Here's a headline from an article distributed by the Associated Press: "Nude Couple Grapple Over Dog in Shower."
I'm guessing that even if you don't want to be curious about the story behind this, you are.
Here's another real headline: "Men Shoot Themselves in Tattoo Attempt."
I picked these two because they illustrate the power of curiosity to draw us in to stories. Are you using that power in your writing? Here are a few places it can help you:
* titles of novels, screenplays, plays, and nonfiction books
* sub-titles of nonfiction books (often the title arouses curiosity, the sub-titles explain what the book is about, but sometimes it's the other way around)
* the opening line of your book
* the opening line of your query letter to an agent, publisher, producer, etc.
* the opening line of your pitch
It may be worth taking a moment to check whether you're using this power on your current project. I'm working on a screenplay at the moment and the director and I have been discussing the best title--one that arouses curiosity but also hints at the content. So far the director likes "Global Beach" best, and I like "The Floating Architect" (most likely the final title will be something different yet).
PS: The nude couple were taking a shower together. The man wanted to allow his dog in the bathroom, the woman didn't, and one thing led to another... And in the other story, the two men were trying to trace a .357-caliber Magnum as a pattern for a tattoo and it went off (their injuries were not life-threatening).
(if you'd like more creativity and productivity tips, subscribe to my free monthly Brainstorm e-bulletin, by request to [email protected])
