I agree with Ramona’s comment.
I was on a site that listed at least 50+ blogs. I clicked on “37 Days” because the name intrigued me. I stayed, and read, because of the message. Congratulations and wishes for huge success!

the title “37 Days” intrigued me so much so that i read the intro page and bookmarked your site immediately.

I think Oprah would appreciate that.

Hi Patti!
Fight for 37!
I found you during my own battle with cancer–and I keep coming back because…you write what my heart aches for..joy, belly laughs and real tears. Your writing matters deeply to me. After spending my days with adolescents (and coming home to raise my own sons) I wangle a quiet spot to find 37–because you help me remember what is important.
And hey—were the ornithologists of the world disappointed because “Bird by Bird” was not about our avian species? (Note to publisher–Patti’s readers..READ and think!
Cheers Patti!
And thanks again for the Wangari note–I had the privilege
of listening to her speak at Syracuse last year..
Sincerely, Ann

First of all, congratulations. What an exciting accomplishment.

I, too, am a big fan of “37 Days” as the title. How about: 37 Days: Essays on a Well-Lived Life?

“Why 37 Days?” This would be my title.

If the publisher is stepping back in “37 Days” because it requires some explanation, let’s be curious and ask why and the book will be the answer.
No doubt I will honor in the foreword your precious drawing that introduces your blog with the actual question: Why 37 days?

Congratulations!! In the aforementioned spirit of brainstorming…

– Authentic living: essays on the meaning of 37 days
– Authentic living: the joys of 37 days
– 37 days: the joy of… [help, someone, please generate some conclusions to this one… :)]
– Love, life, and reflections on fleeting moments: 37 essays on intentional living
– Filling our days with grace: 37 inspirations
– The poetry of life: stories of 37 days for authentic living

*My thought was the 37 doesn’t have to lead off the title necessarily.
* One thing to think about if you would start with 37 is how it would be alphabetized — it is a number or is it a “T” for thirty?
* One value of the 37 is, as others suggest, it may generate curiosity and for me, I think that works really well in the sub-title. But, as you can see I played with it as the lead title too… :)

Hope this helps. All my best!

Congratulations! I wanted say: Pick ’37 Days’, but then I read on. I also like the ‘Authentic’ suggestions Kris made in the previous post. The words fleeting and grace also embrace the concept of 37 Days well. So I’ve nothing really to add, other than ‘Go Get It, Patti’, you seriously deserve this and all the things that will follow.

37 Days drew me in over a year ago, and I’m sure it will work with a book as well. Most of us (I think) aren’t JUST intrigued by titles, we pick up the book to see what it is about.
This is why I hate marketing and advertising I guess-:)

Me again with a more thoughtful comment, since my old brain just turned into fangirl mush when you mentioned Shojo Beat.

I wonder if Jeffrey Yamaguchi had a similar problem when “52 Projects” was published. And what else could “The 1000 Journals Project” book be called? Or “PostSecret”? Having your blog name in the book title matters significantly – book selling strategy be damnned. It’s important to have that continuity when readers of the book search for your blog or link others to it. It’s a short title – it’s easy to remember. All you need is a well written blurb on the back cover to explain its significance. If anything, I think that a well designed book cover is more important than a title in catching the eye of casual readers in bookstores. But that’s not what will sell this book – it will be word-of-mouth promotion by bloggers on the Internet.

Oh, I think the book should be called 37 Days. It’s intriguing and makes people want to figure it out (it worked for me and lots of previous commenters!). I do like the “authentic” and “intentional” suggestions above – maybe for a subtitle.
37 Days: Intentional Life (or Living)
37 Days: Every Day Matters
I’m just thrilled there will be a book, period! Please come to Nashville on your book tour…

Intentional Living

Or

37 Days: Intentional Living

Because it’s what you are about.

Now let me know when you come to Montclair, NJ’s Watchung Booksellers, so I can finally meet you.

I tend to take the blogs that shout at me and make me think and put them in a special file for future access.

Why not call the book THOUGHT PROVOKING IDEAS FROM 37 DAYS?

