I’m writing a story and I’m having trouble naming the chapters. Would you please help?

tall babes
❤♰ The sweet sound of my blood♰❤ asked:

Okay the story is fiction and I’m starting chapter 4. Here are the chapters. And I know I haven’t gotten chance to edit it yet so please don’t be rude….

Chapter 1

I tied my dark hair into a pony-tail and opened my spell book. I pulled on my charm necklace as I read through the difficult readings. The charm was made by my mother. The complicated patterns were carved from Gems of Savage Crystals.
I looked up to see Ash standing over me.
Ash was your typical popular school boy. He had round brown eyes and his silky, straight, chestnut hair hung down his shoulders. He stood tall and had a graceful build. His skin was pallid and his wardrobe was classy and odd.
We’ve been together for about 3 years.
“ What spell are you gonna cast on me next?” He asked mockingly as he kissed me on the cheek. I laughed and said, “ I’m thinking about making you turn into a werewolf. I would love to see how your family would react.” He shook his head at the word wolf. “ Why are you so disgusted by wolves?” I asked suddenly.
“ Because like all myths, us vamps are their rivals and they are ours.”
His voice had acid in it. I turned to stare at him then. His eyes turned lighter into a hazel color.
“ **** I didn’t mean it I know you have wolf cousins. It was a joke.” I smiled an uneven smile and closed the spell book.
“ Come on my little witch. We’re going to be late for class.” He picked me up and turned me toward him. I grabbed my book and threw it into my duffel bag. He grabbed my hand and we walked swiftly to class.
“ Hey I’ll meet you in there in one minute okay.” Ash kissed my cheek and darted away before I could say okay. I walked into class and ran into my sister Isis. She reminded me of a cheetah. Her eyes were the color of burning flames and her hair was shoulder length and luxuriously ivory colored. She had a curvy build. “ Hi Lil,” She said and darted out the classroom. That was all she ever said. I took my usual seat at the back of the room and sat down. I turned to stare out the window.
“ Told you it would take a minute.” I recognized that voice.

Chapter 2

“ Mix a cup of Sage and freesia into the potion.” Isis said. I nodded and followed directions. She went to the next page of the spell and pressed her palm against her cheek. “ Stir until you smell the the scent of the freesia and the lavender mixed. “ Isis said. I stirred the potion carefully until I smelt the aroma of the freesia.
The sweet smell burned my nostrils.
“ Repeat the spell after me.” She cleared her throat and chanted, “ All hell rises, make me thy path where all thy love can be reached. Clear the fires of hell and bring me back the charms of bloodlines that belonged to thy mother of hope, courage, and beauty.” I repeated after her carefully making sure I said each word correctly. Nothing happened. I said it again, but nothing happened. I looked at Isis confused and she flipped back through the pages and read through them again. “ Oh,” she gasped. I leaned across the table and read the words up side down. “ We were suppose to add a drop of type a blood.” I shook my head exhausted and walked across the room. I looked out the window and sighned. “ Maybe next time sis.” I half-smiled and walked back to the table to help her clean up the mess. “ I’m not a pro at this, but I’ll help you learn this certain spell. Grandma Bartholomew taught me and I can teach you.” I smiled and touched her on the shoulder. She smiled too and pulled her long ivory hair into a bun. “ So you and Vamp are together still? How long has it been?” I felt my heart move to the edge of my throat and swallowed hard. How did she know we were together. “ It’s obvious yall are together. I mean he stares at you in a way that makes me jealous.” I swallowed. Jealous. I bit my nail and opened my mouth to speak. “ Please don’t tell anyone, especially grand. We can’t let her know that I’m dating a vampire!” I swallowed again and stood. I felt my heart racing two. “ I’m going to bed. Goodnight.” I turned to face her. Her skin was paler in the light. She nodded and put the spell book on the shelf. I walked back over to her and hugged her sideways. “ Isis, please.” I did my special puppy dog look and stared her down. She chuckled and said, “ Secrets are safe with me.” I smiled and walked gracefully out the room.

