TITLES AND BODY

Yeah I know the topic sounds a bit weird but you'll later find out why I chose it.

So let's do this!

I know most of us have heard the saying, "never judge a book by it's cover". Believe it or not, a book is judged by it's title more than it's cover! Yes I just said that!

Think about it, what first attracts you to a book? It's colour, size, designs, author or title?

Trust me, 80% of the time, you are first attracted or curious about the title before ever opening it to read.

So this draws a conclusion that the title of a write up is as important as the information hidden between the lines of words in that write up.

Knowing this, you know better than to just settle for any title.

You need to spend time thinking about the title just the same way you brood about the message you are about to pass through your work.

So first thing to note is, titles are very important, choosing a catchy title that compliments your write up is a terrific combo that can never be over emphasised.

May be we'll get to talk about how to choose a title some other time but for today, we wouldn't be going so deep.

Now the other aspect of our topic is, Body
Hey I don't mean the physical body, the body we'll be talking about is the body of the write up.

Yes, write ups do have bodies!
Now the body represents everything you will be writing to build up the work, all the information you've gathered from reading and research etc.

Now the highlight of this is that, the body of your write up must correspond with the title, this is very imperative.

This is the second thing to note.

Look now, your title can't be "How the stars shine" and from the beginning of your article to it's end, you're writing about the way farming is done.

As awful and unrealistic this may sound, it happens. Some writers, especially nonfiction writers pick a title or topic, and at the end of the day go off along the way or lose track of their subject matter.

Alright!!! Let's move on.

Often times, writers pick a title and as they begin to build their write up, they get carried away by their flow of thoughts.

You see, when you put a pen on paper to write, so many ideas begin to flow. All the information you've  gathered so far begin to dance around in your head and you might just be tempted to pour them all out and at the end, you lose focus and then the worst happens, your work and the title would look like enemies instead of working hand in hand as friends.

You must be able to control your thoughts as a writer, you don't have to write everything!!! You must be constructively selective about the body of your work.

Let me give you guys an example;
Title: My Grandfather's Chair

My grandfather's chair was bought in Jamaica. He always said Jamaica is a tropical country with lots of beautiful women. Grandfather often bragged about how he sang on their beaches while playing guitar. The look in eyes anything he spoke made me conclude that Jamaica is a kind of heaven on earth.

In the above, I have succeeded in talking about the country in which the chair was bought rather than the chair itself

Title: My Grandfather Chair

My grandfather's chair, rocky in nature, is made from pure mahogany tree. Mahogany trees are one of the strongest hardwood on the planet. They last for several years without a scratch and products made with it can be passed from generation to generation. In my conclusion, mahoganies are the best sets of wood to be used for chairs making.

In the above also, I have succeeded in talking about something close to the chair but not really the chair.

From the two samples above, my focus hasn't been defined. The title and the body don't actually rhyme.

Now finally, let's do a touch and write a bit and see how it can be fixed to blend with the title.

Title: My Grandfather's Chair

My grandfather's chair was bought in Jamaica. It's rocky in nature and made from pure mahogany tree. Anything grandfather sat on this favourite chair of his, he always told stories about the tropical country, Jamaica, with the beautiful women as the center of the story. As he rocked the chair back and forth, he never failed to brag about how he sang on their beaches while playing guitar. He said the arms of the chair remained him of the way he used to pull the strings of the guitar. Grandfather was always quick to say mahogany trees make the best chair that last from one generation to another. From the look in his eyes anytime he spoke, while rocking his wooden chair, made me conclude that Jamaica is a kind of heaven on earth

From the above, I have been able to blend them all and not lose my focus point which is the chair!!

For fiction writers, it's easier to flow with the title, because sometimes you may even finish the body or content before choosing a topic.

While for nonfiction writer, this may not be so possible because you start with the title in mind and then build the body or content after much research.

So people, to conclude the lesson, always make sure the body or content of your write up is in line with your title.

Written by Chioma Jennifer Amadi