Writing Lessons & Advice: Story Titles

“What’s in a name, that which we call a rose by any other would smell as sweet?”

In this well-known line from Romeo and Juliet, Juliet tries to argue that the Montague name of her beloved Romeo should mean nothing in the grand scheme of their potential relationship. While it is indeed one roadblock in the conflict of their ambitions to marry, a name is nonetheless something fairly important--at least when it comes to written work.

Above all else, the name of written work, or a title, is a first impression of a published story. It’s the first aspect that will hook a reader’s attention. Think about browsing a bookstore or library. The titles are typically what you notice first. If one piques enough of your curiosity, you’ll at least gloss over any summative content on hand to learn more about the story. If you’re still interested after that point, you’ll likely proceed to check out with it. Also, a title that’s memorable enough can help with sales, publicity, popularity, and things like that. A title that captures interest and stays in memory is more easily searched, shared, sold, or maybe even franchised if you want to go that far.

The title serves a few more key purposes. One being just a simplified way to reference it. Calling the aforementioned play Romeo and Juliet is easier than calling it something to the effect of a romantic tragedy about two teenagers who marry and kill themselves written by Willliam Shakespeare. Building off that, a title sets apart a story. If you’ve studied Shakespeare for an extended amount of time, you likely realize he has written many romance and tragedy stories. So a title helps further differentiate one story from another, much like how the rose delineates a specific flower from the rest of plant life.

A title even summarizes some aspect of a written work when done right. This can be pretty self-explanatory in some cases: Romeo and Juliet involves characters named Romeo and Juliet. MacBeth’s central character is MacBeth, King of Scotland. In The Taming of the Shrew, unpleasant Katherina--the shrew-- is “tamed” into a more agreeable marriage partner.

So, how do you make a good first impression with a story title? Here are some suggestions from myself and other experienced writers:

Name story for significant elements, like characters, theme, settings, etc.

Examples: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling (significant character), Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (significant themes), I Heart New York by Lindsey Kelk (significant setting)

Play on the “W questions”, like who or what the story is about? Where or when it takes place? Why should it be read?

Examples: Forrest Gump by Winston Groom (who) The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (what), Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell (when) The If I Run Series by Terri Blackstock (what/why)

Incorporate poetry or literary devices

Examples: One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish or The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss, Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell

Relate to the intended genre

Examples: Stephen King titles like Pet Sematary, Sleeping Beauties and The Dark Tower books easily invoke their ties to supernatural mystery and horror while titles in Bernard Corwell’s The Last Kingdom series allude to historical thriller.

Side notes: A lot of non-fiction can follow these rules too. Their main topic just needs to be clear somewhere between the main heading or byline. Examples: ADHD Does Not Exist: The Truth about Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder by Richard Saul, I'll Never Change my Name: An Immigrant's American Dream from Ukraine to the USA to Dancing With The Stars by Valentin Chmerkovskiy, Tying the Knot: A Premarital Guide to a Strong & Lasting Marriage by Rob Green

Informative/educational material often includes reference-related terms in the title to help emphasize their purposes as well. Examples: (reference terms emphasized) Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing by Mignon Fogarty; The Fruit Gardener's Bible: A Complete Guide to Growing Fruits and Nuts in the Home Garden by Lewis Hill and Leonard Perry; The Copyright Handbook: What Every Writer Needs to Know by Stephen Fishman; The Writer's Idea Thesaurus by Fred White; Classical Mythology A to Z: An Encyclopedia of Gods & Goddesses, Heroes & Heroines, Nymphs, Spirits, Monsters, and Places by Annette Giesecke and Jim Tierney