how ive been titling my posts
i write a short post, im finally done, my mini masterpiece is ready to be sent out, but i dont have a title... what do i pick? it cant be something boring, or else nobody will read it (not that there is a problem with this). i cant use a title that ive used before, thats too confusing. i dont want to create a series of numbered posts, numbers are ugly. i cant be too special and pick some obscurely artistic title, this is bearblog, not the met gala. what do i do?
ironically, picking titles for my posts is my favorite part of writing. i like the challenge of finding so few words to capture the whole meaning of a what ive written over the past hour or two. it feels like im putting a wax seal on my work, albeit the seal is sometimes wonky, the wrong color, or maybe i forget to stamp it, whatever... a seal is a seal. i admit though that most of my titles fall into three categories: the genre of title i choose depends on where im at when i write them. for the first genre, i tend to scroll through my phone when im taking the streetcar or subway, and maybe ill have some notes in my phone that sort of link to the piece of media and i can build off them to create my little posts. sometimes, ill also write the post first, leave it untitled, then find some graphic or quote while browsing that matches the vibe behind the post, save it till i get home, then title the post and publish... for example, we have:
- obscure internet quotes/videos/memes
- lines from a song or the song titles
- random theme titles i create before writing the post
my desire to be well-informed is currently at odds with my desire to remain sane.
- i found out about the article while writing the post and scrolling pinterest for "news fatigue", then ended up using pieces of the article to further rationalize why i hate the news
to be loved is to have changed: on clothes
- i actually had this quote in mind while writing, and then pinterest threw the cute little graphic of a worn down garfield and that was it.
im free from polyunsaturated fatty acids.
- the inspiration for the title comes from this instagram video my friend and i have been fawning over since october. i dont know, it doesnt relate to the post, nor does it make any sense, but i just love this very specific combination of words. the whole account itself is hilarious, and is the sole factor im still on the app itself. please dont get mad if i use more quotes from them.
when im at second cup, or writing away from home in general, my posts are written with music playing in the background. i try not to listen to anything too hectic, maybe some indie rock or rnb, but i feel like music gets me going and puts me in the mood to write. either i title the post by what i was listening to while writing (thank you lastfm for tracking my history), or i use the title of a song that ive been binging throughout the week. i feel like these are pretty obvious to spot, but i really have enjoyed writing all of the posts under this genre of title:
when will you realize vienna waits for you?
- song listened to: vienna by billy joel
- im not the biggest billy joel fan, but this song is a hit. i cant say too much about it, just listen to it.
i show up to the party just to leave
- song listened to: amoeba by clairo
- this song is just beautiful. i attached the electric lady version which is even lovelier. this is just my ultimate travel, new leaf, yearning, whatever else song.
- song listened to: black star by radiohead
- this song is very emo and about relationship issues, but i get it. the protagonist feels trapped and tired in his relationship, he knows its over, hes just burn out with everything. hes me.
last genre belongs to when i sit at home and write. i cant really say that its all that special. i tend to write late at night if im writing at home and most of it just ends up being lazy rambles until i go back to recompile it. i find its very hard to come up with titles after writing, so instead, ill make a title first then center the post around that theme. these type of posts vary, either they are super lighthearted day in the lifes, or they are quite yearny late night talks, or they are the victim of me just being exhausted and looking to do a bit of complaining to my forum. even though i wouldnt classify this genre of posts as anything exemplary, they have their merit and give me some break from doing too much thinking:
- wrote this one at home while dealing with insomnia after the show.
- i love these ducks, i know i didnt post about them this weekend but i went to see them again. i think i wrote this one right after coming back from feeding them.
- post date recap i wrote while at work.
sure, maybe some blog has written that your titles need to be in a specific format to maximize your viewer count and personal satisfaction, but im here to tell you all that its not, its all crap anyways. this is the internet, have a little bit of fun with your titles. personally, i love scrolling recent and seeing titles like "ghost dies from takotsubo cardiomyopathy" or "when broccoli started asking questions". i also really like short one or two worded titles, or anything with "on xyz". pretty much it all devolves to you forcing yourself not to overthink.
anyways. yea. this is how i go through titling my posts. i was thinking of doing a little star (like tiramisu does) next to posts i really liked writing or posts that are important lore wise. ive been doing many small changes to the blog itself which have motivated me to write more consistently. part of me wants to overcomplicate the styling and add those little frogs that jump around the page, but the other part of me needs to maintain the aesthetic. at least my titles are something that i can control.