Titles for Chapters

[JeffFromSyracuse]

Hi all.

Are there best practices for titling chapters? As I'm writing a unit piece that encompasses 2.5 years, so I'm using timeframes / battles for chapter titles. I feel it's easier to navigate.

That said, right now, I'm reading a book that uses participant quotes for each chapter.

Do publishers have a preference, or is it author choice?

 

[Red Raider]

I would keep them uniform. Use the same category for each. I always prefer using the main theme of a chapter as part of a title. I have seen quotes as significant options for titles, but I also like using a few of my own words that I wrote in that chapter that stands out. I will be going through this process in a few months when I begin my MA thesis. Keep it simple, clear, and concise. I am sure some of our authors will have better ideas, as a reader and writer, those are mine.

 

[Michael C. Hardy]

Some publishers have preferences. I frequently have a main title for each chapter, i.e., "The Gettysburg Campaign.," and then a short quote from something (letter or diary) within the chapter. That is something you can work out with your publisher when the time comes.

 

[John5thNJ]

Speaking only as a reader, I appreciate when chapter titles are more informative than just quotes. Having dates or campaign names or key events or something else factual in the title or subtitle makes it easier to navigate, to see where the author is heading, and to see how much space is devoted to various topics.

 

[ErnieMac]

Nothing so annoying than no description other than Chapter 1, Chapter 2, etc.

 

[19thOhio]

Hi all.

Are there best practices for titling chapters? As I'm writing a unit piece that encompasses 2.5 years, so I'm using timeframes / battles for chapter titles. I feel it's easier to navigate.

That said, right now, I'm reading a book that uses participant quotes for each chapter.

Do publishers have a preference, or is it author choice?

It is your choice if you self publish.

 

[lupaglupa]

I agree with a lot written above. I like a simple chapter title that is direct and explanatory - timeframe/battle sounds great. I think quotes from the time discussed are a great intro at the beginning and add some immediacy to what's being presented.

 

[DixieRifles]

I'm reading a book that uses participant quotes for each chapter.

Ward's "River Run Red" uses Quotes for about half and Time of day or descriptive words for other chapter titles.
But dont do what he did. When you flip to back to look up a Footnote reference, he only uses the Title of the chapter without the chapter number. A little annoying.

 

[Gary Morgan]

I think I would go with date and location for chapter titles; concise yet descriptive.