, but I would be upset if it did.

Amanda said...

Last year, after I'd spent a year trying to get my novel MatchMakers Incorporated agented, Publisher's Weekly announced Matched by Ally Condie. It had the exact same plotline as mine and was praised as "the next Stephenie Meyer." The next day, agents that had been looking at my book wrote me back rejections, saying they couldn't accept it because it was too similar to Matched. It broke my heart. It's my favorite book I've ever written and by far the best. It took me months to come to terms with it, but in that time I got in contact with Ms. Condie and actually got to meet her at BEA this past May, and I've read Matched. This is probably the worst situation I can ever imagine being in, but I suppose it DOES happen.

Jennifer Shirk said...

Ugh. No, that hasn't happened to me--yet. But i would be miffed at Hilary Duff too.

H said...

That really sucks! And Hilary Duff too... I guess it happens if the title is one word. Don't worry, by the time you finish, you may discover an even better title! Don't think you'll always remain unpublished, you can do whatever you want to do.

Anonymous said...

This has never happened to me but I feel your pain.

I bet your novel is a million times better.

And I really wouldn't let myself feel wounded by Hilary Duff.... Though I will admit I was devastated to discover she walked down the aisle before I did. But that's a whole different personal issue. :)

Don't give up!

sarah darlington said...

Thanks guys!! All your comments have made me feel much better about it.

Amanda--That's horrible. That's much more worse than a title. I'm sorry that happened. A book takes soooo much work, and stress, and time, and I can't even imagine that happening.

Hayley said...

That sucks! Maybe by the time you finish it something else may come to mind (heck, I've heard agents and publishers talk authors into renaming their books all the time anyway, just look at Stephanie Meyer). Or you can just call it Elixir: This One's Actually a Good Book (Unlike The One By That Starlet Who Shall Remain Unnamed)

-k said...

There are TONS of books out there that have the same or similar titles, so I wouldn't let this worry you. As long as your plot lines are nothing alike (and your cover is better and more memorable) you really have nothing to worry about.
Besides, how good can her book even be? I mean, she's a singer/actress/nobody so how much literary talent can there really be there?
I'll admit, though, I do want to see what all the hype is about... But this will be a library book if anything.

Stephanie said...

-k is right. :)

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080717115755AAFqFqA Check that out for a good example.

Entertainment Weekly slammed Hilary Duff's book. I'm not going to comment, I haven't read it. But an agent made the point on a blog the other day that celebrity books bring in a lot of money, money that can be used to accept books by non-celebrity authors like us. So in that respect, I'm okay with it (even though most celebrity-written books I've read have been...um...not so good).

I wouldn't worry about the title- a lot of times, titles get changed by agents, editors, and publishers, too. But the big thing is DON'T GET SO DOWN ON YOURSELF!!!! Just keep writing, keep telling yourself, "I'll get there one day." It may be soon, it may not be for ten years, but if you keep at it, something will stick. :) Just don't let the negative self-talk take over, okay?

Anonymous said...

oh babe I feel your pain! bloody nit-wit celebrities! I hate that! I don't think I've ever read a book by a celeb, nor do I think I ever will! If they really wanted to be authors they should've started out that way like the rest of us! Maybe we should all become famous celebrities and see how they like it! good plan ;)

I feel so bad for Amanda- that it awful! I actually don't have any other words for that situation except that I pray the publishers see through the fog and take a chance!

Don't ever say you won't be published! We all need to stay positive! The fact that we embark on the great tasks and finish them at all deserves a round of applause anyway, so chin up babe- you'll get there!

Jillian said...

I would understand it a little bit better if the actress was a writer beforehand even before becoming famous.. like James Franco, who's an awesome poet. But Hilary Duff?? Come on.. what about Lauren Conrad? I have nothing against them personally but how is it so easy for them to just publish novels just like that?? Unfair.

By the way, ELIXIR sounds like a fantastic title, and I would read it and would most likely yours better! :D

Lorelei Bell said...

I hate when celebreties think they're authors. Yes. this bites, but you went through the work, you know what went into it, and how much blood, sweat and tears went into this.

A title is just that.

Your work is above this.

Move on.

Lorelei Bell said...

I hate when celebreties think they're authors. Yes. this bites, but you went through the work, you know what went into it, and how much blood, sweat and tears went into this.

A title is just that.

Your work is above this.

Move on.

Julie said...

I agree with you about actors, singers and even reality show "celebrities" (Lauren Conrad) writing books. They might have ghostwriters or partners. It sucks. But who knows maybe it wasn't as easy for Hilary Duff to get published as we may think. Don't get down. Just because she has a book with the same title doesn't mean you're not going to be published. Keep the title for now. As Lorelei, it's just a title Sarah. No big deal. I've seen tons of books with the same title or something similar. I have a similar title to a book out now. When it comes down to it, the publisher is going to change the title or keep it. It's up to them, not us. It's the story that counts. Keep your head up and continue writing. Most of all don't get discouraged. It's like when publishers or agents say don't write for trends...well, that's good advice, but also remember to write what you love, even if it's a trend right now.

Nina said...

Ouch, that stings! Would it not be possible to change the heading. Eliksir (Iknow it looks weird, but this is how we would write it in Norwegian.

eliXir

just a suggestion. you can overcome this!

Swimmer said...

Millions of times but you just have to change to a can do attitude there are millions of books(well... actually only like 3 ya ones) named Fallen, and Lauren Kate wrote another one but hers was better and deserved to be appreciated, and it was! so can yours! But not with that attitude(wow I sound like my mother!)