I literally cannot resist giving chapters titles.
I have named the chapters in all my books from the unpublished to the soon-to-be published.
Chapter titles are like this little untapped gem the structure of a novel offers to the author. They call out to me, sing to me, like a siren’s song. “Name me, Daisy. Breathe life into me.”
I don’t hold back. I give in to their desire to be named. “Yes, chapter! Oh, yes, chapter. I will name you! How about ‘First Time,’ or ‘The Other Girl’ or ‘Acting Out?’” I say in my sultry writer voice. (Yes, those are chapter titles in THE MOCKINGBIRDS.)
“Yes, yes. Those are all good! Use them on me,” the manuscript cries out. “Type them, write them down, make them permanent with your word processing program!”
“I am dreaming them up now for you, dear novel,” I whisper lovingly. “Making them up, inventing them this very moment, just for you.”
“Sigh,” the novel says softly. “I will never have unnamed chapters with your word lust for me.”
Whew, it’s hot in here. Go put some clothes on, you naughty little book.
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7 Comments
Oh, you make me laugh. I have chapter titles in Paranormalcy, too. First of my five novels I’d done it, but I just couldn’t resist. When, when, when can I be introduced to your sultry little chapters, too? I can’t wait ; )
LOL. I also titled my chapters in my debut, Like Mandarin. But as a reader, I’ve discovered I tend to ignore them. I’ll assume it happens when I’m too invested in the story itself to pause.
We have a hard enough time coming up with titles for our books let alone chapters. I think we’d go insane. Lisa and Laura = Epic Title Failures
LOL Great post! I have always loved chapters with names. I’ve never understood why all authors don’t do it. It adds so much to the story.
I love books with chapter titles but I can’t do it myself, the title is hard enough to come up with!
All yours make me want to read The Mockingbirds even more though.
I love, love chatper titles. It’s like a little suprise every chapter…wondering, imagining, picturing what that chapter might contain based on the title. Love them. I’m pretty good at chapter titles. Novel titles, however, I’m not so good at. They’re too much pressure!
Omg, I felt like I shouldn’t be reading this it was so risque.
I have a love-hate relationship with chapter titles in my own books. I love them in other people’s, but idk, I have a hard time figuring out how to structure mine. SGA is the only one I’m really pleased with so far! Although, CUTB was just numbers so it’s not fair to hold that against it.
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