Talking About Titles

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Talking About Titles
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A Good Title

• Fits the whole piece of writing
• Attracts a readers attention
• Is grounded in the piece isnt too obscure
• Gives a hint or taste of the topic or theme to
  come

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• Is memorable
• Generally doesnt come first the author looks
  back on finished writing for a sense of the focus
  and So What? that emerged during drafting and
  revision
• Is a strong or beautiful combination of words and
  sounds
• Can replace a working title that the writer uses
  while the piece is in process

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• Is often the result of brainstorming--of moving
  to a fresh piece of paper, removing the mental
  censors, and writing down as many possibilities
  as the writers brain can devise.

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Some YAL Titles I like

• Honey, Baby, Sweetheart
• Bucking the Sarge
• Sister Slam and the Poetic Motormouth Road Trip
• so hard to say
• The Earth, My Butt, and other Big Round Things

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• How I Fell in Love and Learned to Shoot Free
  Throws
• Shadow of a doubt
• Flush
• Crossing the Wire
• Inexcusable

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What are some of the titles that got you
interested in a piece?