Gotcha, didn’t I?  It’s ok.  If the title brought you here, that was exactly my intention.

A conversation crept up over the weekend regarding the titling of articles.  I love the title aspect of writing.  It’s never posed a block for me.  When I think about titling a piece, I just get into this zone where I let the thoughts follow and the titles just come right out.

I’ll tell you something else:  Sometimes I write a post or an article because a title came into my head and I built the post around that.

So let me ask you a question:  If you consider yourself a writer, can you please tell me what your job is?

I’m sure the answers range from espousing creative prose to delivering killer ad copy.  I’m here to argue that those are all secondary components to getting the first job done.

Here’s the first job of a writer:

You have to get people to read what you are writing!

If you don’t do this, you have failed (unless you write for a eyes only personal journal).

When it comes to getting people to your article, some people will come willingly, others need to be brought kicking and screaming.

If you are a regular reader of Tumblemoose ramblings you know I’ve got to get something about balance in here.  Creating titles is truly all about balance.  You need to give enough accurate information to gain interest without giving the story away – who is gonna buy the cow when they can get the milk for free?  Think about the last time you read a newspaper or a magazine in the waiting room.  Unless you compulsively read the entire publication word for word, you scan titles and wait for something to capture your interest.

This is where your skill as a titler makes you stand out in the crowd.  This is what gets your writing read – and that’s the idea!

Here’s how to be a titleist:

• Pick a style and stick with it.  AP, AMA, USDA, whatever.  Be consistent
• Think of what the “hook” of the article is, try to incorporate that into the title
• Be clever.  Ok, but not TOO clever.  That just irritates people.  Balance!  It’s all about balance!
• Double and triple check your spelling.  WP spellcheckers don’t cruise the title slot!
• Use as few words as possible.  With that said, if it takes more, so be it.
• No fair being dishonest. If the title is “The 150 Mostest Awesomest Blogs EVER” then there better be 150 of them sumbitches.  And they all better be the mostest awesomest. Ever.

I won’t say there’s really any magic or rocket surgery here.  Do try and relax and just let a title come – because it will.  If you are happy with it, and it will get the job done of getting people to read what you’ve written then you’re set.

I’m curious to know if anyone has any titling tricks they use on a regular basis.  How do you title your stuff?