 Short Stories: May 17, 2023 Issue [#11963] |
This week: What's in a Title? Edited by: Lilli 🧿 ☕  
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"There is more treasure in books than in all the pirates' loot on Treasure Island..."
~ Walt Disney
"I think Hemingway's [book] titles should be awarded first prize in any contest. Each of them is a poem, and their mysterious power over readers contributes to Hemingway's success. His titles have a life of their own, and they have enriched the American vocabulary."
~ Sylvia Beach |
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I think there's a trick to coming up with a great title. We really want something that's going to catch a reader's attention, but we don't want it over the top either. Selecting a perfect title may seem stressful, but the process can actually be fun.
This week let's look at a few ideas to help with the process!
 The title with two meanings.
Before I actually start to read a book, I consider the title. As I read the book I often catch myself considering the title and then again at the end of the book. Many successful titles have hidden layers of meaning as they’re read, so they pack an extra punch when reflected upon later on. For example, these titles grabbed me and became so much more meaningful after I finished these books: Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah, The Color of Water by James McBride, and No Friend but the Mountains by Behrouz Boochani.
Don't give the plot away.
If you’re writing a mystery or a suspense thriller, make sure you don’t give away the ending with the title. You may also want to avoid using lines from your story as a title. The trick is to lure in the reader without giving away too much information.
Make sure the title fits the story.
Sometimes we start writing a story with a promising title in mind. Our imagination doesn't always conform to our expectations, so we need to consider whether the title still fits after the story has been completed.
Here are a few formulas for selecting a title:
1. Adjective + Noun
Mad Money by Jodi Picoult
The Fine Print by Lauren Asher
2. Person's Job or Role
The Housemaid by Frieda McFadden
Rebel by Beverly Jenkins
The Ferryman by Justin Cronin
3. Use a number.
The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
Seven Days in June by Tia Willaims
4. Use words that relate to the genre.
How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix
A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
The Lost Victim by Jennifer Hunter
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