You got the idea. You got the fine fluid of imagination running through you. You picked up your pen and wrote down the poem. Then you submitted it. But suddenly, to your shock, the magazine replied with a rejection letter.

Close to 50% of rejections come from poor titling. A powerful title has a way of luring editors into quickly reading a poem. A bad title, on the other hand, can put readers off from going through the work.

A title is the introduction to a work. Readers often decide whether they want to read a piece based on how attractive the title is. A title can be informative or a simple hook that pulls readers in.

If you’re new to poetry and have been struggling to title your work effectively, you can try the following strategies.

Try making the first line the title.
The title ought to be the introduction to a piece of work. After writing the poem, if you find yourself struggling to come up with a title, pick the first line as the official title. Then the second line becomes the opening line of the poem. That way, you can lure readers in with the title. For example:

I used to drink the water with a paper cup (title)

at the village stream, where trees also bow to drink. (first line)

Use the location where the poem takes place.
You can also use the location where the poem takes place as the title. This works especially well for narrative and descriptive poems. For example, you can use titles such as A Day at the Park or Soccer Hub.

Use a declarative sentence.
This can also serve as a strong title. Simply use one declarative sentence that best explains the central idea of the poem. For example, if the poem is about visiting a waterfront, you can use Water Is No Enemy.

Add personality and fun to the title.
Adding personality can make the poem more engaging and attract readers to it. An example is Suzi Q. Smith’s Rage in Four-Part Harmony.

Remember that titling can play a significant role in whether a poem gets accepted or rejected. Whenever you find yourself stuck, compressed, or unable to produce a satisfactory title, you can use one of the strategies listed above.