27 Responses to “Poll: Don needs your help”

1. Bryan Says:
   September 18th, 2007 at 10:24 pm

   I think “Au-tuer” is being too smart by half. Pick it if you don’t care about sales. ;^)

2. Matthew Smith Says:
   September 18th, 2007 at 10:54 pm

   Thumbs down on “Au-teur.” I think if you went with it, the sub-title would become confusing rather than intriguing.

3. Donald Miller Says:
   September 19th, 2007 at 12:10 am

   thanks for the comment. i think we are drawn to au-teur because it is more elusive and mysterious and has a more, i don’t know, timeless feel. we are also worried that “let story guide you” feels to self-helpy. any thoughts on that? thanks for the feedback. this is going right into the publishers ear, for sure.

   don

4. Cate Says:
   September 19th, 2007 at 12:18 am

   I’m gonna have to agree that “auteur” is rather obscure. Those of us who studied film certainly know of the auteur theory, (although I’ve never seen the word with a dash) but it doesn’t seem right in this context. Dare I say the Cahiers du Cinema types might not be the audience you’re writing for? Eh, actually I take that back - lots of film snobs would/do dig your stuff. But all the same, it might be a bit too smarty pants.

   I will also say that I’m looking forward to reading it, no matter what it’s called.

5. Digenis Says:
   September 19th, 2007 at 2:02 am

   Stick with what you’ve got. ‘Let Story Guide You’ is a much better title.

   The auteur concept is a good one that seems to go a long with what LSGY is all about, but I don’t think it makes for a good title.

   Impatiently awaiting the release of your book. All the best from Moscow, Russia!

6. Tylor Says:
   September 19th, 2007 at 2:05 am

   While elusive is sometimes good “Au-teur” is a bit too obscure and does not seem to fit well with the chosen sub-title.

7. Leah Says:
   September 19th, 2007 at 10:02 am

   Regardless of the title…I am buying it…I think however, because your followers have known it so far as “Let Story Guide You”, I am afraid we’d always call the book LSGY instead of Au-teur. Maybe not?
   Thanks for wanting our feedback…that’s fun!

8. Takki Says:
   September 19th, 2007 at 11:27 am

   Hi, I am a journalist and writer, based in Germay. When I heard about the title “Let Story guide you” I thought - what a great title that is. I also know the writings by Robert McKee and think the concept of the book that Don has written is very appealing. I does not sound self-helpy at all (well, I am German so I don’t know about you folks in the US). Auteur sounds very French to me - as mysterious as the french language I tried to study at school. I am looking forward to read the book and writing a review about it - hopefully there will be more Don Miller books available in German (though I find the one thats out horribly translated). And let me know when Don Miller comes to Germany, so I can interview him.

9. Jeff Says:
   September 19th, 2007 at 11:29 am

   My vote is for “Au-teur.” Readers are drawn to you because you are provocative in your writing style, so why not be provocative in titling your book. Your books haven’t sold because of your titles, but because your fans are putting your books in the hands of others in their circles. If “Au-teur” adds weight to your objective for the book then who are we to object. Of course I liked the title “Prayer and the art of volkswagon maintenance” so what I say may be totally irrelevant :).

10. Kimberly Says:
    September 19th, 2007 at 12:14 pm

    hmmm…

    so many moons ago I avoided reading a little book named Prayer and the Art of Volkswagon Maintenance, despite recommendations from friends, because the title seemed contrived & hokey. years later, I greatly enjoyed Through Painted Deserts.

    I suppose that makes me a title snob, and I am ok with that. Pretentious or not, Auteur just doesn’t seem to draw me in - and it doesn’t flow with the existing sub-title. Perhaps if the tagline were changed (I’m dwelling… I haven’t come up with anything yet.)?

11. ktjane Says:
    September 19th, 2007 at 2:25 pm

    i agree with kimberly…auteur doesn’t flow with the sub-title. i like auteur, but didn’t know what it was until i looked it up. if i had come across the book randomly at the bookstore i probably would have passed right by it. i really like let story guide you. my vote is to stick with it & i don’t think it sounds self-helpy at all.

12. Julie Kirsten Says:
    September 19th, 2007 at 2:46 pm

    I love all the titles of your books so far, Don because they are subtle, yet they lack pretension. Since hearing the new book would be called Let Story Guide You, I haven’t once felt a sense of “self-help” from it, and personally think it fits your repertoire better than Auteur. People like your writing because it’s accessible, and a title like that, albeit creative and timeless is too obscure. If you are looking to reach the more philosophical crowd, then Auteur works, however I do agree that the subtitle doesn’t. I don’t really like the subtitle at all, but I would vote to keep the main title Let Story Guide You. All the best, and can’t wait to see you at the next reading!

13. Julie Kirsten Says:
    September 20th, 2007 at 1:20 am

    Another thought on the subtitle… To me, that is what makes it seem self help, like if you read the book then your life will make sense. But if it already does, then you don’t need to read it. I would think something like, ‘because real life isn’t fiction’ or ‘the fiction of real life’ (something along those lines) would be better. I guess any subtitle that starts with a why sounds like it’s offering an explanation, which sounds like self-help.

14. Aaron Lewis Says:
    September 20th, 2007 at 6:41 pm

    My initial reaction to Auteur was negative. If you try to block out the existence of the title “Let Story Guide You”, however, I think it does sound very appealing. It is mysterious, as described. Anybody here has been hearing “LSGY” for months so it’s a bit ingrained in our collective psyche.

    Go for it!

15. Aaron Lewis Says:
    September 20th, 2007 at 6:52 pm

    BTW, not sure how we can recommend a title/subtitle when we don’t know the content of the book! Would be happy to with an advanced copy…ha.

