My book on becoming homeless is about 60% written and I am asking for some help from Kossacks in two areas:
- Choosing a title, and
- Any personal experiences with being homeless that you want to relate and possibly have included in the book.
Title
I've never been very good at creating titles, headlines, slogans and so on. I suppose if I were, I might have gone into advertising and made a fortune rather than becoming a journalist and writer.
I have come up with three possible titles and I added a "poll" to this post where you can vote. But if you have any other possibilities, I'd love to hear them. Just click on the "Other" option and then either post a comment or send a private note to me with your idea.
The three I have come up with are:
1. Suddenly Homeless: My Walk-On Part In America's Immorality Play
2. Diary Of A Homeless Man
3. The Homeless American: A Story Of The Disappearing Middle Class
Personal Experience
From comments posted at my diary series on being homeless – which is at 25 articles and counting – many of you have written a bit about your own experience being homeless, or the experience of family members and friends. I've done a lot of reporting where I have spoken with people in the same boat as me, and am looking for more anecdotes and stories to include.
Specifically, I am interested in hearing from you about your experiences in these areas:
1. How you became homeless, and for how long did you live on the street.
2. How did you earn a living before becoming homeless, and what do you do now to get money?
3. How and where did you live – at a shelter, in a car, with friends or family, etc.
4. What was the most difficult part of coping with homelessness?
5. Did you ever feel that you had to compromise any core beliefs in order to survive?
6. Anything else you might want to relate.
I would like to use your full name, or at least your first name, and the city where you live. I understand if you don't want to put your life story in the comment section so, again, feel free to send a private note to me.
Thank you for your help and please remember to vote in the poll.