Comments on: Title feedback, please?

By: Kelly

Kelly — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 02:53:09 +0000

I agree with many of the above commentors that FH is much catchier than MFHL. You are the formerly, not your life. Your life is still rockin along.

Of course there is always Formerly Hot / Futurely Not: Dispatches on Where I’ve Been and Why I’m Leaving. Okay, okay, that one is not so good. Give me one more stab at it

Formerly Hot: Dispatches from the edge of my impending supernova.

Gosh, your job is a hard one! I’m just thrilled to have found your blog and appreciate you giving us forum to chime in occasionally. Thanks!

By: Duchess

Duchess — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:02:55 +0000

Well most of the other commentors seem to be in on the discourse, but I think the title is too long and, I think Formerly Hot is much better than My Formerly Hot Life.

But mere amateurs never choose titles. What does your publisher say?

By: Erin

Erin — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:20:00 +0000

I agree 100% with Heather. “Formerly Hot: Dispatches…” is much more catchy and something I would immediately connect with your blog.

By: Freddi-Jo

Freddi-Jo — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 18:18:14 +0000

(you asked) I agree with FH instead of MFHL, for the reasons others have stated (matches blog, catchier, shorter). I have a theory about the long colon-separated title….basically the part after the colon may expound at length, but the first part must be pithy.

I also like “youth” over “young”. I think the latter mostly connotes chronological time passage while “youth” includes a bevy of character traits (e.g., recklessness!) and lack of experience. At least my reading of FH is that you point out many lost perks (hah, snickering at my own word choice) of being young, but ultimately they are dwarfed and ridiculed by the benefits of being older.

By: Harlene

Harlene — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:51:50 +0000

I have to say I liked the other title you told me (FH,FC). But hey, this one’s good too.

By: Heather Green

Heather Green — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 15:17:59 +0000

My preference is Formerly Hot: Dispatches from…. FH is your brand and tag line where you wax poignantly about “the other side of young” (because anything over 30 has been reinvented as the new 20, these days) just fits!

By: BÃ¡rbara A. Herrnsdorf

BÃ¡rbara A. Herrnsdorf — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:27:45 +0000

Yeah? This is the final title selection? I am not 100% sure of the original wording that you told me the title would be, but, I like the earlier one better, THAT I remember. I don’t like this one as much. It is hard on the tongue and not as memorable, with that shorter punch. Do you know what I mean? Your LIFE is not the formerly hot part, exactly, it’s mostly the physical body changes and level of raw attractions so I like just formerly hot without any other clarifiers since it seems more open for each person to fill in any ____ with what they wish and leaves the room for ANY individual thoughts as well as pique interest by saying formerly hot ___? to get the person to pick up the book and investigate further!

By: Julie B

Julie B — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:06:13 +0000

I like! Clever and catchy and direct. I do think you mentioned another title that I liked just as much though?

By: Joel Jacobs

Joel Jacobs — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:03:01 +0000

Nay. Fundamentally changes the meaning. You really think your LIFE was formerly hot?

Why not go with “Formerly Hot” instead of My Formerly Hot Life”? It’s not like anybody’s read your blog. The phrase will be new to them.

Other possibilities:

Not As Young As I Used to Be

Youth Sleeps in a Deep Sleep.
(Stole that one from Soft Cell.)

Formerly

Formerly: DISPATCHES FROM JUST THE OTHER SIDE OF YOUNG

You’re Only As Old As You Are

At Least I’m Not Dead (and Other Virtues of Aging in America)

Well, I’m Aging

I’m Not 20 Anymore