What’s in a Name?

               When I first wrote “The Big Freeze,” I didn’t think all that much of it. It seemed too fast and easy, and it was built on an obvious and already overused play on “Waiting for Godot.” But there was something there, so I posted it on my Facebook page—sans title, as I hadn’t come up with one yet. In time though, the short rhyme grew on me—I liked its simplicity, and there was a sense of melancholy I enjoyed. But I still didn’t see that much in it beyond someone whose day was not going to plan.

            Everything I post on speedwayjoe.com gets a title, so when it came time, I very quickly and without much thought came up with “The Big Freeze,” which seemed obvious given the state of the theater mentioned within. And as soon as I did, I saw a double meaning in the text that I hadn’t noticed before: “The Big Freeze” referred to both the extreme weather that closed the theater, and the speaker getting stood up by his celebrity date—each event potentially a metaphor for the other. Just like that, my harmless little schoolyard rhyme felt a bit deeper and more deliberate, with almost no extra effort required.

               Without its title, “Money Isn’t Everything” poses the question where is Tiffany? The title then creates more possibilities by suggesting that Tiffany’s whereabouts—or the speaker’s perception of such—might somehow be tied to ideas about wealth or materialism. This makes for interesting discussion; I have a few ideas about what may have become of our heroine, and others have posed more that never occurred to me. I find this to be one of the most fun and rewarding parts of the process—so please post your Tiffany theories in the comments!

               Finally, “The Isolation of Ron” is a simple description of a contrarian who may or may not be going out of his way to irritate people. But the title adds information that immediately poses a question not present in the text: why is Ron isolated? I have my ideas, of course, but I’d rather hear yours.

               So, give some thought to your titles. The right title can illuminate hidden meaning and complexity, creating a more engaging and satisfying experience for your reader. Just ask Tiffany—if you can find her.