annethology
  • Home
    • About Annethology
    • About me >
      • A little more about me
    • About my books
    • Author talks
    • Contact me
    • Forthcoming events
    • World Mental Health Day
    • Privacy
    • Sign up for my newsletter
  • Debut novel and encore
    • Sugar and Snails >
      • Acknowledgements
      • Blog tour, Q&A's and feature articles >
        • Birthday blog tour
        • S&S on tour 2022
      • Early endorsements
      • Events >
        • Launch photos
        • Launch party videos
      • in pictures
      • Media
      • If you've read the book
      • Polari
      • Reading group questions
      • Reviews
      • In the media
    • Underneath >
      • Endorsements and reviews
      • Launch party and events
      • Pictures
      • Questions for book groups
      • The stories underneath the novel
  • Matilda Windsor series
    • The accidental series
    • Matilda Windsor >
      • What readers say
      • For book groups
      • Interviews, articles and features
      • Matty on the move
      • Who were you in 1990?
      • Asylum lit
      • Matilda Windsor media
    • Stolen Summers >
      • Stolen Summers reviews
    • Lyrics for the Loved Ones
  • Short stories
    • Somebody’s Daughter
    • Becoming Someone (anthology) >
      • Becoming Someone (video readings)
      • Becoming Someone reviews
      • Becoming Someone online book chat
    • Print and downloads
    • Read it online
    • Quick reads
  • Free ebook
  • Annecdotal
    • Annecdotal blog
    • Annecdotal Press
    • Articles >
      • Print journalism
      • Where psychology meets fiction
    • Fictional therapists
    • Reading and reviews >
      • Reviews A to H
      • Reviews I to M
      • Reviews N to Z
      • Nonfiction
      • Themed quotes
      • Reading around the world
  • Shop
    • Inspired Quill (my publisher)
    • Bookshop.org (affiliate link)
    • Amazon UK
    • Amazon US
    • books2read

Welcome

I started this blog in 2013 to share my reflections on reading, writing and psychology, along with my journey to become a published novelist.​  I soon graduated to about twenty book reviews a month and a weekly 99-word story. Ten years later, I've transferred my writing / publication updates to my new website but will continue here with occasional reviews and flash fiction pieces, and maybe the odd personal post.

ANNE GOODWIN'S WRITING NEWS

Terrific Title for another novel: Waiting for Doggo by Mark B Mills

21/11/2014

12 Comments

 
Picture
When Dan’s girlfriend leaves him suddenly, the last thing he wants is her ugly dog. But when there’s a hiccup in his plan to return the animal to the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, the unloved dog transforms himself into Dan’s lucky mascot. Out of work for several months, Dan finds himself headhunted by the hip Indology advertising agency; they’re so keen to harness his skills as a copywriter, they even agree to him bringing his dog to work. Then follows a romp through office politics, romance and the revelation of family secrets (although why his dementia-stricken grandfather would have known about this particular skeleton in the cupboard I have no idea) to the heart-warming finale in which the title comes into its own.

In my review of The Long Shadow, I said I’d be interested to see where Mark Mills would take his imagination next. I was hoping for darker, but what he’s done is slipped an extra initial (which I failed to notice originally) between his first and second names and moved sideways into another brand. This is lighter, nice-bloke-lit, Nick Hornby without the subtle humour and emotional depth.

Published towards the tail-end of November, Waiting for Doggo is clearly aimed at the Christmas market, especially with It’s a Wonderful Life flagged up in the blurb. While you could certainly read this in one sitting with a hangover on Boxing Day, the stakes here are nowhere near as high as in that classic Christmas movie: Dan is a long way from suicide at the beginning of the novel and, at least in my head, he’s no James Stewart.

But what a title! It could have been dreamt up by Dan and his Indology colleagues, causing me to wonder if the title preceded the characters and plot. I’m willing to be corrected, but I’m not convinced it does this novel any favours to evoke what’s been termed the most significant English-language play of the 20th-century in the reader’s mind. Beckettesque it most certainly is not.

Covers that don’t fit the story is a topic often raised by book bloggers, but what about titles? We often come across titles of which the significance isn’t clear until towards the end of the story (for example If I Knew You Were Going to Be This Beautiful I Never Would Have Let You Go), but Waiting for Doggo is unique in sending my mind off on the totally wrong path. Can you think of any other novels where the title has implied a different story to the one you read?

