In my workshops I stress the importance of catchy titles and want to pass this along to readers in Blogland.  I know there are a few of you because I have received some nice replies. Thank you. We all recall the required first essay when school opened in the fall.  "Write about what you did this summer." Most of the  resulting essays were titled: "What I Did On Summer Vacation."  Yes, it is true that editors frequently change the titles as well as some of the wording in what you submit, but that is no excuse for putting a dull title on your work.

One member of my workshop, writing about her recent trip to India and her surprise that she was not "turned off" by the noise, masses of people–and COWS–on the streets.  The theme of her brief, colorful essay is "don't pre-judge."  Her title:  "INDIA, 101"    This is clever and it summarizes her adventure, including the surprises, better than would a title such as "My Recent Trip To India."  Anoher member brought a piece she had titled: "Adventures With My Dog."  The story featured the fact that her dog and car were kidnapped!  The group suggested a change in title to something a little more exciting.  We are still waiting to hear about whether her essay on "Dog-napping" has made the grade with an editor.

"The Birds, Bees & 'See' Fever" titles my essay about what we learned in trying to "condition" our children to loving hiking and the outdoors the way we parents did. This is "on hold" with a magazine. "Critics of 'Relative' Value," also "on hold" is a light-touch piece on the concept that we should beware of letting realtives read our  written materpieces. For your computer files, use any title that will help you re-find the piece when you want to work on it again.  However, when you send it off to an editor, make the title catchy and provocative!  Arouse curiosity. Until tomorrow, Willma