Despite swearing I'd never write another novel, my love/hate relationship with writing calls me to write yet another one. But I need your help:
Without knowing anything about the storyline or plot, which of the following two titles would you be more likely to want to read?
"Malibu Joe"
or
"The Beach Bum"
Thanks.
Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Moderator: Global Moderator
Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
"Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you're not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean plumb, mad-dog mean. 'Cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live nor win. That's just the way it is. "
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
I vote for The Beach Bum.
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WildAboutHarry
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Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Malibu Joe
It is the settled policy of America, that as peace is better than war, war is better than tribute. The United States, while they wish for war with no nation, will buy peace with none" James Madison
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
The Beach Bum reminds me of Jimmy Buffett, more lightharded and carefree.
Malibu Joe is more ambiguous and could be e.g. a hardboiled detective novel (Malibu Joe Hammer) or the crazy guy on the beach who talks to pigeons all day.
If you want to give a light/carefree impression of the book then use Beach Bum. Otherwise use Malibu Joe.
Malibu Joe is more ambiguous and could be e.g. a hardboiled detective novel (Malibu Joe Hammer) or the crazy guy on the beach who talks to pigeons all day.
If you want to give a light/carefree impression of the book then use Beach Bum. Otherwise use Malibu Joe.
It was good being the party of Robin Hood. Until they morphed into the Sheriff of Nottingham
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Don't waste these good titles.
Write two !
Write two !
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
How about Malibu Bum?
"All men's miseries derive from not being able to sit in a quiet room alone."
Pascal
Pascal
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
"Malibu Joe"
My experiences with real-life beach bums have been...not something I'd like to spend more time thinking about.
My experiences with real-life beach bums have been...not something I'd like to spend more time thinking about.
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
"He has a distinct "Keep it on the low" African Tiger style."
... But is no match for my Southern Shaolin Praying Mantis feathered pen.
... But is no match for my Southern Shaolin Praying Mantis feathered pen.
"Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you're not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean plumb, mad-dog mean. 'Cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live nor win. That's just the way it is. "
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
How about "Malibu Joe A.K.A. The Beach Bum"?
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Or a subtitle! "Malibu Joe: the Beach Bum".
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
I vote for Rendezvous at Sundown.
Seriously, though, how about Malibu Bum?
Conversely, how about Beach Joe?
For an anagram-like approach, how about Malibu Beach Bum Joe?
Seriously, though, how about Malibu Bum?
Conversely, how about Beach Joe?
For an anagram-like approach, how about Malibu Beach Bum Joe?
Last edited by MediumTex on Fri Jun 14, 2013 12:17 am, edited 1 time in total.
Q: “Do you have funny shaped balloons?”
A: “Not unless round is funny.”
A: “Not unless round is funny.”
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Malibu is hardly the most interesting GM car. I vote for "Corvette Summer".
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
"Malibu Joe"
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WildAboutHarry
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Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Malibu Bum has a nice alliterative quality to it.MediumTex wrote:Seriously, though, have about Malibu Bum?
Or...Malibum. Malibum Joe.
It is the settled policy of America, that as peace is better than war, war is better than tribute. The United States, while they wish for war with no nation, will buy peace with none" James Madison
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
I kinda like that. Maybe for the sequel.Xan wrote: Malibu is hardly the most interesting GM car. I vote for "Corvette Summer".
"Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you're not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean plumb, mad-dog mean. 'Cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live nor win. That's just the way it is. "
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Malibum BeachWildAboutHarry wrote:Malibu Bum has a nice alliterative quality to it.MediumTex wrote:Seriously, though, have about Malibu Bum?
Or...Malibum. Malibum Joe.
Q: “Do you have funny shaped balloons?”
A: “Not unless round is funny.”
A: “Not unless round is funny.”
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dualstow
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Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
How about 'The Man with the Metal Detector'
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Ok: Malibu Joe
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Ok: Malibu Joe
No money in our jackets and our jeans are torn/
your hands are cold but your lips are warm _ . /
your hands are cold but your lips are warm _ . /
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
It could be the story of a beach bum who wakes up one day with the fairy tale-like ability to lay golden eggs, but in his case they come out of his rectum. The man turn into a Jason Bourne-type character as he gets caught up in all sorts of intrigues as various powerful interests try to capture him and harness his powers for their benefit.dualstow wrote: How about 'The Man with the Metal Detector'
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Ok: Malibu Joe
It could be called The Man With the Golden Bum.
Q: “Do you have funny shaped balloons?”
A: “Not unless round is funny.”
A: “Not unless round is funny.”
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Can we pre-order at Amazon yet? 
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Malibu Joe, the story of a second string boy toy, always loosing out to his nemesis ken for the affections of his dream girl Barby, and the weird twist and turns his life takes when he gets conscripted into military service with his violence prone half brother GI joe...
-Government 2020+ - a BANANA REPUBLIC - if you can keep it
-Belief is the death of intelligence. As soon as one believes a doctrine of any sort, or assumes certitude, one stops thinking about that aspect of existence
-Belief is the death of intelligence. As soon as one believes a doctrine of any sort, or assumes certitude, one stops thinking about that aspect of existence
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Here's the outline. Let me know what you think? (It may change by tomorrow morning after I've had a chance to sleep on it).
Malibu Joe
Outline
Down-on-his-luck real estate broker David Korth follows a little dog named "Schwartz" into an Airstream travel trailer parked on a beach in Malibu. But in a case of mistaken identity, he soon realizes that "Schwartz" looks exactly like the missing dog of celebrity Marseille Hyatt and now every cop in Malibu is looking for him.
