I had a lengthy discussion over the weekend on chapter titles.

During the conversation, I was told they were not needed and if it were to say anything more than ‘chapter eleven’ it was a distraction.  He followed up with them being amateurish and more suited to young adult novels.  I vehemently disagreed.  While they may be used (or not) at the discretion of the author (or agent or publisher), I do not feel they are amateurish nor should they be limited to young adult novels.  Side note - I downloaded an eBook this afternoon by one of my mentors, Elizabeth Sims.  She used chapter titles.  I felt vindicated.

I’ll admit that I’m smitten with them — but I never skim the table of contents when I begin a book.  I’m afraid they’ll give away too much.  Something along the lines of ‘Mr. Barnaby’s Funeral’ being chapter twenty.  Inevitably two pages in I’m reading about a Mr. Barnaby.  Well…no surprise how he ends up.

I think of them as mini-hooks or teasers.  I’ve spent many evenings reading along and in my head, I’ve told myself this will be the last chapter.  As I wrap up, I spy the title of the next one.  If it’s good, it will totally draw me in.  If there wasn’t one there, I’d be satisfied having met my pre-set chapter quota, put the book on the nightstand, and retire for the evening.

Take note!  The writing must be strong enough to pull the reader all the way through your work.  They shouldn’t want to put it down and you shouldn’t give them any reason to.  That said, life it what it is and it’s out of your control when the boss has scheduled a 7:00am meeting and the reader needs to get some sleep.  If I was wavering on reading further because I have to be up early the following morning, a clever chapter title may send me into the office with dark circles under my eyes.

Wine? I’m there.  Wine and chocolate?  Bonus!  That’s what book chapters are to me.  A nugget of enticing chocolate. 

In the first several drafts of The Stockings Were Hung, each chapter was named after the location in town where the action transpired.  Chapter one was titled The Train Station, chapter two Hope House, chapter three The Bed & Breakfast, and on down the line.  Efficient, but not terribly effective in pulling someone into one more chapter.

The Train Station was replaced with The Arrival.  Who (or what) is arriving?  How does it impact what we had just seen?

Hope House became The Discovery.  What are they about to discover?

The Bed and Breakfast morphed into The Division.  What (or who?!?) was being divided up?

Each chapter title should give you a little tinge of excitement and peek into the action, but it’s important not to make them a flat out spoiler (see example chapter twenty up above).

Do you use chapter titles in your own work?  Are they a distraction or do they draw you in?  Let me know in the comments section.