Chapter 3

“ Want a bite?” I handed Isis my apple. She took the apple and bit into it making a sour face. “ Green apples…eww!” I laughed and kneeled down beside her. “ Did you hear?” she said as she took a sip of her Diet Coke. I took the apple and took two bites. “ Hear what?” I said in between chews. “ Gram invited some of our cousins over.!” I took another bite out the apple. “ When is it?” I asked. She took another sip of her drink and said, “ Friday night.”
My mouth dropped.
“ Friday freaking night!” I screamed almost. “ Is there something better you have to do?” She asked. I cleared my mind and said, “ Of course






6 Responses to 'I’m writing a story and I’m having trouble naming the chapters. Would you please help?'

  1. Mr. Grudge - March 2nd, 2010 at 9:54 am

    I generally number my chapters leaving the story to the imagination of the reader. But, if your style is to tease your audience with a chapter name, my advice is to not be too revealing, such as (example) “Chapter One: The day Johnny Drops Dead.” Or, too cliche: “Chapter Two: The Mysterious Island.” You get the picture.

    This is your story, and from what I have read so far, you are doing a fine job. But, naming each chapter is something that you as the other need to do with the same inspiration which caused you to write to begin with. Take the time to find that special nugget within each chapter to tease your readers with and you will find it so worthwhile and satisfying that you’ll have fun just picking out chapter names. I have the same pleasure coming up with story titles, and you should think of each chapter within your novel as story bites. Good luck!

  2. Bert H - March 5th, 2010 at 3:16 am

    I authored a series of books and the chapter titles I took from an entry (somewhat obscured) from the text.

    Ex:
    Your first one could be titled -
    The werewolf in my life.

    Anything to perk a reader’s interest is fine. ;-)

  3. Unpretty - March 8th, 2010 at 9:00 pm

    My advice is not to use “I (did this)” and “I (did that)” so much because it all tends to blend together in a way. Obviously, the story is first person, which makes it a harder perspective to write in without using “I” so much, but a lot of readers will get irritated with the story if their eyes keep drifting over the same spots two or three times because the same word keeps appearing. The story loses its appeal.

    The chapters are too short, too. Basically, you could take the three chapters you have and blend them into one, and still add more. Two or three paragraphs don’t make a chapter. Try expanding on each chapter…for instance, when you introduce Ash, you describe him, then cut it off by saying that the character has been with him for three years. But, how did a witch meet a vampire? Try broadening the chapters by adding hints of personalization…don’t tell the story. Let the story tell itself.

    I know you weren’t looking for advice there…just wanted to give you a few tips. :)

    As for chapter naming, sometimes I come up with a chapter title right away. It just pops into my mind and I know it fits. Other times, I leave it alone and come back to it later. Sometimes I don’t bother with naming the chapter at all.

    If you want to name the chapter, don’t be too obvious…but don’t be too vague either. You want to capture the readers’ attention. For instance, in chapter 3, you could call it something like “Sour Apples”. At first, the reader will see that they are eating green apples and figure you are making reference to that. Then, they will see that it could be because of the cousins’ Friday night visit.

  4. Friday - March 10th, 2010 at 7:32 pm

    Chapter 1: “Charming” (refers to both the spell and Ash’s personality)
    Chapter 2: “Type A” (relevant but not too revealing)
    Chapter 3: “Bitten” (playing on the vampire theme but obviously about the apple)

    Just a few ideas. Hopefully that helps.
    Friday

  5. scarlett9284 - March 12th, 2010 at 10:49 am

    A chapter should be much longer than even what you have written here.

    As for chapters, if they don’t name themselves, they really don’t need to be named. I just use the numbers.

  6. CatLuver - March 15th, 2010 at 8:49 pm

    If you’re stuck on chapter names, do what I do.

    1. Name chapters according to the plot of the book. e.g. a story about the ocean could have chapters called Turtles, Seals, Mermaid, ect ect.
    2. Name them Chapter One, Chapter Two, and so on.
    3. Treat each chapter as a mini story, and name it that way. e.g. If your characters go to a beach in a chapter, call that chapter ‘The Beach’.

    Hope I helped.

    Answer mine?


Leave a Reply