When I begin a new project I have
to have a working title for the first draft. That title may change a few times,
or remain the same, but I find it very difficult to work without one. Some
writers are inspired by songs, their titles and lyrics, mood and feel. I listen
to lots of music, but only rarely when I’m writing.
I’m just at the beginning of a
new project and I’m looking for a title. I have one in mind that might work.
While I was thinking about a title, I discovered that there are so many books
that share their title with a song, and even quite a few Teen/YA titles. The
Beatles seemed to have inspired more book titles than anyone else.
More Than This –
Roxy Music, and Peter Gabriel. The title of Patrick Ness’s YA novel, More than
This, may possibly Have had something to do with Peter Gabriel’s version of the
song.
Buffalo Soldier –
Bob Marley. The song title is also the title of a book by Tanya Landman,
recently shortlisted for the Carnegie, and one of my favourite teen/YA reads of
2014.
Less than Zero –
Elvis Costello. The title was used by Brett Easton Ellis for his debut novel
Night Shift –
Commodores. Book by Stephen King
Nowhere Man – The
Beatles. This title has been used over and over again.
Norwegian Wood –
The Beatles. Book by Haruki Murakami. I won’t mention any more Beatles songs
that are also book titles because there are simply too many!
The Day the Music Died,
lyric from American Pie by Don McLean, also a book title by Ed Gorman (Sam
Mcain #1)
Long Time Coming –
Sam Cooke. Book by Sandra Brown
Here are 8 songs that
I think would make a great book title
I've added a few links to some of the songs, so just click on LISTEN if you'd like to hear the song.
The Road to
Nowhere – Talking Heads
Blowin’ in the Wind – Bob Dylan
LISTEN
Welcome to
the Jungle – Guns and Roses
My Name Is
– Eminem
Straight to
Hell – the Clash
Blue Monday
– New Order
Bright Side
of the Road – Van Morrison
LISTEN
Song of the
Black Swan – Pink Martini
What song titles do you think would make good book titles?
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Very interesting post! I'm going to be thinking about this for awhile.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michelle! Once I started looking I found there were lots of songs used as book titles, and lots inspired by songs too.
ReplyDelete