Crafting a Killer Title

Since I’m between drafts on my novel-in-progress, I’ve been working on a lot of short stories lately. Besides honing my writing skills, the experience has given me new appreciation for an oft-overlooked element of the short story: the title.

It may be the smallest part of the story, but the title gives the biggest first impression. And while a poor title probably won’t nix your chances at publication, a killer title can give you an edge over the competition.

Titles are tricky. A decent one must, at minimum, hook the reader’s attention. A better one will also provide a flavor of the story’s genre, tone, and style. A truly killer title will provide some added meaning or a new way for the reader to look at the story. That’s a lot for a single line—sometimes a single word—to accomplish.

When I’m lucky, the perfect title swoops in from out of nowhere, and I know right away it’s the one. But 99 percent of the time, I have to work hard to dig up a good title and polish it till it shines. Here are some strategies I use in the digging process. (Although I’m focusing on short stories, many of these also apply to titles of novels, nonfiction, poems, and other works.)

Zoom out and in.

Look at the big picture of your story. If you had to condense it to a paragraph, or a sentence, how would you describe it? What’s the point of the story? What is it about? Then put a magnifying glass to your story. What details stand out to you? What characters, objects, or words are particularly meaningful? These often provide good title fodder.

Find the connection.

Most stories have both an external plot (what happens) and an internal one (how the character grows or changes). Can you find a parallel between the two? Is there a title that evokes both plots?

Mine for meaning.

Sift through your story and jot down key themes and symbols, meaningful metaphors, and anything else that highlights the story’s underlying meaning. These will often spark a great title—one that is significant to the story, without being heavy-handed.

Look for killer lines.

Read through your story and highlight any lines that strike you. It could be a bit of dialogue that foreshadows the story’s ending, or a line of description that hints at the story’s central theme. It could simply be a line that catches your attention, maybe because it offers an unexpected idea or poses a question. Many a great title has been snipped directly from the story itself.

Get inspired.

Skim through the titles on your bookshelf, or open an anthology and read the table of contents. See what techniques other authors have used in their titles. Think about which titles appeal most to you, and why they catch your interest. Then try applying what you’ve learned to your own work.

Go with your gut.

When the title feels right, it probably is. If you’re torn between multiple contenders, run them by friends, family, and critique partners to see which grabs their attention the most. When you finally find that perfect title, it’s a magical feeling—the cherry atop your story’s ice cream sundae. Happy titling!