Most Horrible Book Titles

Good Day Writers!

I come to you today, hoping that all is well and wonderful in your world.

Now, on to the real stuff.

Have you ever thought about writing a book?
Have you ever had to come up with a striking title?
Have you ever failed miserably with titling your book?
(Ever have auto-correct fix tittling for titling?)

Of course you have because You're A Writer, or Aspiring Writer, or Someone Who Is Curious About Writing, or...just a great person who saw a link on social media (probably Twitter) and decided to click on it.  And yes I know, that was a run-on sentence, and you should not begin a sentence with the word 'and'.

But this blog is about Horrible Book Titles.  

Disclaimer:  

These titles have not been Googled, I came up with them all by myself, so if one is the actual title of a book, my apologies.  It is not my intent to ridicule any other author or writer.

I've been thinking about doing a poetry book
               --well uh, yeah, you're calling yourself "Poet402" all over social media--Clarence!

So the poetry book will have different topics, but one topic that will be explored will be (drumroll please!)....Mental Health.  If there appears to be a theme within the list, that is why.


1. Shattered Dreams
       -This one fits on one of my planes of thought, however it leaves the remainder of the planes high and dry.  Plus I actually have a chapbook out there called Shattered, and I have a thing about going back and re-using stuff.  (titles at least)

2. Un-Liberated
       -This one just feels off, it feels off poetically, it feel like it misses the target.  But some how I like the Liberated portion and thought it would go good after an "Un".  Boy am I wrong.  However part of me feels that this book will be liberating for me, at least in some ways. But Un-Liberated? No terrible— NEXT!

3. True Marketer’s Guide to Independent Wealth (not really, it’s a poetry book)
-Now while I love the sarcastic tone of this title. I just know it’ll never work, plus someone has probably already titled a book like that deep in LuLu’s database. However if you’re reading this with the knowledge that it doesn’t exist anywhere (even the bowels of LuLu’s database) just PayPal me 5 bucks like I’m on fivver & we’ll call it square💕

4. High Fives with Four Fingers
-I came up with this title while at work. Now I wish I could say I had no idea what I was thinking, but unfortunately do know. We all want success, however we're all crippled by one thing or another; we all want high fives (success) but most of us only have four fingers (crippled). In the mental health field, there are always some type of hurdle our clients or patients have, and the same is true of us. We want success, but we have a drinking problem, or a fear problem, or we just don't believe in ourselves. It's not the worst, but still it's pretty horrible unless one can read into the title. And let's be clear, some won't and it'll be a loss.

5. Past, Present, & Future Lives In-Between the Lines
-Once again, a reference to life book title. I've been considering doing a poetry book that has chronicled my life through poetry. Sometimes I can create some pretty good life lessons through my verses. But ultimately I don't like this title because it's long and wordy. 

6. It Ain't Got to Rhyme to be Good Like Grey Goose
-A part of me really likes this a lot. It's reminiscent of my "Chicken Soup & A Shot of Jack" title. I think that's why I'm feeling it. It's of the vein of an "Alcoholic" series I've done with my spoken word work. However, in the end I don't think people will connect with it the way I want folks too...moving on.

7. Off My Rocker Rhythms
-This is not the worst, but still not the best. I think it fits the subject matter of the poems, but I'm also fearful that people will be offended by it. And I want them to at least pick up the book and be offended by some of the poems (lol)

8. It's Madness Not Metered Lines
-This one is a bit of a dig at the writing, and editors, and publishers. Poetry can be very snobbish, as can be editors and publishers. Not many people publish poetry books because historically they just don't sell, and when you couple the subject of mental health--it's a loser. Now granted making money is not a top concern, but I would like for this book to do well, so yea, "Madness & Metered Lines" I feel is a loser--NEXT!

9. Ranting and Rooting. It's OK To Be Me
-I really like the sentiment of this title, because I actually had someone refer to my poetry as ranting. And like every other poet and writer I've been criticized for a multitude of reasons. But I still have people root for me, and ultimately, I know, it's ok being me. Sometime you need to express that to others...but this may not be the right time and circumstance.


Well that's the list folks!  Hope you had fun reading and what-not.  And if you feel like I've made a mistake, and you really like one of the titles, please drop a comment, hit me up on Twitter and let me know.  I'm trying to not for the pure satisfaction of writing, I want to gain a following and have that following enjoy what is put out!  So hit me up and....have a great day!

