Good morning, Ladies! Have I mentioned lately that you are awesome? Your thoughts on the non-fiction book about "sharing the Bread of Life without saying a word" have been incredibly helpful. I love your ideas about using real life stories (I'll be hitting you up for those!), "quizzes", and hard-hitting, down to the nitty-gritty stuff, as well as a chapter on actually using words once someone has ears to hear. I'm definitely taking notes.
Your biggest concern about the idea was the title. Most of you seemed to think that "Do I Have To Be a Freak To Be a Christian?" wasn't going to cut it. Since the title is the first thing that attracts a potential reader's attention, it has to be pretty much perfect, and because I trust your judgement on what would pull you in, I'm nixing that one and am starting with a clean slate. Want to help?
I would say that about 8 times out of 10, the publisher doesn't use the titles I suggest (what they call the "Working Title") For instance, my working title for Motorcycles, Sushi, and One Strange Book was Crazy Chick. Jane Austen's working title for Pride and Prejudice was Elinor and Marianne. I have sat in on titling sessions with publishers and creative teams, and I know how they arrive at the final titles, (and it isn't by pushing the Easy button!) so if you want, we can follow their process here.
If you're up for it, here's how it works:
(1) Everybody suggests the titles that come into their heads and it all goes up on a big white board. There's no discussion, no critiquing. Everything goes up there without comment. Here, just post as many ideas as you want to in your comments, but don't respond to each other's ideas yet.
(2) Once they get a significant number of ideas to work with, they go through as a group and eliminate the ones that clearly aren't going to work - they're not clear or they send the wrong message, that kind of thing. Here I'll just quietly drop those from the list and in my post simply name the ones we can work with. If you want to know why yours wasn't quite there, you can email me privately.
(3) Then they focus on each of the remaining suggstions, one by one, and discuss them. In that process, the group usually comes to a concensus that some could be crossed out. Here, I'll list the semi-finalists and open the blog to discussion. You know how to critique kindly, as you've shown in your comments over the last twenty-four hours. Nicely done.
(4) The titling team then gets the list down to five at the most and after a little more discussion, they vote. Often the vote isn't necessary because as they talk, they usually see which is the best one for the project. Here, I'll do a post listing the two to five that you all seem to like and you'll be asked to vote.
Nobody knows better than you do what's going to appeal to teen girls, so I am genuinely committed to letting you come up with a title. It may not be the one the publisher decides to use, but it'll be a whole lot better than what I come up with!
Up for it? Then let's start with Step One. Post as many ideas as you want to in your comments, but don't respond to each other's ideas yet. Don't even filter your own ideas -- just post what comes into your head. (It isn't unusual to see some hilarious suggestions that you know aren't going to be used but they're fun to think about!)
I'm jazzed about this, because I think your involvement gives you a chance to do exactly what the book is about: sharing the Bread in very real ways. First ya gotta get somebody's attention, right?
Blessings,
Nancy Rue
I'm thinking hard about the title. It's really a lot harder to name books than I thought.
Posted by: Caitlin | 03/13/2012 at 11:30 AM
I will think about it and then let y'all know. Its hard!
Posted by: Mimi | 03/13/2012 at 01:34 PM
I've never been good at titling things...
Silent Witness
You Don't Have to be Crazy to be a Christian
Sharing about Jesus Without Preaching
That's all I've got and I know they're not very good :)
Random statement: My prom dress came in the mail today! And except for a few alterations (it's a little big) it's perfect and I love it!! :D
Posted by: Melody | 03/13/2012 at 02:27 PM
Freaks and Jesus Freaks- There's a Difference
Fanatics, Freaks, and Those Christian Kids
Freaky Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday (cover would say freaky friday. friday would be crossed out and replaced with all the days of the week.)
=]
Posted by: Anna | 03/13/2012 at 03:12 PM
Hi!
I have to read back two posts... :)
Oh I'd love it if you wrote more historical novels! ;)
Ooh that book sounds awesome! Here are my thoughts...
* The theme would be our "preach the gospel using words when necessary" approach. How do you feel about that at this point?
Great! The retreat was fab, so the book will be too.
* I'd include challenges, sample situations, guides to going deeper in so you can go further out, that kind of thing. Anything else you'd want to see?
Real stories! :)
* I'd love for you to complete this sentence:
I'd be interested in this book as long as it was written by Mrs. Rue!
I'll be thinking on the title. ;)
Posted by: Kate S | 03/13/2012 at 03:51 PM
Here are some ideas (not very good unfortunately)
How to be a shepherd for Jesus(and not scare away the sheep)
How to paint a picture without a thousand words
That's all for now.....
Posted by: God's Girl/Abi | 03/13/2012 at 03:56 PM
Hey hey my beauties!