While I love the title of my own forthcoming novel, Sugar and Snails, and would be loath to change it, I don’t want readers to get the wrong impression of what it’s about. I’ve generally had positive feedback, with two exceptions I can think of: one who thought it too childish; another for whom sugar spelt cloyingly-sweet chiclit. So I’d be really interested to know what the title means to you.

Thanks to Headline Review for my Bookbridgr proof copy of Waiting for Doggo. Although there’s a fair amount of Twitter excitement about this novel, I’ll be going for Mark Mills without the middle initial if there’s ever a next time. For more on finding an attention-grabbing title, check out this post from Roz Morris.

Thanks for reading. I'd love to know what you think. If you've enjoyed this post, you might like to sign up via the sidebar for regular email updates and/or my quarterly Newsletter.
12 Comments
sarah link
21/11/2014 07:47:26 am

"Covers that don’t fit the story is a topic often raised by book bloggers, but what about titles?"

Of course, I've heard this but, now that I think about it, only a few times--not nearly as much as book covers/illustrations. Interesting. I'm thinking how many times I've handed a book to someone saying not to let the cover put them off. Other times, I've "judged a book by its cover" (which was glorious) and the book itself was dreadful.

Reply
Annecdotist
22/11/2014 04:37:12 am

This is a timely issue for me, obviously. There is a need to present our fiction in a form that will make people want to pick it up, but we don't want a lot of dissatisfied customers who feel they've been duped.

Reply
sarah link
22/11/2014 08:56:51 am

If I heard "Sugar and Snails" and I didn't know you, I might think it was a children's book. But (getting back to covers) I'm assuming the book will have an illustration that will squelch any thoughts of a children's book. My first thought, since I do know you, was that it was a book about relationships (specifically between men and women -- mother/son, husband/wife, father/daughter, etc.).

P.S. My husband thought (with no context) that it was a children's book or a chick lit (something like Fried Green Tomatoes). Keep in mind, we completely surrounded by children's books at this time. ;-)

Annecdotist
24/11/2014 03:31:56 am

Thanks so much for that feedback, Sarah. I wonder how the cover (when it comes) will impact on people's expectations. I can safely say it's about relationships …

Helen link
24/11/2014 02:29:05 am

I think it's safe to say I wouldn't pick up a book with a title like "Waiting for Doggo" - it would suggest to me that the sense of humour inside wasn't going to match mine. In a way this is a great thing about having as little reading time as I do at the moment- every potential book has to earn its space. Those by authors I know I love get a free pass (I'm still promising myself a go at the new Marilynne Robinson once I can guarantee a stretch of time, and would read it regardless of its name) but for unknowns, they need to have a reasonable title and a cover that doesn't shout anything objectionable to me.
"Sugar and snails" is an interesting one - it doesn't give me many clues about the content, though I suppose the immediate thing it brings to mind is "Jam and Jerusalem", obviously with the simple three-word shape but also, I suppose, the sugar-jam connection. I'm looking forward to watching it on its path to publication!

Reply
Annecdotist
24/11/2014 03:40:19 am

Interesting, Helen, how you are filtering out the no-nos because you're short of time, which I imagine will apply to lots of readers for all kinds of reasons.
I love how you've linked from sugar to jam too (I'm assuming) the Women's Institute, none of which feature in my novel (Although I think there might be a tiny bit of marmalade). Thanks for sharing.

Reply
Safia link
24/11/2014 11:06:36 am

I think, since I'm a Beckett fan, I would certainly peek inside the front cover, but guessing that it really would be nothing like the play, indeed, the author may well be poking fun at his own distance from 'great' literature, or anything 'heavy' - that would be in keeping with you theory on the pre-Xmzs timing, I think. As for 'Sugar and Snails' - I like the title - reminds me of the 'what are little girls/boys made of' nursery rhyme, but does NOT lead me to surmise it is for kids, along the lines of 'Kiss the Girls'

Reply
Annecdotist
25/11/2014 02:49:56 am

Thanks, Safia, I've seen Waiting for Godot on only one occasion, so am by no means an expert, but I didn't detect any parody in this novel, and I think I might have respected it more if I had. There's nothing wrong with poking a bit of fun at the greats if it's done intelligently IMO, but I found no connection here.
Kiss The Girls presents another interesting angle on Sugar and Snails – I didn't know this title but I've just googled it and certainly works for me as a thriller. Now wondering about the implications for S&S which is certainly not in that genre.