The "Real" Mental Health Worker

I am.  One of the most powerful phrases in the english language.  A declaration to the world of where one stands. I am, an acknowledgement of presence, solid and stable in situations, prepared for whatever comes down the line. I am going to have patience, I am going to be safe, I am going to positively change lives, I am going to be successful. 

And I am, going to work with the mentally ill.

We are contracted by states, non-profits, and rarely, families to work with people with mental illness, and emotional issues.  We work in facilities, on units, in hospitals, and of course in the milieu. The milieu is where it happens; where frustration occurs, where request are made, and needs are met, where arguments appear, and resolution happens.  We are the counselors, mental health workers, mental health clinicians and nurses.

We are always there 24/7/365, we never rest. At times it feels like we disregard and neglect those

closest to us, because of “the job”.  It is tiring and frustrating; hard work with not enough pay, and makes us consider quitting every day. But we don’t, we try to repair our “outside” relationships while maintaining the ones we are paid to care for, along with co-workers.  We are the relationship gurus of the galaxy, juggling emotional support, with patience, and a willingness to do “the heavy lifting”.

We’re on the bottom, at times our opinion doesn’t matter because we’re the ‘worker bee’.  When the concrete of stability (the meds, the therapies, interaction with social workers) is being poured, we’re the wooden slats keeping everything in one place, safe and secure.  We’re knee deep in disaster at all times with the belief that we will help to make it better. 

We do not promise to cure, but we bust our butts to help our patients recover from their acute, mental illness. We understand the power in collaboration, listening to each other, and communicating, to decrease manipulation, and to remain safe in the milieu.    

The average shift is eight hours, ours routinely feels like 12.  We deal with the ridiculous, the repetitive request from unbalanced individuals way past office hours, and we always work when acuity is high.  We have to set the limit, to ensure not only safety, but healthy boundaries, both physical and mental. Being helpful is not hard, but being of service to someone, sometimes feels like being in service to them.  I am not your servant. Tensions seem to always run high. If it’s not the patients or clients, it’s members of the team, not getting along, not communicating correctly, being unprofessional, or creating a hostile workplace.  It’s psychologically draining at times, finding shovels to dig deep enough to finish the shift.

Easy it is to equate our efforts to little or none, we are after all, 

the worker bee.  

The one who holds down the milieu, who sets the structure, who uses the word no, who sets the limit.  The one who works the closest with the patient, or the client. At times we advocate for advancement of our patients, or residents, and it falls on deaf ears. At times we feel like a shoelace, holding everything together, but getting none of the credit for keeping the beauty of the shoe.

We know our clients, our patients; know their quirks, their likes, triggers, and things they despise. They've cursed us out, threatened us, pulled out our hair, broken our glasses, and assaulted us with bodily fluids. But we`ve also joked, and smiled, laughed, and stood up for each other. We’ve played card games, shared stories, and hugged each other in difficult times.  Staff and client, client and staff, it's a kind of relationship that is tolerated at times, appreciated at others, and misunderstood in the middle.

I am because we are. No one heals alone, and we all are worthy of help.  We are worthy of acts of kindness, and acts that keep dignities in tact. When struggle comes who will be the one to lend a hand, or have an uplifting comment--will it be you?  We know belief, understand it, lean on it, and at times breathe it. At times belief is all there is; for patents,

clients, co-workers, and self. 

We believe they will get better, we believe they will discharge, and have an improved life. It is because of this belief that we work in uncertain situations, risking health and healthy relationships, in order to better the lives of our fellow human beings.

I am because we are.  And we are all together in this.  If we are not, then this (whatever “it” is or is not) does not work.

But it works, because cooperation is there, trust is building, and meaningful relationships are the shoes that can walk through hell.

Mental Health Matters.

Writer's Block on Sax

Posted this on InstaGram, but thought it might be good here too! Boom love this blog!

Part I of Writer's Block on Sax

Part II of Writer's Block on Sax

Part III of Writer's Block on Sax

40 Lines of Commitment

Often time I am stopped,

in grocery stores, or liquor stores,

& once in a toy store,

about the length

of my hair.

Comments usually cordial,

supportive

Not once

were they negative.

Not once.

Mostly they are curious:

it is never about

personal growth, or

choices, or perceptions,

or loss, or

knowledge of self.

It stops @

“how long are they,”

&

“how long you been growing them.”

Disappointing.

Refreshing

would not adequately describe

the emotion I’d feel

if a conversation ensued about:

being rooted, or

belief, or extension of belief

or

Africa, the African diaspora,

or life’s journey, or progressive thought &

perceptions, or commitment

I would not oppose

a debate on

the use of

“dreds” or “dred-locks”,

VS.