David decides to disguise himself and hide in the travel trailer until things blow over but soon meets an aging hippie named, "Malibu Joe". Joe teaches David the art of living like the rich and famous... without having to work.
Crashing in unoccupied vacation homes, driving stolen Ferraris, wearing somebody else's flashy clothes and drinking over-priced "craft" beer on the beach alongside the jet set and the super model class, David thinks it's the perfect way to avoid his past life and the law.
But soon he realizes that "Malibu Joe" may be a wanted jewel thief and a dangerous extortionist who is setting him up to take the rap for his past crimes.
Add to the mix a sex-starved divorcee, a 16 year-old computer-nerd millionaire, a "psychic" pet detective, an Israeli arms dealer and you get a fast paced romp through the life styles of the over-worked and under-sexed of Malibu, California.
Malibu Joe
Outline
Down-on-his-luck real estate broker David Korth follows a little dog named "Schwartz" into an Airstream travel trailer parked on a beach in Malibu. But in a case of mistaken identity, he soon realizes that "Schwartz" looks exactly like the missing dog of celebrity Marseille Hyatt and now every cop in Malibu is looking for him.
David decides to disguise himself and hide in the travel trailer until things blow over but soon meets an aging hippie named, "Malibu Joe". Joe teaches David the art of living like the rich and famous... without having to work.
Crashing in unoccupied vacation homes, driving stolen Ferraris, wearing somebody else's flashy clothes and drinking over-priced "craft" beer on the beach alongside the jet set and the super model class, David thinks it's the perfect way to avoid his past life and the law.
But soon he realizes that "Malibu Joe" may be a wanted jewel thief and a dangerous extortionist who is setting him up to take the rap for his past crimes.
Add to the mix a sex-starved divorcee, a 16 year-old computer-nerd millionaire, a "psychic" pet detective, an Israeli arms dealer and you get a fast paced romp through the life styles of the over-worked and under-sexed of Malibu, California.
"Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you're not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean plumb, mad-dog mean. 'Cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live nor win. That's just the way it is. "
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Set it on a dock and have Malibu Joe be living on someone else's boat while they are away. With boats rather than travel trailers as the backdrop residences it sets you up for a plausible boat chase scene. A boat chase seems to fit in well with the rest of the plot. If you can work a boat chase in as a plausible plot twist, it allows you to go almost anywhere and do almost anything (including having a dog wear a miniature skipper's cap). Helicopters can chase boats, boats can jump things, boats can go under bridges and have their tops torn off, boats can run up on beaches and scatter beach partiers, boats can knock over canoes full of boy scouts in their wake, and boats can be attacked by sharks. You can do a lot with boats.Coffee wrote: Here's the outline. Let me know what you think? (It may change by tomorrow morning after I've had a chance to sleep on it).
Malibu Joe
Outline
Down-on-his-luck real estate broker David Korth follows a little dog named "Schwartz" into an Airstream travel trailer parked on a beach in Malibu. But in a case of mistaken identity, he soon realizes that "Schwartz" looks exactly like the missing dog of celebrity Marseille Hyatt and now every cop in Malibu is looking for him.
David decides to disguise himself and hide in the travel trailer until things blow over but soon meets an aging hippie named, "Malibu Joe". Joe teaches David the art of living like the rich and famous... without having to work.
Crashing in unoccupied vacation homes, driving stolen Ferraris, wearing somebody else's flashy clothes and drinking over-priced "craft" beer on the beach alongside the jet set and the super model class, David thinks it's the perfect way to avoid his past life and the law.
But soon he realizes that "Malibu Joe" may be a wanted jewel thief and a dangerous extortionist who is setting him up to take the rap for his past crimes.
Add to the mix a sex-starved divorcee, a 16 year-old computer-nerd millionaire, a "psychic" pet detective, an Israeli arms dealer and you get a fast paced romp through the life styles of the over-worked and under-sexed of Malibu, California.
Q: “Do you have funny shaped balloons?”
A: “Not unless round is funny.”
A: “Not unless round is funny.”
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
That's pretty good, Tex. Although I think that the type of high speed/low drag boat you're describing would not be the same type of boat you'd live aboard.
Watch many Bond movies as a kid?
Watch many Bond movies as a kid?
"Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you're not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean plumb, mad-dog mean. 'Cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live nor win. That's just the way it is. "
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WildAboutHarry
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- Joined: Wed May 04, 2011 9:35 am
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
There seems to be a lot of sex starvation in your vision of Malibu.Coffee wrote:Add to the mix a sex-starved divorcee, a 16 year-old computer-nerd millionaire, a "psychic" pet detective, an Israeli arms dealer and you get a fast paced romp through the life styles of the over-worked and under-sexed of Malibu, California.
It is the settled policy of America, that as peace is better than war, war is better than tribute. The United States, while they wish for war with no nation, will buy peace with none" James Madison
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
I know. That's the way I picture rich white people.WildAboutHarry wrote:There seems to be a lot of sex starvation in your vision of Malibu.Coffee wrote:Add to the mix a sex-starved divorcee, a 16 year-old computer-nerd millionaire, a "psychic" pet detective, an Israeli arms dealer and you get a fast paced romp through the life styles of the over-worked and under-sexed of Malibu, California.
"Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you're not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean plumb, mad-dog mean. 'Cause if you lose your head and you give up then you neither live nor win. That's just the way it is. "