16. Julie Kirsten Says:
    September 21st, 2007 at 1:29 am

    I would agree not knowing all the content would make it difficult to know how appropriate the title is… From what I heard at the Belmont Foundation benefit, where Don did a reading from the book, it seemed like the idea is how different real life is from a story, yet we can learn a lot from those moments that seem like they could be a great scene from a book or movie… So I guess the only real expert on the title is Don!

17. Larry Shallenberger Says:
    September 21st, 2007 at 3:05 pm

    I think Don could get away with “Auter.” He’s built enough of a platform that the readership will follow along…

    I don’t some unknown could title the same book the same way.

    Go with Auter.

18. Tyler Says:
    September 23rd, 2007 at 1:12 am

    Like some others suggested, if you go with “Auteur” then I would suggest changing the subtitle, or not having one at all…that would definitely be elusive and mysterious.

    I’m also not sure how good it would be to have a title that most people aren’t exactly sure how to pronounce/aren’t sure which syllable to emphasize.

    So my vote is either:
    Let Story Guide You: Why Some Lives Make Sense and Other’s Dont.
    OR
    Auteur.

    Thanks for hearing our opinions.

19. Larry Shallenberger Says:
    September 23rd, 2007 at 8:01 am

    Or I could spell the word correctly… Auteur.

    ….

    Here’s a q: I know you don’t want this book tagged as a self-help book. But how would you rather have the book described? Not trying to be argumentative and insulting. I share an uneasiness with that genre, and “self-help” doesn’t fit in with the body of work you’ve created to date.

    I’ve heard your “Story” talk…but if this isn’t self-help what is it?

20. Sandra Says:
    September 23rd, 2007 at 2:52 pm

    “Auteur” carries a negative connotation for me as well. It takes me back to my film school days where the idea of Auteur brought up associations with “control freak” and “know-it-all,” and “smug.”

    Stick with the first choice! My $.02.

21. Olivia Says:
    October 4th, 2007 at 1:59 pm

    I think “Let the Story Guide You” sounds self-helpy and “Auteur” sounds like someone selling French dishes with their books. Not that there is anything wrong with French dishes. On the plus side, if you go with “Auteur”, the people who buy/persue your books will learn new vocabulary…and have their litarary horizons broadened…

22. Olivia Says:
    October 4th, 2007 at 2:09 pm

    Just a brief, addition - not that you’re looking for more titles - but “Living Story” might be a nice one…

23. kate Says:
    October 5th, 2007 at 4:38 am

    I like “auteur”. I was bummed to read someone else’s comment about broadening one’s vocabulary because I thought I was going to be clever and mention that I love learning new words and have now learned what “auteur” means.

    I will say “Let Story Guide You” on shelves here in Hawaii would have a different sort of connotation. Slang here, when one wants to describe people chatting about nothing in particular it is “talking story”. Not sure why I brought that up because I like “Auteur”.

    I can’t wait to read it!

24. jacqui Says:
    October 19th, 2007 at 8:30 am

    I like the Auteur “why some lives make sense and others don’t.” I would have had to look up the word to. Knowing Don Miller’s previous books, the great writer that he is , and also that he names his books in his style, like “blue like jazz” and “searching for God knows what”. This seems to fit his style , I say go for it and let all who see the word Auteur go back to our computers and google it!!! keep writing Don , from one of your biggest fans!! God Bless

25. belinda Says:
    October 29th, 2007 at 9:25 pm

    Well, I voted for “story” and then after I read everyone’s comments and I read the word “Auteur” over and over, it sounds right to me now. But, I’d read a book that Don co-wrote with Danielle Steele. I put his books in jails and send them to realitives.

26. Deborah Says:
    November 2nd, 2007 at 11:30 pm

    Hi Don!

    I’d drop the subtitle after the colon regardless of which way you go … it’s reminds me too much grad school. In other words, this title format draws from an academic paradigm… (Don’t get me wrong, I’ve been an academic since 1st grade when I decided to read every book on the bookshelf - it doesn’t seem to fit the style of this book as described).

    Personally, here’s what I think would be nice. Call it Auteur Allure. Drop the sub-title. Instead, have a photo or really great drawing of a sage-like character (maybe slightly wise, slightly endearingly silly) looking at a book … he’s holding the book upside down. The book title, therefore, appears upside down and says, ‘My story’ or ‘The Meaning of Life’ or ‘Story Sense’ or something along those lines …

    OR, you could really freak out the fundamentalist crowd. Call it Auteur Allure (I’m a fan of alliteration if you haven’t figured out by now) … have someone asking one of those eight-balls if their life story makes sense …the answer hovers between yes & no. Too much? Probably.

    Good luck – I’m almost finished reading Blue Like Jazz. It really touched my heart, thank you so much.

27. Ralph Sirvent Says:
    March 18th, 2008 at 10:17 am

    I am presently reading Prayer and the Art of Volkswagen Maintenance. I have already read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and they seem similar but yours glorifies God and for that I am thankful. I intend on skipping over the details of your trip to Oregon and focusing on what you have to say about the “Church culture”. That is extremely important. I have been on a similar search for God’s Presence. I found that The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence, a turning point in my shabby Christian life. I am spending more time with the Master every morning and throughout the day. Christianity must keep Christ in Christian hearts for that is its power. Going to church will not save you. As for the title of your new book. Perhaps Walking in the Path of the Master or Guided by His Light, would make better titles. Keep the focus on our Lord and you cannot fail to share the wisdom He has given you with others.
    We Christians will do well as long as we sense that there must be something more to life than going to church and being taught the Holy Bible for years on end. When we realize that we need to get up off our duff and begin to do His work, His way, then we find true happiness. It is a pleasure to serve the Master. How else can I put it. May the Lord bless your future undertakings.

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