Untitled: Is A Cop-out & So Cliched

Lovers of words,

It's here the elephant in the room. You sit down to write and the words flow effortlessly, you are proud of yourself because you wrote a great piece. Sadly, many great pieces go "untitled," and I never thought much of an untitled piece other than it's untitled, it never meant to me that the piece was missing something because I read poetry for the words and the meaning, a title was merely "icing on the cake." I'm starting to think differently about whether a piece should be "untitled." Is it a cop-out and cliched?

My answer: Yes.

Follow me on this. Not too long ago I wrote a great piece in an attempt to become published. It was my first time ever attempting to compete on paper for a chance at winning a spot in a small press publishing. As if the fact that there was a theme, poetry about poetry, wasn't enough there was also requirements like the piece could be no more than 12 words per line and length of 35 lines or less. Needless to say it was a challenge from the beginning but I think the challenge of it turned me on----creatively. It only took two days to write the piece and I was so proud of it until I realized if it is going to be printed it must have a title and not just any title a GOOD one.

Here are the steps I took to title my piece:

1. I re-read my work to pull out the feeling of the piece
2. I talked to people about the piece without reading it to them to see what they would title it
3. I wrote down the suggestions on (yes a post it)
4. I wrote down my own ideas for the title to compare
5. I sat in silence
6. I got distracted

The funny thing about sitting in silence is that it's not silence to a thinking mind. I was sitting in my mother's second bedroom also know as Maybelline's room, her chihuahua. I was in the dark listening to silence. I wanted Maybelline to come to me for a rub but chihuahua's seem to struggle with obeying commands and she didn't come to me. So, I sat and started rocking back and forth in the dark then a tune came to me that seemed totally random, Peaches & Herb Reunited. I started to hum this tune a bit and the title to my pieces seemed to pierce the darkness and the silence. I mumbled something to myself and that something became the title of the piece, The Reunification of Destiny. It took 4 days to come up with a title worthy of being the "icing" on my poetic cake.

The piece is now published in CRAM 11 a Chicago publication as of April 30th. What a great way to end National Poetry Month. For details on how you can get in on CRAM 12 go here http://www.chicagopoetry.com/

I've learned the importance of titling a piece:

1. It's a label that makes your piece recognizable
2. It's sets your piece apart from the other "untitled" pieces that were spat into history
3. It makes your piece memorable
4. It can draw more readers and a chance that they will read your piece again

Would you adopt a pet or have a baby and have it go through existence without a name?

Titles are important.

Until we write again,

+thewritegift+