by gibbs williams
Member since:
November 25, 2005

A REQUEST FOR YOUR OPINION ABOUT A POSSIBLE BOOK TITLE

June 01, 2006 12:09 PM EDT
views: 32 | rating: 10/10 (2 votes) | comments: 15

                                APPEARANCES COUNT

For months I have been turning over potential titles for my hoped to be published memoir. What grabs one person's interest inevitably leaves another cold. Ultimately the author has to settle for what seems to resonate the best, hoping that there are enough like minded souls to agree that the few words to catch the eye of a potential reader actually accomplishes that purpose.

In this context while listening to NPR last Saturday morning I heard a few words that caught my attention that I wove into what seems to get to the essence of my memoir.

I would appreciate your response to the following proposed title. I think the first five words require explanation but if I do it ahead of time I will lose the effect.

The proposed title is

                  WRITE SMACK IN THE MIDDLE 

                                  MY ODYSSEY: 

    TREATING HEROIN ADDICTS IN THE SIXTIES  

          & WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT MYSELF      

                                   A MEMOIR            

Any comments: good. bad, or indifferent will be greatly appreciated. 

          

           

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Comments: 15

Nancy S. Jun 1, 2006, 12:17pm EDT
My gut feeling is that the "Write" is superflous. Just "Smack in the Middle" sounds good.
On the whole, I love it. I would read this book.
gibbs williams Jun 1, 2006, 12:22pm EDT
Good point. Thank you.
Michelle H. Jun 1, 2006, 12:52pm EDT
I agree about 'write'
The title sounds better without it
Meryl Johnson Jun 1, 2006, 12:57pm EDT
"Smack" is kind of a pun, though, considering that drugs are the topic. I'm not sure whether that bothers me or not. The title's too long, I think. I'd leave out "What I learned about myself" since 'A Memoir' really says that. Plus the original title, My Odyssey, doesn't make sense in the new context.
gibbs williams Jun 1, 2006, 1:05pm EDT
So far write does not seem to be right. Smack is a pun which is a slang term for heroin.

So Meryl - you would or would not leave in MY ODYSSEY?
La Lady Lisa Westerfield Jun 1, 2006, 3:52pm EDT
If I was scanning book titles at a book store I think I would pause when spying, "TREATING HEROIN ADDICTS IN THE SIXTIES." Whatever you do keep that in the title.
gibbs williams Jun 1, 2006, 4:04pm EDT
Bless you.
Linda Douglas Jun 1, 2006, 6:43pm EDT
I agree with taking out "write". I felt "my odyssey" and "memoir" and "learning about myself" were all redundant. I would go with "Smack in the Middle - Treating Heroin Addicts in the Sixties - A Memoir". I would buy it.
gibbs williams Jun 1, 2006, 7:04pm EDT
Bless you too LInda.
Cat Warren Jun 2, 2006, 8:41pm EDT
I agree with Linda. With her title though "A Memoir" and "My Odyssey" are interchangable I think.
Dolphi D. Jun 2, 2006, 9:12pm EDT
The title "TREATING HEROIN ADDICTS IN THE SIXTIES" is eye-catching and is suggestive of the topic. The author's role and involvement becomes implied in the title. It is also suggestive of a period when the emergence hippie culture and the 'Golden Triangle' as a supply base gave impetus to the spread of the drug abuse.
0000-dashiell5-0000 Jun 2, 2006, 9:17pm EDT
"Heroin Worship: A Cautionary Tale"

-- or, if you want to Campbell's soup it up --

"The Heroin with a Thousand Faces: A Memoir of the 60s"
gibbs williams Jun 2, 2006, 11:57pm EDT
Your collective suggestions are stirring my creative juices.

SMACK
IN THE MIDDLE
MY ODYSSEY:
TREATING HEROIN ADDICTS & MYSELF IN THE SIXTIES
A MEMOIR

Thanks Cat and Dolphi and the suggested title HEROIN WORSHIP et. is truly Crafty.
gibbs williams Jun 3, 2006, 12:03am EDT
The comment box won't allow me to properly demonstrate the intended spacing. Please use your imaginations. Any and all comments will be appreciated on this new title. Thank you.
gibbs williams Jun 3, 2006, 11:20am EDT
A NEW IDEA:

SMACK IN THE MIDDLE:
MY ODYSSEY TREATING HEROIN ADDICTS IN THE SIXTIES
A MEMOIR

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