Writing Exercise – Titles

Writing Exercise #2: Come up with as many titles as you can. You don’t have to know the story behind them (although that can be a fun extension of this idea), but just find some phrases that you think would make great book titles.

• Not Here, Not Now
• Like Falling Asleep
• You Said You Would
• Let Me Down (I like the duality here of disappointment and physically being put down…could be interesting.)
• Vibrations of Panic (Poem or band name? You decide.)
• Parts of Speech
• Balance
• Tuesday, 10 a.m.
• Never Born, Simply Was
• Do No Harm
• Dark Threads (I really like this one.)
• Aren’t You Glad You Let Me Go?
• You, Too

Work that creativity muscle!

I think another aspect of this exercise could be to list titles of current works by other authors that you absolutely love. These could be book titles, but also the titles of chapters, albums, or poems. The point is to find phrases that you love and see where your creativity goes from there. You may end up with a new story idea, or you may find something that will help out with a piece you’re working on.

What are your favorite titles? Let me know in the comments!

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Ashley O’Melia is an independent author and freelancer from Southern Illinois. She holds her Bachelor’s Degree in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University. Her books include The Wanderer’s Guide to Dragon Keeping and The Graveside Detective. Her short stories have been published in The Penmen Review, Paradox, and Subcutaneous. Ashley’s freelance work has spanned numerous genres for clients around the world. You can find her on Facebook and Amazon.