- Some people base it simply off of what they like to see in books they read. This is the reason I made sure each chapter for my first two novels had a name, even if it was entirely ridiculous.
- Some people base it off of point of view. This is the reason THE LULLABY no longer has chapter names, but THINKING OF YOU does. First person is more personal and real chapter names instead of numbers go along with that.
- Some people go off the tone of their book. Look at Rick Riordan and the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. His books are hilarious and so are his chapter names.
- Some people choose chapter names that will add depth to their book. In SHADOWMAN, I call my chapters 'verses' since my MC is very into music.
- Some people name their chapters on a book by book basis as I have done.
How do you name your chapters? How do you like your chapter names in books? Have any examples you would like to share, whether out of your own books or others?
My SQUEAKY novels have funny chapter titles. most of my other novels don't have titles, just 'chapter 1' etc. My current work for NaNo has a chapter (or section) title that is each MC's name, i.e. the girl then the guy, and so on.
ReplyDeleteI don't usually have chapter names. My last story did, but it was just timelines.
ReplyDelete@Trisha From what I've heard of SQUEAKY, he deserves the funny titles. :) Ah! How did I not think to add that into the post? -headdesk-
ReplyDelete@Sarah Timelines? How does that work? Is it like the date, time, etc.?
I name chapters in my book "Chapter One" and then underneath that something like "Collision" which is something that happens at the end of the chapter. Naming my chapters is the very last thing I do. Up until then, I just leave a space and write. When the manuscript is done, I go back and put in all the ones, twos, threes, and then the names. That's just my process.
ReplyDeleteThat's what I did with my first novel. I just wrote it straight through and then went back and divvyed it up. That was the only time I've ever done that.
ReplyDeleteI like chapter titles but sometimes it isn't easy coming up with them.
ReplyDeleteYes, especially when your chapters are as short as mine. I don't know how Christopher Paolini did it.
ReplyDeleteIn both of my series I write out the chapter number, so, "ONE", "TWO", "THREE", etc. It's just the style I've adopted.
ReplyDeleteI do have a very personal autobiographical fiction story I plan to work on someday that I think I will give one-word titles to. That's a long ways off, though. Personally I don't like chapter titles, or at least in adult fiction.
I didn't mention that style in my post either. Geez, where was my brain?
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree with you that in adult fiction they seem a bit silly or unnecessary sometimes.
In "Eclipse," I gave a lot of thought to the chapter names; the chapters help tell you a bit about what's going on and keep the triple-themed structure of the story going. So, for example, chapters 1, 4, and 8 each relate to each other and the title tells what's happening. 2, 5, and 9, likewise -- and those chapters also use actual laws of physics to describe (as clues) what is happening in THEM, while the other set of chapters have titles from classic rock songs that are AGAIN clues.
ReplyDeleteOther than that, though, I haven't ever given it much thought. I'm working now on a long-delayed novel that uses a "500 Days Of Summer" type structure, and the chapter titles are giving me troubles because I need to make sure they help keep the reader focused on where they're at in the story.
I love chapter headings like that, where they tie into the story. It takes a lot of thought to pull that off, and to pull it off well takes a genius.
ReplyDeleteI've usually had chapter titles that would be a phrase that a viewpoint character says or thinks in the chapter. For instance, "Show me a good loser, and I’ll show you a loser."
ReplyDeleteIn my most recent novel manuscript, I used a key phrase for each chapter, whether a direct quote or not.
I like being able to find connections between the chapter heading and the chapter. Those kind of titles are also easier to come up with, at least for me.
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