Reply
Safia
25/11/2014 08:07:33 am

Sorry, Anne - I wanted to add that the contrast between a title reflecting a nursery rhyme, and the actual content of the book is a positive aspect. I wouldn't necessarily think it would be a thriller just because of one film which used a similar trope for the title. Now, having been lucky enough to have a preview of your early chapters, isn't the suggestion of 'What are little girls /boys made of ...' absolutely perfect for the themes of Sugar and Snails? Yes, IMO. Sorry about the spelling mistakes and being cut off in my prime in my first comment - I have this annoying prob of not being able to go back and edit comments here when using the iPad (which I invariably do or I'd never be able to visit your blog at all). :-)

Annecdotist
25/11/2014 10:52:51 am

Thanks, Safia, I do still like my title but it's been interesting sounding it out with people who don't know much about the story. Given you know what it's about, I'm glad you think it fits.
I hadn't noticed your spelling mistakes, so don't worry, glad to have you popping in whatever way you can. Using voice-activated software, I often don't notice the mistakes I've made before I press submit. Quite often it looks as if I've said the opposite of what I meant!!

Charli Mills
11/12/2014 05:16:46 pm

Definitely a fun title and interesting how subtly the author changed his name to segue in to another genre. I wouldn't think chicklit with your title at all and the children's rhyme reference makes me think that it is ironic--I expect it to be an adult subject, a breaking away from the cutesy rhymes of childhood.

Reply
Annecdotist
12/12/2014 08:48:46 am

Thanks Charli, and I think you're heading in the right direction with your interpretation of my title. It's certainly a breakaway from cutesy rhymes.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Free ebook: click the image to claim yours.
    Picture
    Available now
    Picture
    The poignant prequel to Matilda Windsor Is Coming Home
    Picture
    Find a review
    Picture
    Fictional therapists
    Picture
    Picture
    About Anne Goodwin
    Picture
    My published books
    entertaining fiction about identity, mental health and social justice
    Picture
    My third novel, published May 2021
    Picture
    My debut novel shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize
    Picture
    Picture
    My second novel published May 2017.
    Picture
    Short stories on the theme of identity published 2018
    Anne Goodwin's books on Goodreads
    Sugar and Snails Sugar and Snails
    reviews: 32
    ratings: 52 (avg rating 4.21)

    Underneath Underneath
    reviews: 24
    ratings: 60 (avg rating 3.17)

    Becoming Someone Becoming Someone
    reviews: 8
    ratings: 9 (avg rating 4.56)

    GUD: Greatest Uncommon Denominator, Issue 4 GUD: Greatest Uncommon Denominator, Issue 4
    reviews: 4
    ratings: 9 (avg rating 4.44)

    The Best of Fiction on the Web The Best of Fiction on the Web
    reviews: 3
    ratings: 3 (avg rating 4.67)

    2022 Reading Challenge

    2022 Reading Challenge
    Anne has read 2 books toward their goal of 100 books.
    hide
    2 of 100 (2%)
    view books
    Picture
    Annecdotal is where real life brushes up against the fictional.  
    Picture
    Annecdotist is the blogging persona of Anne Goodwin: 
    reader, writer,

    slug-slayer, tramper of moors, 
    recovering psychologist, 
    struggling soprano, 
    author of three fiction books.

    LATEST POSTS HERE
    I don't post to a schedule, but average  around ten reviews a month (see here for an alphabetical list), 
    some linked to a weekly flash fiction, plus posts on my WIPs and published books.  

    Your comments are welcome any time any where.

    Get new posts direct to your inbox ...

