Is Your Title Compelling?

Short Story Writing Tips:

Your title is your selling tool. It's the first thing readers will scan and contemplate whether to read your story.

What your title's job is, it has to lure the readers into your story ? it has to be so compelling that they won't even have a chance to ask themselves, 'Will this story interest me?'

Their eyes will glide over the title and into the story before they realize it. The action will be instant.

What's a compelling title? It's one that instantly grabs our attention because it's?

• Intriguing

• Interesting

• Catchy

• Provocative

• Amusing

Your title may not be all these things but it will have to be at least one. There should be something about it that grabs your readers.

So how do you write compelling titles?

Start by learning from the masters.

Learn from those whose articles and stories are published in newspapers, magazines and, in particular, pay close attention how the writers of Readers Digest go about it. They have been luring readers into their written material for years. They know their stuff.

Here are a few examples of titles taken from Readers Digest?.

• Did I really need to know that?

• Who is Jack Kevorkian, Really?

• Against the flames

• Who Killed Margaret Wilson?

Do you have any newspapers or magazines handy, or even better, a Readers Digest magazine? If you do, note down a few titles, then analyze why those particular titles grabbed you.

If you don't have any magazines handy, take a look at: www.amazon.com (in the books section.) See what titles are listed there. Or look at your bookshelf.

Compare them to your title.

Is your title compelling?

If you find that it could be better, here's an effective way that will ensure you find the best title for your story?

Read through your story and on a piece of paper jot down sentences and/or words that appealed to you as you read. Jot down as many as you come across ? Don't worry about editing them for now. Just note down all that grabbed you.

Then look at your characters. Is there something special about them, a word you could use in a title that will grab readers' attention?

Now with the list you have gathered, think about what you are saying in your story. Start crossing out the words and sentences that aren't directly relevant to it.

Select a few words and look through a thesaurus for a nicer sounding synonym.

Choose the most appropriate group of words for the title.

Remember? your title has to be one or a combination of the below?

• Intriguing

• Interesting

• Catchy

• Provocative< /p>

• Amusing

About The Author

Besides his passion for writing, Nick Vernon runs an online gift site where you will find gift information, articles and readers' funny stories. Visit http://www.we-recommend.com

---

6 Ways to Toot Your Own Writing Horn

You know you've got writing talent. Others enjoy your work... Read More

Why Every Freelancer Should Have A Web Site

"Do I send samples, a media kit, or just the... Read More

Publish Your Novel on the First Try

Rejection. This scary word plagues virtually every writer this side... Read More

Get Your Writing Reviewed by Major Publications for Free

All Writers need the press, especially new writers. As a... Read More

Write With Passion: 4 Steps To Emotionally Charge A Nonfiction Article

You have just completed a draft of an article. It... Read More

Ten Ways to Get Cheap (and Free) Magazine Samples

1 - Join a reading or writing group. Ask members... Read More

The Cost of Being a Writer

You are the only one who knows what being a... Read More

Important Points of Fiction

Fiction manuscripts receive feedback that addresses and scores:· The theme... Read More

New York Code Orange Jaisini New Art Series

The creativity of Jaisini is not designed to be preaching... Read More

6 Ways to Jump-Start Your Writing Day

1. PLAY A GAME LIKE SOLITAIRE....for half an hour or... Read More

Writer?s Web Resources

The Internet has truly revolutionized the careers of writers worldwide.... Read More

A Single Technique

Writing is hard work, and like all hard work, one... Read More

3 Tips to Achieve Your Writing Goals

1. Make your goals achievable.By achievable, we mean realistic and... Read More

8 Quick Tips on Creating Vivid, Memorable Characters

These 8 tips on using characters in your stories will... Read More

How to Build A Success Freelance Career (Part 1)

In the current job market, many editorial workers have turned... Read More

Recommendation Letters Demystified

There is a lot of confusion about recommendation letters.Recommendation letters... Read More

Greatness

[When I was a nineteen-year-old high school student and budding... Read More

Masquerading As Novel ~ Can Author?s Work Convey Important Perceptions?

While novels do not usually attempt to convey concepts about... Read More

Have You Plotted Your Story Before Writing It?

Creative Writing Tips ?The writer, who doesn't have the time... Read More

A Plan

All writers should use a plan whether written or reflected.... Read More

Writing as a Gift

What am I supposed to give Anthony as a wedding... Read More

Its All About YOU!

The Hottest Word on the WebDid you know marketing people... Read More

Idea-Mining for Writers, 102

As many authors are fond of stating, "Ideas are all... Read More

How to Pitch a Story

Ever wonder why we refer to convincing an editor a... Read More

What You May Not Learn In College... (Part Two)

If you become a writer for any publication, private business,... Read More

Is Now the Time for a Play about the War in Iraq?

Everone knows that comedy is mostly about timing. If you... Read More

How to Catch the Writing Bug

----------------------------------------------------------Permission is granted for the below article to forward,reprint, distribute,... Read More

How To Co-Publish For Profits!

The Benefits of Co-Publishing There are a number of publishers,... Read More

Get Published: The Nuts and Bolts of English, and How to Impress a Publisher (2)

The tiniest things can be so useful when you come... Read More

The Writers Identity: Exploring the Writer Within

Les Edgerton writes in his book, Finding Your Voice, that... Read More

A Writers Tools

If you are like most writers, you're constantly searching for... Read More

Creative Problem-Solving: Following Your Stream of Consciousness

Having trouble finding a solution to a nagging problem? Try... Read More

Writing with a Sense of Adventure

We've all been told that we need to use all... Read More