Powerful Titles! Exciting Names! How To Find Them!

In previous articles, I've stressed the importance of titles and opening lines for poems and stories. Names also need attention. They can make or break your entry.

I have an entry before me right now. The principal character is named "Jack". I must admit the writer spun a very good story,  but the constant repetition of "Jack... Jack...Jack" for 19 or 20 pages got on my nerves. And this is the way it would strike an editor or even a casual reader.

So how do you think up catchy titles and interesting names? I'll tell you a secret. This is what I use: Hollywood Classics Title Index That link will take you to Amazon Kindle. If you prefer NOOK at Barnes & Noble: Hollywood Classics

When I compiled this book, I realized what an asset it would be to my writing career.

For 99 cents, this book will provide you not only with hundreds of fascinating titles but names as well. Movie titles and the names of both movie stars and character players are designed to catch attention. 

Of course, it's probably not a good idea to use them exactly. But you can mix first names with different surnames and use titles as a springboard. For example, here's a 1952 movie, "Night Was Our Friend". You could change that to "Night Was My Enemy".

You can also see at a glance that "Night" is a word that carries considerable impact. No less than 21 movie titles begin with that word. 

On the other hand, "Farewell" is a word with virtually no appeal at all. Strange, but true! Only two movie titles begin with the word, "Farewell", and one had so little impact, the title was changed!  

The Tom Howard Short Story, Essay and Prose Contest is currently open for entries.

The prize pool is $5,550 (including a First Prize of $3,000).

Entry fees remain pegged at $15 for each story or essay up to 5,000 words in length..

You'll find full details of the Story and Prose Contest at http://shortstorycontest.0catch.com

An alternative site is: http://www.winningwriters.com (you will need to click the contest at the top left of the screen).

All subjects and genres are welcome for the prose contest: comic and humorous stories and essays, mystery, science fiction, romance and other genres. Even newspaper and magazine articles and interviews. And even one-act plays. The only restriction is that entries must not exceed 5,000 words.

A new, expanded edition of "Write Ways to WIN WRITING CONTESTS" is now available, and the price has been lowered to only $12.50!

Write Ways to WIN WRITING CONTESTS: How To Join the Winners' Circle for Prose and Poetry Awards, NEW EXPANDED EDITION

This book is also available in a Kindle edition for only $2.99. Please use this link: Write Ways to WIN WRITING CONTESTS

Barnes and Noble's NOOK Book store and other ebook stores have the very latest updated edition for $3.99: Write Ways to WIN WRITING CONTESTS