A diligent researcher has recently unearthed some original working titles for books that were later published under more familiar titles.  This person, who has chosen to remain anonymous, revealed only that he or she was inspired by an episode of Seinfeld. Here is the exact passage quoted in the introduction to the list of titles:

Jerry: Hey, you know what? I read the most unbelievable thing about Tolstoy the other day. Did you know the original title for War and Peace was War—What Is It Good For?

Elaine: Ha ha.

Jerry: No, no.. I’m not kidding, Elaine, it’s true. His mistress didn’t like the title and insisted he change it to War and Peace.

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So there you are, beginning to read a new novel, or write a new story, and you ask yourself just how much sweetness you want. If you ask me, I’m going to answer “a [...]
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When I first saw that insurance commercial where the sophisticated caveman, upset by Geico’s slogan (“So easy a caveman can do it”), reminds modern [...]
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On Wednesday I had the opportunity to talk with middle school students at Island Pacific Academy (IPA) in Kapolei as part of their Career Day. Thank you, Cami Nih [...]
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One fast desktop computer with all-in-one printer: $1,750. One ream of paper for the printer: $2.85.  One cup of freshly brewed Kona coffee next to the computer: priceless.

This is my writing world. Throw in some good music coming from the computer speakers and I’m ready to write.  At this moment I’m listening to “Java Jive,” first from the Ink Spots, and then the Manhattan Transfer version.  “I like coffee, I like tea, I like the java jive and it likes me.”  The tempo slow and easy, telling you to take your time, enjoy the journey, don’t get too buzzed.

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I sometimes ask my piano students what parts of the body we use to play the piano. Their answers begin with the obvious one (fingers, hands) and then move on t [...]
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A man and a woman sat across from each other at a corner table in a small neighborhood restaurant. Each one held a script and studied it, not speaking or looking [...]
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If I watch one more rerun of Seinfeld I swear I’m going to turn into one of the characters. I think I’ll be Jerry.  He seems the least neurotic.  Kramer is the happiest in the group, but being Cosmo Kramer would be risky business most days.

George and Elaine? Really? Don’t even go there, although the time that Elaine got to be boss for a while and talked on the phone while she smoked a cigar with her feet up on the desk is memorable.

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Our guest blogger today is New York Times bestselling author and Kauai resident Jill Marie Landis.  Welcome, Jill! --------------------------------------- After reading Michael' [...]
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Here’s the third question that helps us understand how readers and writers connect.  Earlier we looked at the connecting power of humor and laughter, as well as a common concern by readers and writers for characters in pain.

Now we come to poison and dying, and at a time like this I wish I were a mystery writer.  Agatha Christie loved to kick off her mysteries with a good old-fashioned poisoning.  Her 80 mystery novels have sold about four billion copies in 45 languages. They say that everybody loves a good mystery, and apparently everybody also loves a good poisoning.

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