So I'm actually really embarrassed to be posting this right now... only those of you who have been here for at least the past 5 months will remember me, as I kind of dropped off the face of the IRL-earth around October. It was super rude of me to just leave you girls like that, and I'm not going to insult any of us here by trying to explain myself away with an excuse, because it was pretty inexcusable. I want to give a huge apology to you ladies. I am *so* sorry. I have missed this blog incredibly, and I hope that I can slip back into the fold here, because I know I become a better woman of God when I spend time you girls - a community in the same boat as I am who are willing to help direct the sails together. :)
Anyways, so title ideas: Since it's about living the Christian life and not necessarily being the resident "Ayyyy-men!!" preacher at your high school, I was thinking maybe something like "Walk the Walk", or playing up that saying (ya know, "If you talk the talk, you've gotta walk the walk"). I'll post more ideas if I get a brainstorm, but you girls are right; this is hard!
As per usual, this comment ended up being about 8 times longer than I intended... but it's good to be home. :) Always always loving and praying for you girls!
Love and Blessings,
*Rachel*
Posted by: *Rachel* | 03/13/2012 at 03:59 PM
Welcome back Rachel! I think all of us have been missing from the blog for a period of time at some point, so there's nothing to forgive :)
Posted by: Melody | 03/13/2012 at 09:01 PM
Melody is right I go for periods of time when I don't comment or read it at all.
I'm still brainstorming ........... Sorry Mrs. Rue You might have to give us awhile.
Posted by: God's Girl/Abi | 03/13/2012 at 09:13 PM
How 'bout SHARING WITHOUT SCARING ?
Posted by: Ariadne | 03/13/2012 at 09:55 PM
So these all pretty much stink, but you did say we weren't supposed to filter our ideas!
The Meaning of Life Doesn't Come in a Walmart Bag; But Here's How You Can Share it.
Sharing is Caring: Pass the Bread (of Life!)
How NOT to be a Preacher (but still be a witness)
You're Called to be a Witness, Court is now in Session
Actions of Christian Love
Being the Only Jesus Some People Will Know
Sharing Your Faith Doesn't Mean You're Crazy
Posted by: Melody | 03/14/2012 at 11:53 AM
Titles:
What's With That?(How to be a witness for Christ and more)
Representing God in a a crazy fun way!
Don't be Scared being Jesus' hands!
Totally a Truee for Christ
Get heard out LOUD: Talking about Christ
Hard ice: Soft serve talk for god
Tic-Tac Talk about God
Mustard Seed Socalizing: How to share your Awesome Faith
More later!
JennaT
Posted by: JennaT | 03/14/2012 at 12:11 PM
The only thing I can think of at the moment is "How to share your five loaves"
Posted by: Miriam | 03/14/2012 at 05:50 PM
Kooky Christians?
Posted by: Ariadne | 03/14/2012 at 10:53 PM
Ok these are bad but whatever
The noisy silence
Flipping the light switch
A beautiful silence
Care to Share
Practice what you preach
Showing jesus' love
K I'll try to think up more later.
Posted by: Mimi | 03/14/2012 at 11:22 PM
Hmmm... playing off of one of Mimi's:
"Practice... (you don't need to preach)"
Posted by: *Rachel* | 03/15/2012 at 06:09 AM
Hmmmm...I'm definitely excited for a book like this! Here are some ideas:
Alien
Rebel with a Cause
Salt Tears (pun on "we're the salt of the world", and it's also painful sometimes to be a witness)
Actions Speak Louder
An Arm and a Leg (we're called to be the "hands and feet" of Jesus, but it can cost us a lot to serve him)
Some more historical books would be so cool! I googled the boarding school you mentioned, and it seems like there's a lot of food for the imagination at Linden Hall :)
Posted by: Katie | 03/15/2012 at 04:26 PM
Jesus Freak (cross out the freak and insert the word...
-lover
-witness
-follower
etc
Posted by: Kate S | 03/15/2012 at 06:33 PM
Not sure if this is the right sort of thing your looking for but anyway:).
Answering the worlds call: you could cross out "the world" and have "your friends" written under it or something like than
Posted by: Amy | 03/15/2012 at 07:58 PM
oops I mean *that*
Posted by: Amy | 03/15/2012 at 07:59 PM
Here are some titles I came up with, they aren't very good, but oh, well! XD
- Love: Feeling or Choice?
- Caring
Hearing
Reaching
Impacting
Sharing
Teaching
- Love out loud
Posted by: Therese | 03/15/2012 at 09:24 PM
Hmmm... I'm going to try and think up some today :)
Posted by: Paige | 03/16/2012 at 09:05 AM
I only have one idea, which is...
Christ WALKING Without TALKING
Posted by: Liz | 03/16/2012 at 02:45 PM