Somebody asked me what I thought about using “telling” chapter names in a novel.
I hadn’t given it a lot of thought before, but come to think of it, it’s a good question.
Some writers stick to chapter numbers, and go so far as to also number the parts of chapters. Stephen King comes to mind. On the other hand J.K. Rowling writes chapter headings that speak to something that occurs far into the chapter. She presages action.
I have also seen writers who use a clever, but general term to describe the chapter, one that is more telling than a number, but doesn’t give away the store.
I like to think of myself as a middle of the road fella. One who uses non-presaging titles, but as I look back at my work I find I use chapter numbers, sometimes accompanied with numeric sub-headings.
How about you? What is your favorite? …and more telling, do you DO what you consider the best? Or is it just too much trouble?
Filed under: Random Thoughts, Somebody Asked Me, Support for Writers | Tagged: Chapter, Harry Potter, Heading, J.K. Rowling, Numerical, Presage, Stephen King, Sub-chapters, Title
I only keep titles while in the working phase so I can find things later. Chapter titles done poorly are distracting and draw attention away from the text.
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