The evolution of an idea (and title)

Nearly spat my tea out.

Always thought that would make a good title for something. A brand name for postcards and tea towels? A book of gull cartoons?

That was 16 years ago.

I’ve been a bit of a gull watcher ever since.

Been proper mugged by one as well.

I've often wondered what’s in their heads. When they’re eyein’ us up for our chips. When they’re starin’ out to sea.

There’s a book in that, I thought.

Chip Stealing Bastards of Cornwall.

That was the title I wanted. What stopped me? Maybe it would offend. Maybe it would attract attention for the wrong reasons. Either way, I never forgot it.

I toyed with other names. The Chip Thief – but a chip shop already owned the domain. Lazarus Stevenson Seagull – but that felt like I was trying too hard.

Then my writing tutor, reading an early draft, mentioned one of her favourite books: The Art of Racing in the Rain. A dog story. As a joke, I renamed my draft The Art of Stealing Chips in the Drizzle.

But Cornwall doesn’t have drizzle. We have mizzle.

And the more I thought about it, the more it fitted. Mizzle is for those grey days when life isn’t quite going to plan.

So the title stuck.

The Art of Stealing Chips in the Mizzle