Titles: More Than an Afterthought

By Kyle Cushman, Vermont College of Union Institute and University

Titles for written work are often an afterthought. “Okay, this is done. Now what do I call it?” Yet the title is the first thing a reader sees. Like the decorative packaging of a box of herbal tea, the title lets the reader know what to expect. Herbal tea that has a bear in a nightcap on the box immediately lets the viewer know it’s a relaxing tea, best consumed before bed. Titles are like that: What will be the effect of this piece of writing on me as a reader? Will I be intrigued? Excited? Challenged? What will the mood be like? Will it be joyous, somber, mellow, or light? What will I experience as a reader? Will I learn something I didn’t know? Will I laugh? Will I cry? Will I get a sense of a new place? Will my opinion change?

Titles offer a tiny window through which the reader can look to see if a piece is worth reading or not. It’s the advertising that provides the sense of the thing. Thus, a good title should:

1. attract the reader’s interest
2. capture the spirit of the piece
3. indicate the subject at hand

When is the right time to create the title?

There is no correct time. A title can be created at any point in the writing process, including at the very beginning during the planning stage, or during the first draft, or during the final edit.

The point is not to leave it until the last minute and then tack on something that is flat, uninteresting, and ultimately not a good representation of the spirit of the work.

Some writers like to brainstorm a list of titles before they begin. They then choose the best one and use that to guide their focus as they move through the writing process. Other writers wait until the piece is finished and then read through the whole piece, highlighting key phrases or interesting ideas that might be worked into a title. Still others might get an idea for a good title in the middle of writing as the focus of the piece becomes clear.

How do I create a good title?

1. Brainstorm a list. At any point in the writing process, take 5-10 minutes to brainstorm a list of possible titles. Write as fast as you can. Write as many as you can. Don’t second-guess yourself, even if some sound silly. The point is to free up your thinking and let the ideas blossom. When you’ve got a list, set it aside for awhile. Then, look at it again and circle 3-5 titles that jump out at you. Narrow your choices down to two. Then, pick the best title, or ask the opinion of a friend or colleague.
2. Pay attention to titles in your environment. What are titles that catch your attention? Why do they catch your attention? Check out newspaper and magazine headlines, or go to a bookstore or library and walk through the stacks. Keep a list of effective titles in a notebook for inspiration. Get to know what effective titles look and sound like.
3. When you have a working draft of a paper, sit down with a highlighter and read through the piece. Highlight any key words, phrases, or sentences that could be title material. Look for phrases that are unique, intriguing, or connected with the main idea of the piece. Look for words and phrases that capture the tone or mood of the piece. Write these key words and phrases on a clean sheet of paper. Move words around and try different combinations.

Taking the time to find an effective title is rewarding as it brings the whole piece together. Tacking a title on as an afterthought is a bit like taking the time to bake a really tasty cake from scratch and then slathering a generic brand store-bought frosting on in a hurry. Send your “cake” out into the world knowing the home-made frosting on the top is going to invite your reader to take a bite!

Questions or comments? Contact the author at kyle.cushman@tui.edu.