If it needs amplification, you could add “Make a difference in your world, your family, your personal life.”

I’m with everyone else. Stick with “37 days – what would you be doing today if you only had 37 days to live?” I think it piques ones interest. It is very specific to the message of your essays and it is catchy. I for one like short, catchy titles – I also like ones that ramble on such as “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time”. I am certain that once the story behind 37 days is on the front jacket flap, the book will be in their hands on the way to the check-out.

I liked what Ann Moore said about doing your own exercise in what 37 Days means to you. Of course you write about that in Oh so many ways, but have you asked yourself the questions with this book in mind? I often ask my students to do a sentence completion exercise, and these are two of the questions:
I see myself as . . .
Others perceive me as . . .

I vote for 37 Days as the title.

37 days: “One wild and precious life”
37 days: “Write like hell”
37 days: “All the time in the world”
37 days: “I’m beginning here”
37 days: No regrets
37 days: Don’t look back

I looked at your words and the first four suggestions are lifted out of your explanation of why “37 days”; the last two is what your 37 days means to me.

I agree with everyone – keep 37 days – in fact if you haven’t already, trademark it, register the brand of “37 days” – it’s yours and we clearly all love it. It means so much to all of us. Keep it tight! It wouldn’t be the same if it wasn’t 37 days. I want a t-shirt, a travel mug, a tote bag, a writer’s notebook – i’ll come and help you build these at your kitchen table!!

How do we order your book?!

If your book is longer than 37 sections or days from the best o, it would be just be confusing for new print reader.

Want something catchy, and accurate and summative.

So brainstorming…
Act Up for Change
Act Out Change
A Bigger Love
Stay Real, Feel Play
Love > Fear*
Heart Mutters Matter: Being Better to Self
Living on Purpose*
Eyes on the Pulse of Joy
1 Package: Life, Inspiration Included
Glory your mourning
Important First, Worry Later
Eyes Open Anyway
Direct Experience*

A lot have verbs which might be too strongly worded. The title is the first level of attraction, the first hook or draw. What effect or answer do you want to give?

blog you might like Patti http://fromsmilerwithlove.blogspot.com/

I have read through all 33 of these comments, and Kristine’s is easily the best in my opinion!

So, rather than offer some half-baked idea of my own, I’m going with the best:

If you had
37 days
to live

…with “If you had” and “to live” in smaller font size.

I agree with the many comments referencing the importance of “37 days” and the ease with which the book-flap text could explain to the browser what the heck it all means. Plus, the title suggested by Kristine starts that explanation process right away.

37 Days to Live
A Guide to Intentional Living

There is intention, reason and meaning in Bill’s title suggestion that convey all and explains what 37 days is about.

p.s.

as someone who has spent much time in Holistic / Spiritual / Intentional / New Age/ Ancient Widom centered book stores, fun alternative book stores and even corporate book stores, the title 37 Days and a great graphic design would pull me in. Please avoid the common self- help book sounding names that turn many, many of us off.

Stand your ground with the Publisher. It is your work, not theirs. They get the opportunity to profit off of it if they treat it and you right.

I’m a believer in the visual message conveying the intention, so I like the different font sizes suggested in

If you had
37 DAYS
to live:
subtitle

And I’m not wild about taming the title by explaining it.

If selling books is the goal, I’m a believer in viral marketing. We will all tell all of our friends – and that’s aLOT of (book-buying) people! Given your fan base, you could create a book signing tour simply by asking who could/would host you in one of their local bookstores.

Then there’s Oprah….and the big booksellers…and keyword search engines…and awards for new works by an unknown author (in the 37 Days field anyway).

I echo those who support keeping 37 Days as the lead, as well as those who ask what is your intention. You can do good/be good any number of ways.

Go for it!

I’m just catching up as I’ve been away for awhile…
I haven’t taken the time to read all of the comments, but I, too, was intrigued by “37 Days” and think it must be part of the title. 37 Days: Dieing to live.
??
love love love your blog, Patti, and can’t wait for the book!! what a wonderful gift it will be!