Tips for Choosing the Best Words and Phrases for Eye-Catching Titles

Writing magazine headlines can greatly differ from writing newspaper headlines. For one, it has the flexibility to be more witty and punchy since the articles are less newsy and urgent. Second, magazine headlines go hand-in-hand with nice photographs and images to support and explain the title better.

On some days, the process of trying to come up with the perfect words can be as effortless as remembering a friend’s name, but on other days it can be more difficult than writing a 1000-word article. Writing a good headline is paramount because it’s the hook that urges people to read on.

Tips for Writing Magazine Headlines

•    Read through the article and make a list of main words and phrases.

From the list, think of possible riffs, rhyming words or puns. Do any of the words or phrases sound like a popular movie, song, celebrity or societal issue? Using current cultural topics as a reference point is a powerful tool for writing eye-catching headlines. However, remember to make sure the style and tone match the magazine’s personality.

•    Use a good thesaurus.

Think of one or two words that come to mind after reading the article and look it up in a synonym finder. Sometimes it’s more useful to use a tangible dictionary instead of an online version; browsing through different words while getting to the particular word will surprisingly spark great ideas. Dictionaries with idioms and street slangs are helpful as well, such as UrbanDictionary.com.

•    Avoid all clichés and hackneyed phrases.

It’s boring and unoriginal. People are drawn to headlines that make them smile or think, but keep it simple and avoid complex metaphors. Common phrases will make the reader skip, skim and brush right pass the article. Ask: “Is it something that would grab my attention?” If the answer is no, think of something else.

•    Take it easy on the passive verbs.

It’s been said many times by English teachers to avoid passive verbs like "is" and "are." Now would be a good time to actively put it into practice. It helps to fiddle with the words and see what works.

Read on

• Titling a Story
• Techniques for Writing Web Content
• Keywords for Ezine or Online Magazine Articles
• Just ask.

If there are people around, take advantage of the opportunity. Ask them for ideas, suggestions and opinions for a unique perspective.

•    Get into the habit of studying other publications.

Clip all the headlines that work well and use them for inspiration and as idea generators.

•    Practice writing.

Before reading a magazine, ask a friend to cover all the headlines with sticky notes. Come up with creative headlines that work with the article and check to see if it was close to the original title. When reading, make note of the tone, style, design and photos that help dress up the article. What word or image comes to mind? Brainstorm and write down every idea no matter how off-the-wall it may appear.

Writing magazine headlines is not as easy as it looks, but with practice it will become easier. When reading anything, remember to ask: “What made me want to read this?”