| No matter how fantastic the short story you | | | | Although titles are not copyrighted, you |
| have written may be, without a catchy title | | | | don't want your story confused with another |
| the chances are good that an editor will not | | | | story of the same name. They can be similar |
| read it. The title is the most important part | | | | without being exact. |
| of the story as this is what first captures | | | | |
| the reader's attention. | | | | So how do you spark your creativity to come |
| | | | up with the perfect title for your story? The |
| A good title should grab the reader and make | | | | following are a handful of ways to awaken |
| them wonder what the story is about. A bad | | | | your muse.a. A short line of dialogue or a |
| title will probably cause the reader to skip | | | | memorable sentence from your story can |
| the story altogether. This holds true when | | | | sometimes be the right choice.b. A common |
| submitting your stories for publication. | | | | phrase or expression can often be found that |
| Editors are busy people and will pass on the | | | | sums up the theme of your story. Or use a |
| story, often without reading the first | | | | play on words, where only one element of the |
| sentence, if your title doesn't capture their | | | | phrase is changed.c. Borrow a line from an |
| interest. | | | | established work. Look at Shakespeare, the |
| | | | Bible or other well known book, song or |
| The title of your story will tell the editor | | | | movie.d. Use one your main characters' names. |
| a lot about your creativity. If your title is | | | | Think along the lines of 'Tom Sawyer' or |
| strong, an editor will be more likely to look | | | | Stephen King's 'Christine'.e. Likewise, your |
| at your story with a positive attitude. | | | | title can be your setting. Think of Brokeback |
| | | | Mountain, Lost in Space, etc...f. A good |
| So how do you come up with a good title? | | | | title can convey the main idea of your story. |
| Below is a small list of tips to help you | | | | 'Misery' or 'Legends of the Fall' are good |
| come up with an attention grabbing title. | | | | examples.g. Use word association to link |
| | | | together elements of the story.h. Allow the |
| 1. Keep it short, no more than four or five | | | | action to determine the name. By adding an |
| words. Even two or three word titles are | | | | 'ing' to the first word, you can come up with |
| generally more than enough. If you can come | | | | a catchy title. Some examples of this could |
| up with a single word that conveys something | | | | be Chasing Rainbows or Dreaming Life Away. |
| about your story, even better. | | | | |
| | | | Often, you can spend hours coming up with a |
| 2. Avoid boring titles. Don't name your story | | | | title only to have the editor change it after |
| something like 'The Monster' or 'The Sea' as | | | | accepting the story for publication. |
| these are dull and boring, and too | | | | Sometimes the new title will make little |
| generalized. Instead, try for something that | | | | sense to you. While you may think your title |
| evokes emotion. 'Under the Bed' would be a | | | | is perfect, the editor knows the |
| good title for a scary story and 'High Tides' | | | | publication's readers well and may think the |
| works better for a story based on the ocean. | | | | alternative is a better choice. And while |
| | | | this may irk your ego, knowing the story will |
| 3. Make sure your title fits your genre. | | | | be published is its own reward. |
| Don't name a whodunit with a title that could | | | | |
| be confused with a romance story. | | | | However you come up with the title to your |
| | | | short story, remember it is the first |
| 4. Make your title easy to remember. This is | | | | impression the editor will have about your |
| another reason to keep the title short. Use | | | | writing abilities. Like the logline to a |
| your creativity to come up with something | | | | screenplay or the first paragraph of a novel, |
| catchy that relates to the theme, the action, | | | | the title should represent the story they are |
| or the characters of the story. A memorable | | | | about to read. At the end of the day, you |
| title allows your readers to recommend your | | | | want the editor to remember your story and |
| story to others. | | | | place it in the 'accepted for publication' |
| | | | stack on their desk. |
| 5. Research the title you come up with. | | | | |