Sorcerer stone v Philosopher Stone WAS: Hermione

[dumbledore11214]

> Magpie:
> She probably did. But only self-publishing is about the author's self-expression over all. The publisher is in the business of marketing and selling books so I can understand why they think they should have the right to make suggestions. Do you have a problem with editors editing the manuscript as well? 

Alla:

Of course not! It is their job to edit the manuscript and author is free to take it or leave it, but when the product is finished and the condition upon selling the book is people who did not write it decide that they know better and tell the author to change the title, well, problem is probably not the right word, but yeah I dislike it.

And yes, I know JKR was probably free to reject their request too, but just I do not really consider this to be a real choice, you know?
If you do not change the title, we will not sell your book... I wonder what writer would really go with that, especially if this is their first one.

> 
> Alla:
>  Oh and to go back to the beginning, you said that you heard rumors, right that the title was changed for the reasons you stated? So if those are just rumors it is quite possible that title was changed because they thought that American kids will not even know what Philosopher stone is? Or do you know for sure? 
> 
> Magpie:
> That's the story from Arthur Levine's mouth. He's the one who suggested School of Magic.

Alla:

Ah, thank you. Well, if you ask me thank goodness for JKR not going with this title at least.

>  
> > Alla:
> > 
> > But that's my thing. Whether or not the actual sales would have been so crazy, what I dislike is the fact that they decided that the title will be more obvious *their way*. 
> 
> Magpie:
> Well, the Philosopher's Stone is an object sought by real life alchemists, right? So I would say that Sorcerer is a more obvious link to wizardry. They wanted some reference to magic in the title. Nobody's trying to turn base metals into stone in the book, and there are no alchemists.

Alla:

What do you mean there are no alchemists in the book? Who is Flamel then?

> 
> 
> Alla:
> How do we know that this title was not perfectly marketable?
> 
> Magpie:
> We don't. Marketers just have to gamble, really. <SNIP>

Alla:

Right, and I do not like the reasons for their gambling, I do not like that they thought there was any need for it in the first place.
  
> Alla:
> > 
> > Author did well then, but again *author* did that, right? To me it is completely different.
> 
> Magpie:
> I checked to make sure, and here's what actually happened afaik. Peter Benchley had a number of working titles, including The Great White and A Silence in the Water, but none of them seemed right. He asked his father for help and presented the editor with a lot of suggestions. The editor didn't like any of them. The editor suggested Jaws of the Leviathan (I was remembering this from an interview and must have remembered this part wrong). Peter Benchley pointed out that a Leviathan was a mammal. But he and the editor could both agree on the word Jaws. The editor said "At least it's short." Benchley told the title to his father, who said "What does it mean?" And Peter said "I have no idea, but at least it's short."
> 
> So I'd say the editor seemed to play a bigger part in the title than the author, though the author had some say, just as JKR had a say in Sorcerer's Stone. I wouldn't consider the editor to be overstepping anything there. He earned his pay well that day. I don't consider a title being the first one or even any one that the author came up with reason alone for putting it on the book.


Alla:

Sure appears that editor played a big part, thank you for looking this one up. But again, as Brian said, although I have not read this interview, JKR wishes she would not let them change the title, I think that alone to me means that they overstepped big time.

And you know what the irony is? I WISH that with JKR getting more famous she would listen to editors more not less, because I do think that last volumes needed it, but hey, maybe the reason why JKR refused to listen more and more is because she had such an unpleasant experience of people stepping too much on her creative ideas in the early years?

I am totally speculating here obviously, no nothing about it except this title change thing.

Total speculation.

Alla