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Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 10:24 am
by Coffee
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.
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 10:51 am
by Reub
I vote for The Beach Bum.
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 11:02 am
by WildAboutHarry
Malibu Joe
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 11:20 am
by Benko
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.
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 11:34 am
by annieB
Don't waste these good titles.
Write two !
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 11:38 am
by AdamA
How about Malibu Bum?
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 11:58 am
by KevinW
"Malibu Joe"
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?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 2:17 pm
by Coffee
"He has a distinct "Keep it on the low" African Tiger style."
... But is no match for my Southern Shaolin Praying Mantis feathered pen.
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 5:19 pm
by Reub
How about "Malibu Joe A.K.A. The Beach Bum"?
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 5:43 pm
by Xan
Or a subtitle! "Malibu Joe: the Beach Bum".
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 6:04 pm
by MediumTex
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?
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 6:06 pm
by Xan
Malibu is hardly the most interesting GM car. I vote for "Corvette Summer".
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 7:02 pm
by GT
"Malibu Joe"
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 7:08 pm
by WildAboutHarry
MediumTex wrote:Seriously, though, have about Malibu Bum?
Malibu Bum has a nice alliterative quality to it.
Or...Malibum. Malibum Joe.
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Posted: Thu Jun 13, 2013 10:01 pm
by Coffee
Xan wrote:
Malibu is hardly the most interesting GM car. I vote for "Corvette Summer".
I kinda like that. Maybe for the sequel.
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 12:19 am
by MediumTex
WildAboutHarry wrote:
MediumTex wrote:Seriously, though, have about Malibu Bum?
Malibu Bum has a nice alliterative quality to it.
Or...Malibum. Malibum Joe.
Malibum Beach
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 6:12 am
by dualstow
How about 'The Man with the Metal Detector'
---
Ok: Malibu Joe
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 9:17 am
by MediumTex
dualstow wrote:
How about 'The Man with the Metal Detector'
---
Ok: Malibu Joe
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.
It could be called
The Man With the Golden Bum.
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 11:22 am
by Reub
Can we pre-order at Amazon yet?
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 11:55 am
by l82start
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...
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Posted: Fri Jun 14, 2013 10:53 pm
by Coffee
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.
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 12:08 am
by MediumTex
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.
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.
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 8:29 am
by Coffee
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?
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 9:52 am
by WildAboutHarry
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.
There seems to be a lot of sex starvation in your vision of Malibu.
Re: Which Title For A Novel Do You Like, Better?
Posted: Sat Jun 15, 2013 2:34 pm
by Coffee
WildAboutHarry wrote:
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.
There seems to be a lot of sex starvation in your vision of Malibu.
I know. That's the way I picture rich white people.