Summary:
Your short story´s title is the very first thing that your readers will see. This 500-word article gives you tips for choosing a title that will give your readers the best-possible impression of your work.

Details or Sample:
Your short story´s title is the very first thing that a reader will see. Though the actual story is, of course, the most important part, a great title is what makes the first impression. Choosing the perfect name can improve your chances of winning the short story competition, being published in the magazine, or impressing your readers.

Here are some guidelines for selecting a title. These will help your work stand out, be recognized, and - hopefully - succeed in the market.

* Avoid generic titles, as these are easy to forget and do not make great first impressions. "The Rain," for example, does not stand out. However, a title like "Raining in Miami" can attract positive attention. Try to be descriptive when you choose your story´s name, as this will add to its uniqueness.

* Don’t make your title too complicated, either. You want your readers to remember the name – especially if your readers are short-story judges or magazine editors. Avoid rarely-used, long words when you name your story. Similarly, you should try to keep the name fairly short. A four-word title that is creative and unique is far more effective than a twelve-word title that is full of long words.

* Make the title reflect the story´s theme. You should not mislead or confuse readers with a title that does not really have much to do with the main points of your story. If, for example, you´ve used rain as a metaphor - and your characters spend some time playing in the rain - then you should seriously consider using "Rain" somewhere in your title. But if the only mention of rain occurs in one very brief sentence, you might want to think about a different name.

* Consider the story’s genre when you choose a title. If you’ve written a romance story, you shouldn’t use a science-fiction type of title. Readers are going to see your title and expect the genre to match. Misleading them from the very beginning will jar them out of the universe that you’ve painstakingly created on the paper.

* Don´t use clichés. If you´ve heard the phrase many, many times before, then you should try your hardest to think of a better title. You want to impress readers with the uniqueness of your story, so giving your work a fresh title is best.

* Make the title fit your story´s tone. If you´ve written a very serious story, then you might want to avoid silly puns when you choose your name. The title is part of the story, so make them work together.

You might not be able to think of a good story title at first. Don´t give up on your work if this happens. Show your story to trusted friends and first readers. Ask them to suggest titles that might work. Sometimes, a fresh perspective can lead to the perfect name. Be sure to thank these readers, as they have just helped you grab the editor or judge’s attention.

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Written by: Sarah81
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