“locks”

Recovering Poet

This blog started because of boredom in a classroom full of middle school students who were "emotionally challenged".

I had crash landed in Denver, and gotten on my feet working jobs in the mental health and education fields.

Truth: I love working with kids who are UnderDogs!

UnderDogs have to Recover from some ish!

I wanted to re-work this blog, because the journey has turned, become a bit twisted, and is on quite the different path.  

• For one, I'm fully on my feet
• I have completed goals
• Self-published one book
• Had a second book published by an actual publisher
• I'm no longer in that classroom, or middle school
• But still working with UnderDog kids
• Still working in the mental health field
• I view myself differently
• I am a father
• I have to have a "boss/owner/expert" mentality  
• God Ain't Done With Me Yet

So DoodleWithMyPoodle has to become more of a spring-board.  It's been that, but it needs to continue doing that, and in doing that, I wanted to class it up a bit with a logo.

So what about this tag-line: Recovering Poet??

I've come a long way.  Twenty-ish years ago I was a die-hard spoken word artist, performing nightly in clubs across the city of Atlanta.  I collaborated with other poets, I wrote constantly, I travelled and performed in different states, I was in the studio making albums! (about 6 to date).  

But I didn't get anywhere with it.

I overstand what Langston said about 'a dream deferred'.  

Twenty years later I haven't performed on a stage in over a year, I haven't travelled anywhere to perform in over three, however, I did post a somewhat silly spoken-word poem on Twitter & Instagram.  

So I'm recovering, adapting, changing.  It is has not been easy, and I doubt it will be.  

So the tagline Recovering Poet.  I am recovering from 20 years of failing to reach my pinnacle, and living off my art.  But I'm here, I'm still writing, and learning how to expand.  

I thank you for staying for the journey, and I look forward to continuing the joyous journey with you. 

There will still be poetry, 

there will still be writing, 

there will still be short stories.  

But there will be boundaries, and moderation as well.  

I must remember, I am more than just a writer, I am also responsible for lives.  

Give Thanks, see you soon, and thanks for the support!!!

Logo Chosen!!!

Well folks, here it is, the brand new logo for this wonderful blog, DoodleWithMyPoodle!

You may have noticed the tagline "Recovering Poet".  It's a thing, we'll get into it a little bit later.  

But I did want to thank all the people who voted, and support this wonderful effort!  

I look forward to sharing more life stories, more poetry, more short stories, and more positive and creative vibes!  

Thanks again,

Poet402

Branding & Logos

"Personal Branding," it's what people know about you, what you give them, what is presented to them. It's not a new concept, the term became popular around '97.

As authors and writers, our brand can be important.  It gives immediate information about what you do, or what you write.  In the case of writers its important because your genre has to do with your brand.  

You say you're a writer, but what do you write? Articles, Horror, Romance, Sci-Fi, Literary Fiction, Poetry, Short Stories...what do you write?

For me, the name sums it up.  Poet402, on Twitter it's @former402poet. So what's up with the former402poet name--? That's a tale for a different post.  However, I have branched out from poetry to guest-blogging, writing short stories, and even a couple of books.

In 2014 Forbes cited 7 things you need to do in order to build your brand; here they are in a nut-shell:

1. Start thinking of yourself as a brand. (What subject matter do you want to be perceived as an expert in?)

2. Audit your online presence. (Be responsive to what is said)

3. Secure a personal website. (A place for your bio, resume, and links to your work)

4. Find ways to produce value. (Creating or curating content that's in line with your brand)

5. Be purposeful

6. Associate with other strong brands

7. Reinvent

_________________________________________________________________________________

I've gone through all that to really focus in on #7--Reinvent.  I have been running this blog with its up's and down's for the last 4 plus years.  No help, just hard work, sweat, and dedication to my craft.

I now want this blog to stand out more   It's my platform, more than ever before and I need it to shine a little bit.  So I thought a new way to do this would be to:

Create A New Logo!!!

But because I love the support I have received over the years, and through the magic of social media, I would love for YOU to help me choose the new logo

I have narrowed the field down to four.  And please forgive me, but I did begin the polling on Instagram yesterday, so there is a slight lead for one of them.  However we'll keep the polling open for the next week on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Here we go, up first Choice A

Next Candidate, Choice B

Next Candidate, Choice C

 Next Candidate Choice D

  

There you have it folks!  

So all you have to do is log into your google and leave a comment for which logo you like best!  

Thanks and looking forward to your vote