Random thoughts... snippets of life in rural New England
The title, or the article?
Published on January 17, 2006 By HC1240 In Blogging
As I was hopping all over JU the other day, reading various blogs, some of the titles were very clever. I found myself wondering where the titles come from. Some of them were very appropriate... others seemed forced (and sometimes unrelated) to the topic.

Here is a random poll. Do you write your article first and THEN title it? Or do you think of a title immediately, as soon as you decide what your article's topic is? Perhaps some of both? Do you consciously think of how your title can make or break the article and select one in light of that?

As for me, I generally come up with an idea for an article... and throw something in the title box right away. Once the article is written, I often find that I've thought of a title that I like much better and I change it. Other times, my first instinct is right on (according to MY brain, anyway... hehe) and I leave it alone. Most often, the article comes first, and an appropriate title is born from the article itself.

So how about it? How does this process work when YOU write?

Comments (Page 1)
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on Jan 17, 2006
I think of the topic, and then the title comes to me.  My Titles can be directly on topic, or a side swipe as in a reference to an old cliche or quote.
on Jan 17, 2006
I get an idea, usually because I get angry about something.

Then I come up with what I consider a clever title (most people don't seem to get them, though).

Then I write a more or less coherent version of what my idea was about.

I'll give three cheers to whoever can tell me what at least three of my titles referred to! andrew@netneurotic.net

(What do you do with three cheers? I don't know.)
on Jan 17, 2006
The chicken or the egg?

I pick my title first. I don't usually change it though I think sometimes I should then maybe I would get more hits. I don't think my titles are wildly original and clever. They're just pretty boring and straight forward but I did learn that I need to do better than "my weekend" etc.
on Jan 17, 2006
or a side swipe as in a reference to an old cliche or quote.

I like these the best

on Jan 17, 2006
I don't think my titles are wildly original and clever. They're just pretty boring and straight forward but I did learn that I need to do better than "my weekend" etc.

I'm in the same boat, loca... just don't think mine are very clever most of the time.

on Jan 17, 2006
(What do you do with three cheers? I don't know.)

Wash laundry?
on Jan 17, 2006
Okay, see if you can follow this:

I write a title then the article. Then I go back and realize my article went a completely different way and I rewrite the title.

Does that make sense?
on Jan 17, 2006
I write a title then the article. Then I go back and realize my article went a completely different way and I rewrite the title.Does that make sense?

Absolutely... I often rethink my title after composing the actual article. Thanks for the response, dave!
on Jan 18, 2006
i don't really think about it that much. sometimes if i think of something clever i'll put it in. usually title then article.
on Jan 18, 2006

Psst! Hey buddy can you lend a hand?
Or a finger?

That one just hit me as I read the story. Like I said, I got a warped sense of humor!

on Jan 18, 2006
I write the title and then just tend to blather on about whatever in my article. But occasionally I will look at the title to remind myself!hehe
on Jan 18, 2006
at one just hit me as I read the story.

What story??

on Jan 18, 2006
i don't really think about it that much. sometimes if i think of something clever i'll put it in. usually title then article.

(((((((((((((J))))))))))))))))) Thanks for commenting I never think of anything clever...


I write the title and then just tend to blather on about whatever in my article. But occasionally I will look at the title to remind myself!hehe

... what a plan!!!
on Jan 19, 2006
Aaaaaaaah... I remember now! .
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