An Actual F**king Difference In Titles
There I was, standing in a bookshop, surrounded by shelves full of titles. Aside from their literary importance, there are countless books that pull my interest. Titles like “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”, “The Lion Women of Tehran”, “What Have Yo done?” and “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” screamed for my attention, making me curious about the worlds within.
How good are those titles? Just… wow.
Then, I went home, opened Medium, and scrolled through the latest articles. Almost immediately, I felt apathetic. Titles like “5 Marriage Tips from One Divorced Man” and “10 Red Flags I Couldn’t See Until I Had Trauma Therapy” just didn’t have the same pull.
They are straightforward, yes, but they lacked a certain jenesequa. A certain flair and excitement that gets me to invest my time.
Why was I more excited at the bookshop than I was on Medium based on interactions of titles? What is it about book titles that have far more of a pull than an article’s?
Deep down, I also wanted to ask why am I more inclined to write crappy titles?
Well, the best novel titles have a way of sticking in your mind. They’re creative, unique, and often make you think, “Why didn’t I come up with that?” Take “The Devil Wears Prada,” for example. I immediately am drawn to the complicity and simplicity of the title. The devil you say? A well dress person you say? Go on as iI am that much closer to pulling out my credit card.
Titles like these do more than just name the book. They tease the story, characters, setting, and perhaps even message. This is done all in less than a few words! Most article titles on the other hand? Eh.
Great novel titles also manage to pull at enough strings to create a sense of delight. They hint at the plot without giving too much away. It makes you eager to find out more. For instance, “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” immediately raises questions. Do they? What kind of world is this where androids might dream? Wait, do they sleep?
More often than not, book titles don’t just inform; they engage and excite through curiosity. They offer a taste of the story. It should be enough to whet your appetite to make a commitment of time to read. In contrast, many article titles feel repetitive and uninspired. Scrolling through Medium, you’ll see the same formulas over and over again: “10 Ways to Improve Your Life,” “How to Achieve Success if you live in XYZ,” “The Secrets of Happy People who are awake.” They’re straightforward and are specifically direct, but they’re also boring. There’s nothing new or exciting about them, and they don’t make you curious about the content.
They also can make me feel inadequate. Maybe it is something I’m working through, but most article titles do not spark curiosity. Rather, they speak to a problem you are likely facing and tease at the possibility of solving it.
Sure, there are a lot more articles than books, which makes it harder to stand out. But the sheer volume of similar-sounding titles can make the whole experience feel monotonous. It’s like wading through a sea of sameness, where only one or two articles might catch your eye.
Many article titles also tend to focus on problems. This often works as humans like to solve problems. However, after a while,the consistency can be off-putting. Titles like “This 10-Year-Old Kid Is What’s Wrong with the World” or “10 Red Flags I Couldn’t See Until I Had Trauma Therapy” point directly to issues or negative aspects, sometimes making you feel like you’re the problem. I already know my issues, thank you. While addressing problems is important, constantly framing titles this way is draining.
I’ll also add that articles are more likely to solve problems than drive a narrative. Yes, articles serve a very different function to novels, but they make use of the same conventions to attract attention.
There’s a reason many article titles are simple and straightforward. Writers want to make it clear what the reader can expect. However, clarity doesn’t have to come at the expense of creativity. Take Mark Manson’s “The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck,” for instance. God damn, that’s a good title. It was originally an article before it became a best-selling book. And the title played a huge role in its success.
By balancing clarity with creativity, writers can craft titles that are both informative and engaging. It’s about finding that sweet spot where the title tells you enough to know what you’re getting into, but still leaves room for more.
The title of an article is the first thing a reader sees. This does not matter if it’s a book or an article. Or even a movie or tv show! It’s the first hook that can make them stop. It is only in that pause do they consider if this is worth my time or not. An engaging title is the difference between a reader diving into your content or moving on to the next.
A title that intrigues will draw the reader in. It sets the tone for the rest of the article and hints at the value they’ll find. While the content is crucial, the title is what gets them through the door. Look, I have a lot to learn from novelists about creating intriguing titles. Personally, my previous titles have been dull that even I don’t want to read my own work.
A great title can say a lot with just a few words. By focusing on creating titles that intrigue and delight, writers can make their articles stand out in a crowded space.
Look, this approach to titles is not going to do well for metrics. I deliberately took a more creative approach to titles and my metrics tanked. In fact, since I became more aware of this in the last month, my reads took a dive.
And that’s okay.
I have chosen my poison.
And I am okay with a handful of reads per article.
