You do what I do, placing a title there first, which often changes by the end.

Rita,

Glad your article got great attention. Sounds like you’re definitely on the right track.

An example would be the headline of: “U.S. Navy Vessel Swarmed in Seattle…” Now, that got some serious attention! Here’s the link: http://situseattle.wordpress.com/2008/06/04/us-navy-vessel-swarmed-in-seattle/

Normally for me, the post comes naturally after I’ve come up with a heading I like, not the other way around. Just like I do when I write ad copy or some incredible postcard campaign. Dunno. Seems easier that way.

Smiles from the NW corner of these GREAT United States!
Auntie Rita

But sometimes that phrase is the whole of what needs to be said. Writing a personal blog, many posts are about abstract concepts. Putting things into words is always a labour of love whether you’re telling a story or trying to provide information. But there are times when we try to communicate things there are no words for (like my recent post on friendship) when that phrase doesn’t need to be rethought (although it does need to be re-checked!) because it was never an anchor to begin with; it was the destination.

For sure, when you’re getting advice from David Ogilvy and Gene Schwartz it’s worth paying attention.

There are quite a few draft posts I have showing just a headline and perhaps one line of text or a link to an article, and I know what you mean about thinking the content through in your head. Sometimes, when I’m trying to sleep, I can’t get an article idea shifted from my thoughts, which keeps my mind buzzing. Part and parcel of self-employment I suppose.

Thanks for taking the time to comment.

I started doing that based on the advice of people like David Ogilvy and Gene Schwartz (hard to go wrong with advice from those guys), but they were talking specifically about writing ads.

I often save my ideas for future posts in the form of a headline, and that usually lets me know if the topic is worth writing about in the future. But it’s also true that the headline often changes when I sit down to actually write.

Another reason I may not actually be any different from those who write the headline last is the fact that I often compose the entire article in my head first. I’ll do anything to avoid actually sitting down and typing. :)

You can’t go far wrong with a Chris Pearson theme, and you’ve customised yours quite nicely.

I found your related / similar post using Google’s blogsearch. I use it most times when I’m writing a new blog post, and glad I found your site.

I’m similar to you in that if a thought for a headline / article comes to mind, and I’m at my computer, I’ll create a draft article in WordPress with just the headline, and perhaps one sentence or link. I’ve a few drafts like that just waiting to be researched.

Vivien,

No problem at all. I normally don’t like to mention my powers, because some people think it’s bragging. Looking forward to your headlines post and will stop by to read your preamble.

Matt,

Don’t set your headlines in stone.

Yep, I think we’re all in agreement there. Thanks for commenting.

So, I think I’m prettty much in agreement with everybody else here; don’t set your headlines in stone.