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Format: Title Formation

by Pastelsky
Tags   you   writing   tips   help   general   writingtips   | Report Content

A A A A

 

"Titles are not only important, they are essential for me. I cannot write without a title."

 

 

1. Write your story first. If you lack time, finish at least a single sentence or paragraph. Afterwards, scan through your work and find words that promote your plot, conflict or theme; it may be a vital phrase. Then, put them together and change their tense and usage if necessary. 
 
 
 
Examples.
 
 
- The endless summer revealed more than they had wanted (Possible title: The Endless Summer).
 
 
- The reflection on the puddle of water revealed the man whom she had dreaded to find. Anxiety crept up to her as she took several cautious steps backwards. It was not yet time to face him. No, it was never time. Flight was inevitable now (Possible Titles: Cautious Collision, Inevitable Flight, Anxious Steps). 
 
 
 

 

 

2. Make your story's main points (character's name, main conflict, main theme, etc.) your title. 

 

 

Examples.

 

- Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Montgomery. Here, the main character and place of the novel make up the title.

 

- Man's Search for Meaning by Victor E. Frankl. The main theme of this Holocaust book is the process of realizing one's purpose. It was effectively made into a title.

 

- Holes by Louis Sachar. Part of the conflict is when the main character literally had to dig countless of holes as his punishment for "stealing." Even the simplest word can become an eye-catching title.

 

 

 

 

3. Use elements of poetry, especially similes, alliteration (the repetition of consonants) and assonance (the repetition of vowels, a, e, i, o, u). 

 

 

Examples of similes: Like a Tiger, As Fierce as He.

Examples of alliteration: Respecting Ray's Resolve, Fighting for Freedom, Silencing Her Suffering.

Examples of assonance: Accordingly Accepted, Endangered Environment, Undeniable Uncertainty.

 

 

Rules to Remember

 

1. Do not capitalize prepositions, articles and coordinating conjunctions. This isn't a strict rule, but it is a formal one.

2. 6 is the prefered maximum of words (around 20-40 characters).

3. Use a simple vocabulary. The easier to understand, the easier to remember, the better.

4. Do not add quotation marks and periods to your title. Exclamation points and question marks are allowed if thye are used at the appropriate times. 

 

 

Remember, I am always open to questions and suggestions!

Credits: Daily Writing Tips, Wikihow, Writing-World

 

 

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Comments

Comments are moderated. Keep it cool. Critical is fine, but if you're rude to one another (or to us), we'll delete your stuff. Have fun and thanks for joining the conversation!

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thirtysehunds  on says about chapter 5:
thank you very much for the angst writing tips. I have an idea for angst and till now I've written only fluff and basically nothing serious (in AFF) so now I want to try angst but had no idea what should I include or point out more in the plot and characters. It's a good thing that this tips exist here *bows* ♥

ctmgonzaga  on says about chapter 9:
WOW this is great! Thank you for this. :) I really appreciate it ^^

MarkTuan  on says about chapter 9:
Woah this is useful! :)

unfamiliar  on says about chapter 9:
wow thank you!
this is very useful < 3
especially brainstorming and this one ヽ(；▽；)ノ
sobs i'm glad i opened this story (ᅌᴗᅌ* )

ChanRiB  on says about chapter 9:
Can you make chapter about how to make sentences more exciting?

I would really like it if you could write about how to make 'he said, she said' more exciting. Because its hard for me to write some thing better than he said when im stuck.
e.g. 'I don't care about you anymore. It was you who just... well.. you know...' she said.

please put up a chapter for that. I need your help.

-iucunda  on says about chapter 7:
Not trying to offend you, but I think saying "5Ws and 1H" may make more sense than "6Ws". I'm just putting that out there. Though, I do understand where you can get that from.

coffeeplease  on says:
absolutely useful~

yingjumeihua  on says:
How about writing a genre that most FFO users (I think we usually write about bullying or romance) don't normally write like action, mystery, etc.

--dalnim  on says:
This is a very useful guide for writing. Thanks! ^w^

-sarang  on says:
Affies? c;

// The Swan Corner Writing Tips!

http://www.fanficoverflow.com/story/view/719/the-swan-corner-writing-tips-tools-for-success-writing-writingtips

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