Monday, January 19, 2009
Back to the Beginning
I'm starting to think about seriously shopping around my book and wanted your opinion. A while back, I asked about my working title and wondered about other possibilities. I thank you all for your suggestions--I just offered some in a poll (scroll down and look to your right). I'd appreciate your feedback, and if it's "other," please feel free to comment here with your idea.
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11 comments:
I like the title, because it's a little controversial. You want a title that's going to make people want to pick it up, even if it's because they feel like arguing with you. Plus it might get you on more talk shows. Making it a question is maybe more therapeutically honest, but more blah, for the marketplace decision.
I like the original title. It would make me pick up the book because every one knows that I don't have an eating disorder "but that woman over there does" :)
Seriously, how many women outside of the fatsosphere would even begin to admit they had an eating disorder? IMO "Every Woman Has An Eating Disorder" would make them stop and at least look at it to see if what they "have" is indeed an ED. Maybe I am wrong, but I know many women who think that they are "fine" with the way they diet, supplement, binge etc...They do not think there is anything wrong with the way they eat.
KatesCousinNancy
I like the original title too.
I admit that I have an eating disorder, but only online. Real life people tend not to believe you unless you're inches from death or something.
I agree with Nancy that since so many women have eating disorders, or are at the very least disordered eaters, its thought of the norm and its just "what you do". If even one women reads your book and says to herself "Oh wow, this isn't actually normal" and gets some help, its worth it.
I'll totally buy your book when it comes out btw, if I can find it in my bookstore!
Definitely keep the original title. The current title sounds interesting, the other titles in your poll are good titles, but they also seem like every other ED book out there. You need something different!
"Every Woman Has an Eating Disorder" could be none more appropriate than "Why Every Woman Grows Up to Hate Themself".
While I think the original title is thought provoking and attention grabbing, I think it's off-putting to some. Also, I think your theory is that it's not just women, but society that has this odd r/p w/ food. The second title encompasses that theory and still retains some of the curiosity factor of the original title.
i was reccommended your blog by heather at hangrypants.com. i am a 21 year old recovering from DE (i call it disordered eating because i never met the "medical criteria" for ED). i really like your blog and can't wait to read more. by the way that is AWESOME you are writing a book.
Another vote for the original for every reason Nancy gave!
Thanks for your opinions! Of course I like the original--it came to me years ago--and honestly, I think, that in the local B & N, it'd be a big book picker upper (like that's a word). I just don't know if agents/publishers would be put off by the title and not even read the proposal. As one publisher said to me a while back, "Not every woman has an eating disorder." Thanks, I know.
Oh, and if you voted/vote for other, please make a suggestion. "Other" wasn't an actual title suggestion. Not that there's anything wrong w/that for a title for a book (I'd pick that one up!), but for some reason I don't think it would effectively convey my premise.
drstaceyny said...
As one publisher said to me a while back, "Not every woman has an eating disorder".
The publisher was a man????
I think it is a given that "every" woman does not have an ED. However an "uneducated guess" on my part would think that there are more that do than there are those who don't. Just my opinion...
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