Please help me choose a subtitle for my book

[happystuff]

Thanks, happystuff! But here's the thing. My 9 "Milestones" is not a "list"--the steps are progressive--ideally, one follows the other. Does "mapping" also align with that concept?

I would think it would - in a sense.

I guess my question is... what kind of flexibility is there in the "Milestones"? Since I don't know what they are, I'm just wondering... are these milestones set in stone - so to speak. LOL. If number 3 doesn't exactly fit in my life/future, is the flexibility there to "tweek" and still continue on to number 4?

[rosarugosa]

I like #7 without the title, but agree with others that “Journey…” fits right in with main title.

does the main title have much recognition outside of your immediate geographic area?

I hadn't paid much attention to the "Exit 9" part because that wasn't the question. Since you bring it up though, I'll mention that the reference means nothing to me, and could possibly cause me to pass over a book, "Exit 9, hmmm, I don't even know what that is, book is probably not be relevant to me."

[catherine]

I would think it would - in a sense.

I guess my question is... what kind of flexibility is there in the "Milestones"? Since I don't know what they are, I'm just wondering... are these milestones set in stone - so to speak. LOL. If number 3 doesn't exactly fit in my life/future, is the flexibility there to "tweek" and still continue on to number 4?

I would normally not go this deep into this question but since this is a pretty tight group and you guys are definitely in the periphery of my target audience, here's where I am with the "steps": Because I am interested in leading people to a different mindset that is "simpler, slower and saner," I thought about the 12 Steps and so created my structure to fit more of a process than a menu. So here are the 9 steps is a draft form (very much subject to change):

MM1: Become Aware
MM2: Make a decision to slow down
MM3: Embrace beauty
MM4: Cultivate and create
MM5: Realize your oneness with nature
MM6: Practice the 3 "G"s: Grounding, Gardening, and Gleaning
MM7: Find the joy in enough
MM8: Protect what you love
MM9: Boycott Oz

Please don't ask me to explain each of these yet! this is a step-by-step process for me as well. But do you now see what I mean in that one thing leads to another? Of course, someone can say, "I already find the joy in enough--I'm jumping to "protect what you love"--but the framework is important. Does that change your thoughts on "map" vs "step" vs "journey"?

[catherine]

I am on Substack and I release content as I create it.. right now there's not a whole lot but what's there provides more context for the book because I've already published the prologue and the draft of MM1. If anyone is interested, please PM me and I'll give you the Substack address. I have been super protective of my anonymity here since I joined probably 25 years ago, so I don't want to list the link in the forum, but I consider enough of you friends to let my privacy guard down If you're willing to do the same and interested in following my progress, let me know.


rosa, I share your and IL's concern about Exit 9. If I have a strong enough subtitle, I still think Exit 9 will work... trust me on that, but know that I take your comment seriously.

ETA: See SiouzQ's latest suggestion.

[SiouzQ.]

Perhaps in the foreword you could explain how "Exit 9" is relevant to your ideas.

[catherine]

Perhaps in the foreword you could explain how "Exit 9" is relevant to your ideas.

Yes, I do that.

ETA: Actually I don't do it well enough. I'll revise. Thank you!

[happystuff]

I would normally not go this deep into this question but since this is a pretty tight group and you guys are definitely in the periphery of my target audience, here's where I am with the "steps": Because I am interested in leading people to a different mindset that is "simpler, slower and saner," I thought about the 12 Steps and so created my structure to fit more of a process than a menu. So here are the 9 steps is a draft form (very much subject to change):

MM1: Become Aware
MM2: Make a decision to slow down
MM3: Embrace beauty
MM4: Cultivate and create
MM5: Realize your oneness with nature
MM6: Practice the 3 "G"s: Grounding, Gardening, and Gleaning
MM7: Find the joy in enough
MM8: Protect what you love
MM9: Boycott Oz

Please don't ask me to explain each of these yet! this is a step-by-step process for me as well. But do you now see what I mean in that one thing leads to another? Of course, someone can say, "I already find the joy in enough--I'm jumping to "protect what you love"--but the framework is important. Does that change your thoughts on "map" vs "step" vs "journey"?

Hmmm... I appreciate the additional information and, just based on your list - it appears to me now to be "steps", especially since you are saying that one shouldn't skip a step. For me, I can plan a journey and there is usually more than one way (map/route) to get to the end of the journey.

Regardless, it is all VERY intriguing and very impressive, and I definitely plan to read the finished product!