Which Came First?

The title, or the article?

from JoeUser Forums
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?
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5,605 views 18 replies
Reply #1 from JoeUser Forums Top
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.
Reply #2 from JoeUser Forums Top
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! [email protected]

(What do you do with three cheers? I don't know.)
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Reply #3 from JoeUser Forums Top
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.
Reply #4 from JoeUser Forums Top
or a side swipe as in a reference to an old cliche or quote.

I like these the best

Reply #5 from JoeUser Forums Top
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.
Reply #6 from JoeUser Forums Top
(What do you do with three cheers? I don't know.)

Wash laundry?
Reply #7 from JoeUser Forums Top
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?
Reply #8 from JoeUser Forums Top
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!
Reply #9 from JoeUser Forums Top
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.
Reply #10 from JoeUser Forums Top

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!

Reply #11 from JoeUser Forums Top
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
Reply #12 from JoeUser Forums Top
at one just hit me as I read the story.

What story??

Reply #13 from JoeUser Forums Top
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!!!
Reply #15 from JoeUser Forums Top
Aaaaaaaah... I remember now! .
Reply #16 from JoeUser Forums Top
My titles are usually either a line from the article, or the thought I had that motivated me to write the article in the first place.
Reply #17 from JoeUser Forums Top
Sometimes I have a title in mind, but usually I write my article first, and then put a title on it.

I have a decent idea about how to write titles from my time doing UIL news writing, but I've found that on JU, the more ambiguous the title, the better. The curiosity gets the best of people and they're more likely to click on something to find out what it's about than they are to click on an appropriately titled article.

Little Whip is the queen of title-writing, though. She knows how to lure in an audience with a compelling and apt title.
Reply #18 from JoeUser Forums Top
Little Whip is the queen of title-writing, though. She knows how to lure in an audience with a compelling and apt title.

That she does... and the reader is rewarded for having clicked

I have a decent idea about how to write titles from my time doing UIL news writing, but I've found that on JU, the more ambiguous the title, the better. The curiosity gets the best of people and they're more likely to click on something to find out what it's about than they are to click on an appropriately titled article.

Great tip!