Writing Headlines

I really liked how we took an extra week to study headlines. A story only goes as far as its headline allows it. I never realized how hard it can be to create a strong headline. For this blog post I want to discuss some of the most important rules for creating a strong headline.

1. The headline should show how the article affects the reader. For me, this is the most important rule to write by. No matter how well an article is written, if it doesn't apply to the reader, it won’t be read. While doing the assignment this week I tried applying this rule to each of the stories. Some stories are definitely easier to relate to than others.

2. The headline should match the tone of the story. One of my biggest pet peeves is when a headline gives me a false impression of the article. I quickly grow uninterested and lower my expectations for that particular writer. While you write the headline, be true to the article. 

3. Re-read the headline to make sure it could not be misinterpreted. While working on this week’s assignment, my wife would often say, “Trent that headline doesn’t make sense.” It was a good reminder to me of this important rule. It’s so easy to overlook potential misinterpretations. I find by simply reading my headlines aloud helps me edit my writing.