    Enter your email address:

    or click here …

    RSS Feed


    Picture

    Tweets by @Annecdotist
    Picture
    New short story, “My Dirty Weekend”
    Picture
    Let’s keep in touch – subscribe to my newsletter
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Popular posts

    • Compassion: something we all need
    • Do spoilers spoil?
    • How to create a convincing fictional therapist
    • Instructions for a novel
    • Looking at difference, embracing diversity
    • Never let me go: the dilemma of lending books
    • On loving, hating and writers’ block
      On Pop, Pirates and Plagiarism
    • READIN' for HER reviews
    • Relishing the cuts
    • The fast first draft
    • The tragedy of obedience
    • Writers and therapy: a love-hate relationship?

    Categories/Tags

    All
    Animals
    Annecdotist Hosts
    Annecdotist On Tour
    Articles
    Attachment Theory
    Author Interviews
    Becoming Someone
    Being A Writer
    Blogging
    Bodies
    Body
    Bookbirthday
    Books For Writers
    Bookshops
    CB Book Group
    Character
    Childhood
    Christmas
    Classics
    Climate Crisis
    Coming Of Age
    Counsellors Cafe
    Creative Writing Industry
    Creativity
    Cumbria
    Debut Novels
    Disability
    Editing
    Emotion
    Ethics
    Ethis
    Family
    Feedback And Critiques
    Fictional Psychologists & Therapists
    Food
    Friendship
    Futuristic
    Gender
    Genre
    Getting Published
    Giveaways
    Good Enough
    Grammar
    Gratitude
    Group/organisational Dynamics
    Hero’s Journey
    History
    Humour
    Identity
    Illness
    Independent Presses
    Institutions
    International Commemorative Day
    Jane Eyre
    Kidney Disease
    Language
    LGBTQ
    Libraries
    Live Events
    Lyrics For The Loved Ones
    Marketing
    Matilda Windsor
    Memoir
    Memory
    Mental Health
    Microfiction
    Motivation
    Music
    MW Prequel
    Names
    Narrative Voice
    Nature / Gardening
    Networking
    Newcastle
    Nonfiction
    Nottingham
    Novels
    Pandemic
    Peak District
    Perfect Match
    Poetry
    Point Of View
    Politics
    Politics Current Affairs
    Presentation
    Privacy
    Prizes
    Psychoanalytic Theory
    Psychology
    Psycholoists Write
    Psychotherapy
    Race
    Racism
    Rants
    Reading
    Real Vs Imaginary
    Religion
    Repetitive Strain Injury
    Research
    Reviewing
    Romance
    Satire
    Second Novels
    Settings
    Sex
    Shakespeare
    Short Stories General
    Short Stories My Published
    Short Stories Others'
    Siblings
    Snowflake
    Somebody's Daughter
    Stolen Summers
    Storytelling
    Structure
    Sugar And Snails
    Technology
    The
    The Guestlist
    Therapy
    TikTok
    TNTB
    Toiletday
    Tourism
    Toxic Positivity
    Transfiction
    Translation
    Trauma
    Unconscious
    Unconscious, The
    Underneath
    Voice Recognition Software
    War
    WaSBihC
    Weather
    Work
    Writing Process
    Writing Technique

    Archives

    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    Picture
    BLOGGING COMMUNITIES
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from havens.michael34, romana klee, mrsdkrebs, Kyle Taylor, Dream It. Do It., adam & lucy, dluders, Joybot, Hammer51012, jorgempf, Sherif Salama, eyspahn, raniel diaz, E. E. Piphanies, scaredofbabies, Nomadic Lass, paulternate, Tony Fischer Photography, archer10 (Dennis), slightly everything, impbox, jonwick04, country_boy_shane, dok1, Out.of.Focus, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region, Elvert Barnes, guillenperez, Richard Perry, jamesnaruke, Juan Carlos Arniz Sanz, El Tuerto, kona99, maveric2003, !anaughty!, Patrick Denker, David Davies, hamilcar_south, idleformat, Dave Goodman, Sharon Mollerus, photosteve101, La Citta Vita, A Girl With Tea, striatic, carlosfpardo, Damork, Elvert Barnes, UNE Photos, jurvetson, quinn.anya, BChristensen93, Joelk75, ashesmonroe, albertogp123, >littleyiye<, mudgalbharat, Swami Stream, Dicemanic, lovelihood, anyjazz65, Tjeerd, albastrica mititica, jimmiehomeschoolmom, joshtasman, tedeytan, striatic, goforchris, torbakhopper, maggibautista, andreboeni, snigl3t, rainy city, frankieleon