Writing is one of those activities we either embrace or leave to someone else! I have found the difference is whether one has learned this art form, or not!
My last blog conveyed an overview outlining the elements to consider where writing with purpose is the goal. Let’s remind ourselves what the first list contained:
Title and Tagline
Introduction
Body of Work
Conclusion
This blog will focus on Title and Tagline
Title and Tagline:
Titles are important! They are the first ‘thing’ your reader connects with. They are the initial focus determining whether a potential reader will continue, or not! They need to be catchy, punchy, and engaging. Titles reflect the content, either directly, or in a creative manner that intrigues. They are formatted in a way that reflects the type of product being produced. ie all letters uppercase, uppercase for the first letter only followed by lowercase for the remainder of the word, uppercase for the first letter for all words except the ‘joining words’ which are lowercase.
Examples:
When The World Said “No” = all uppercase for the first letters
WHEN THE WORLD SAID “NO” = all uppercase
When the World Said “No” = lowercase for the joining word
Taglines follow the same format:
Example:
I Said “Yes”
I said, “yes”
I SAID “YES”
For this example, the final product may look like this:
When The World Said “No”
I Said “Yes”
OR:
WHEN THE WORLD SAID “NO”
I SAID “YES”
OR:
When the World Said “No”
I Said “Yes”
This title and tagline were for an article I wrote. The subject content referred to mental illness – and the choice of accepting the diagnosis, or challenging the label given. My personal story is highlighted throughout. The title and tagline inform the reader, in a creative manner, that this is about going against ‘something’, to turn it around. This is punchy and engaging from the ‘get-go’. Readers are invited into my world via a title and tagline that evokes interest.
A few other examples:
The Jazz of Recovery
Mental Illness, Life Events and True Understanding
This title lightens the ‘mood’ where the word Jazz is incorporated in the title given the tagline’s serious nature. The title is bolded to emphasise the importance of the article’s content.
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The Power of Nurturing Mental Health
The do’s for business …
This was used for an article for businesses wishing to look after their employee’s mental health. There is a combination of uppercase and lowercase.
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Understanding The World Of Eating Disorders
And, if you wish, you could simply have a title without a tagline!
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The next blog will focus on the Introduction.
To learn more regarding this art form, go to www.jlkeez.com.au/the-art-of-writing/
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