The Place For My Writers Notes

Original posting 11 January 2010

A.k.a. Titles

Writers DIgest, June 2008, pages 71-72, has an article by Steve Almond with the title "Titles." It starts out with a little reflection from teaching writing fiction, where Steve says usually the day that people turn in stories for the first workshop, someone apologizes for not having a title. And usually a chorus of other people join in, with mention of how much they hate titles. At which point Steve apparently goes into his rant about how cool titles are!

And a key note of that is "a story without a title is like a doll without a head!" And then he gives his lecture on titles, with the title, "Who wants to play with a headless doll? No one, that's who."

So what's a title for? Well, Steve says they serve three purposes. First, they introduce the story's crucial images and ideas. Second, they initiate the rhetorical pitch of the prose. And third, they act as an inducement to keep reading. Now, all titles don't do all three, but the best titles catch them all.

Then he looks at some famous titles, and how they do on these three points. E.g. The Catcher in the Rye, Pride and Prejudice, and Lord of the Flies. But... don't be fooled, titles don't always come easy.

Good titles are organic, not imposed. They should grow out of the story, the vernacular that's used, the language and imagery and ideas.

But... avoid using a character's name as a title. Don't just recycle the last line, or something -- make the title original. Beware the pun, or the famous quote.

Think about details, or bits of dialogue. Look for images that grab you, and make a hook for the story. What's at the heart of your story? What kind of promise do you want to make to the reader?

And the sidebar has some exercises just for fun...

1. Take a look at your most recent work. Underline phrases that resonate for you. Try them as titles. Do they change the way you envision the story? How do they measure up to Steve's three points -- key image, rhetorical intro, and keep reading?
2. Make a list of your favorite novels and/or stories. Look at those titles. How do they work? What do they promise?
3. Consider what expectations -- in terms of plot, theme and tone -- the following titles provoke: The Day I Became a Virgin; Blue Falls; First Month, Last Month and Security; Sacrifice Fly; Sylvia Plath is My Love Goddess
4. Gather any old stories lying around, particularly ones that employ puns, famous allusions or character names. Now think about how to retitle them.

So, there you have it. Don't just expect readers to get interested in "Untitled Work #9" -- put your titles to work.

And write.