Why All the FUSS About Creating A Good Story Title?

Here’s why you should put more effort into writing better story titles!

I’ve covered a lot of different subjects related to helping writers on Medium earn more from their stories.

Out of all the writing advice and useful tips that I’ve shared, there’s one particular topic that is always worth mentioning again and again.

Believe it or not, the amount of your earnings may actually increase, if you focus on improving in this one area alone.

That area relates to the crucial subject of creating effective titles for the stories you write on Medium.

So once again, allow me to take just a few brief moments to remind you about the importance of creating good story titles — which by the way, includes subtitles also.

You can be both clever and strategic

Instead of rehashing a lot of what I’ve already written about the benefits of creating the right titles, first just let me share two links.

Read them later, and pay strict attention to the important points that are being brought out.

BUT DON’T STOP WITH THOSE!

In addition to the useful material contained in those stories, you can also learn a lot by looking over the examples below.

When you do, notice the logic in what’s being said.

Remember, this may seem like strictly my own point-of-view, but I’m convinced that I’m not the only one who recognizes how effective this writing advice really is.

I read and come across great titles and subtitles on the Medium platform all the time.

There are definitely lots of writers who understand the advantages to be gained from crafting a good, or even great title.

Smart Medium writers know the truth…

You can be both clever and strategic

Aside from the writers who really “get it” and take great care in creating some wonderful titles, there are those who do the opposite.

I have seen countless writers complain about low views on really good stories.

Many fail to realize that it just might be the titles and subtitles for those stories.

To put it mildly, some titles suck big time!

As to the different reasons why this happens, I have a few theories that I discuss in some of those stories I mentioned.

Be sure to read and find out about some of those possible reasons.

One of those reasons really amounts to nothing but plain old fashioned stubbornness.

We writers are fickle and we like what we like, sometimes to our own detriment.

That might explain why we refuse to change a title or other content that we create, even if we find it to be counterproductive.

Haven’t you ever come up with something that you thought was so clever, that you refused to alter it?

Never mind that no one else gets it but you, or that they may have to go through a process to figure it out.

It happens…

Trust me folks, I’m speaking from past experiences.

But regardless of why some writers are creating poor titles, if anyone is sincere about making a change for the better, the following examples can help.

Try to think like a reader

One of the best ways to figure out the kind of title and subtitle that will be effective, is to think like a reader.

Even though we’re all readers anyway, sometimes we act like we forget this fact, whenever we’re in writer mode.

Bad choice…

• When you write, even though you’re obviously in writer mode, you should also think how a reader thinks, and that includes when they read a title and subtitle.

It’s one thing to not want to provide any spoilers, but it’s another to be so vague or clever, that the reader has no idea what to expect.

• Another thing to keep in mind, is that even if you choose to be a little discreet with your title, your subtitle provides an opportunity for some needed clarification.

So instead of skipping the subtitle altogether (which is a BIG trend that I see), why not use it to your advantage?

Notice what I mean in the following made up examples (no birds were ever flipped or thrown out the window).

EXAMPLE 1:

Writer : Has a funny and entertaining story about road rage, only some readers will never know from the following title:

TITLE: He threw a bird out the window

Subtitle: NONE

• This is a poor title with not enough context to let you know what it’s about, or even to make you curious.

EXAMPLE 2:

Now: Suppose the writer used this method instead:

TITLE: He Threw a Bird Out the Window!

Subtitle: Why did an elderly driver give me the finger?

• This is a better title, in the right format, plus the extra emphasis implies something notable happened.
• Also, the subtitle allows the writer to provide a little context about the story, while keeping the clever title (now viewed by the reader as a probable play on words).

When the reader decides to read this story, they’ll find that the title and subtitle were not misleading.

Notice:

“Recently I experienced a crazy unexpected episode of road rage, when an elderly man gave me the finger.

“…and the next thing I knew, he threw a bird out the window. Just like that, he gave me the finger!”

When relying on the second example, the reader will see how both the tittle and the subtitle have done a good job of referencing what the story was about.

Final Thoughts

Clearly, the above examples might not be all that great, but they should be enough for you to understand the logic of what I’m trying to bring out.

The first example shows a lot of common title-related mistakes that some writers on Medium continually make.

Even the poor choice of not using capitalization can affect how readers react to what you write.

The first title reads like a stray sentence from a story that the reader knows nothing about, nor has any reason to want to learn more.

By contrast, the second example mixes a little bit of cleverness (bird flying out the window = driver later flipping the bird)…

BUT —

It also provides enough context for the reader to want to read more (an elderly driver gave me the finger).

Of course, as a writer, you’re welcome to use whichever style you choose, and take your chances that someone will read your story.

But which title would you choose as a reader?