A title is the gateway to a story’s world. It’s the first impression, the hook that draws readers in, and can be the first signal of ‘tone’ in your story. However, crafting the right title for your short story is challenging.
So, how do you choose the perfect title? Here are a few things I try to consider.
- Reflect the plot: Your title could say something about the literal plot of your story, or some aspect of it. In trying to generate ideas, consider the central theme, the core conflict, or the overarching emotion that permeates your narrative. A title like “Death on the Nile” suggests a murder and a setting.
- Be Evocative: A great title should evoke emotion and curiosity in the reader. It should spark intrigue and invite them to delve deeper into your story. Think about using vivid imagery, powerful words, or enigmatic phrases that leave an impression. “Today I am Paul” (a Nebula nominated short story by Martin Shoemaker, published in Clarkesworld) is intriguing. Who is this person that takes on a different identity every day that they need to inform us who they are today? A spy? A person with multiple personalities? The answer is much more interesting than either of those.
- Consider Tone and Genre: The title sets the tone for your story and gives readers and editors a glimpse of what to expect. Editors are looking for a title they can imagine in their magazine. Make sure your title aligns with the genre and mood of your narrative. A whimsical title like “The Ghost Peach Pet Rescue” suggests a light-hearted, fantastical tale, and it unsurprising to find this in Tales and Feathers Magazine which focuses on cozy or ‘slice of life fantasy’. But it is not typical of things published in, say, Analog .
- Keep it Memorable: A memorable title is more likely to stick with readers and leave a lasting impression. Traditional advice is to aim for simplicity and clarity, avoiding overly complex or convoluted titles that may confuse or alienate potential readers. However, don’t take this too far and make the title too generic.
- Avoid Clichés: Steer clear of clichéd phrases or generic titles unless you can give it a twist that is clever and apropos.
- Test it Out: Once you’ve brainstormed a few potential titles, test it on critique partners with the same diligence you would any other part of your story. Get feedback on which titles resonate the most and best capture the essence of your story. Sometimes an outside perspective can offer valuable insights and help you make the final decision.
In the end, choosing the perfect title for your short story is both an art and a science. It requires careful consideration, creativity, and a deep understanding of your own narrative. By reflecting the essence of your story, evoking emotion, and capturing the curiosity of both editors and your readers, a well-crafted title can elevate your short story from the slush pile or the unread. So take your time, experiment with different options, and don’t settle until you’ve found the title that truly does your story justice.
How do you choose your titles? As always, if you have any ideas, thoughts or suggestions, please comment in the box below!
Gideon P. Smith 
I also consider what kind of story it is. If it’s about a person, the title will usually have the person’s name or character type in it (The Hobbit). If it’s an event story, the title will usually reflect that event (War of the Worlds). If it’s a story about a specific place, the title will usually reflect that (The City of Ember).
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love all these options. how do you prioritize? Specifically the title The Hobbit is fine today but back then no one would have known what a hobbit it. It could have been The Hobbit and Smaug the Dragon, which might have been good as dragons were popular/genre informing. Or the Hobbit and the 7 dwarves if it really had been 7 and you wanted to echo the fairy tale to say its a childrens tale (though that title runs the risk of sounding like a comedy), or The Treasure of the Lonely Mountain if the quest and the location and not specifically hobbits were the focus. 🙂
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