Chapter Titles - Writers Forum

Talia_Brie · 12-15-2007, 10:02 PM

Let's have a discussion shall we?

Most of the time I only number my chapters. But in the book I'm working on at the moment I've started giving the chapters titles: "What Happened in Vegas", "Aftermath" ... etc.

I'm not convinced that I'll keep them, and while I'm trying to make up my mind I wouldn't mind hearing a couple of opinions. Do you use chapter titles? Why? Why not? You know - a discussion.

L'Oiseau Noir · 12-16-2007, 12:14 AM

Generally when I use chapter titles, I take a central idea from that particular part in the story (for example the first chapter is called "Eleanor" because she's a vampire who the reader is introduced to, and an important character), and use that as my name. I'm big with names for chapters, just because I think it's a chance to give the reader some brief insight as to what that specific chapter is going to be about; it really helps people want to keep reading, providing it's interesting enough.

bob rulz · 12-16-2007, 12:16 AM

Occassionally I'll write chapter titles. I'm not real great at coming up with witty titles, so I just keep it general. A short identifier of what the chapter is about without giving anything away, pretty much.

Alex Kostin · 12-16-2007, 12:25 PM

Chapters should have misteryous names. Some of mine are " Four Bullets", "The Father and the Son", "The GIG"... That will make the readers curious.

Joe Moore · 12-16-2007, 04:35 PM

Lynn Sholes and I consider our chapters as mini-books with beginnings, middles and ends. Just like the titles to our thrillers, we use chapter titles to draw the reader in and set the mood of what's to come.

dwellerofthedeep · 12-17-2007, 10:07 AM

I name every scene but most of those names are placeholders. I don't really like reading a chapter title that obviously spoils the possible surprises in store for me. For that reason I'd rather not put them in the actual book myself.

JohnN · 12-17-2007, 11:44 AM

I like chapter titles, at the very least it will probably keep you on track with the story line and not going off on tangents. I have been known to do that.
Sometimes I like to get a sneak peek of where a book is going and numbers can never do that. Hence I am for naming chapters.

ClancyBoy · 12-18-2007, 03:14 AM

Giving chapters titles can inadvertently give away endings. I hate it when authors do it.

In Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle, I knew what was going to happen in the chapter titled "The Great Ka-whoom" just based on the info on the back cover. I still love the book, but that killed part of the enjoyment for me.

jlstratton · 12-18-2007, 10:08 PM

Most of the time, I simply number my chapters and like others have said, I only use them as a placeholder as they get move around in editing.

Although I must say that when I am reading a book, I find it pleasing to have named, or fancy chapter headings. I even like it when chapters are broken into smaller sections. That way I can read to a certain location and feel like I stopped at an appropriate location when I pick up again.

JL Stratton

JohnN · 12-19-2007, 06:21 AM

Breaks in chapters can be done quite well with "*" or a similar break. It works well in the Great Gatsby.

lisajane · 12-19-2007, 08:05 PM

I stick with chapter numbers because I need to spend the time that I would use thinking of witty chapter titles for the actual writing.

Talia_Brie · 12-19-2007, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lisajane

I stick with chapter numbers because I need to spend the time that I would use thinking of witty chapter titles for the actual writing.

Ha!

Don't worry, my chapter titles to date have been far from witty.

Faustling · 12-19-2007, 10:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ClancyBoy

Giving chapters titles can inadvertently give away endings. I hate it when authors do it.

In Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle, I knew what was going to happen in the chapter titled "The Great Ka-whoom" just based on the info on the back cover. I still love the book, but that killed part of the enjoyment for me.

This shouldn't be very hard to use the other way around to create some confusion and red herrings. I haven't read the book you refer to but if "The Great Ka-whoom" and the back cover suggests that a bomb (they do so sound ka-whoom) will go off in that chapter, the writer could keep the suspense by simply introducing a stage magician going by the name of "The Great Ka-whoom" and then have the bomb go off three chapters later or not at all. Pretty lousy example, but you get the idea.

GabrielleCornwell · 12-19-2007, 11:47 PM

Back when I was little and was an awesomely crappy writer, I used to use chapter titles. But then I never followed the plot, so the chapter titles never made sense with what I wrote. Since then, I've been discouraged from using chapter titles.

I use them once in a while, of course, but uh...I generally only use numbers. Boring me!

Randomthought31 · 12-22-2007, 12:15 AM

I enjoy titles when they are used subtly, giving away only the smallest bit of information about a section of the chapter and tempting your brain to continue reading. There should probably be a specific class for writing that deals completely with chapter names and book titles, as it really is quite the art.