Writing headlines

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I'm doing a copywriting course at the moment and as part of my coursework, I have to write headlines. I'm really struggling. The course notes aren't great and neither is the support from the tutor. Everything's done online, so there's no chance of having a telephone conversation to discuss things properly. Anyway, the task is to try to write a 4-6 word headline for a number of articles. I should try to use short words.

Here are details of the article I am struggling with:

A girl from Liverpool has cancer. She is celebrating Christmas 2 months early at Disneyland. The reason she is celebrating early is because they do not expect her to live until December. A local business is paying for the trip.

They are the facts I've been given. I haven't actually been given the full article. I don't know if the trip is "a surprise". I'm struggling to find the right angle. This is the angle I'm going for: the dying child is celebrating Christmas early. Does anyone think I should go for another angle?

The course notes say headlines should be full sentences. They should always have a subject and a verb.
#copywriting #headlines #writing
  • So, they started you on the easy ones?

    Have a look at Upworthy (google it if you don't know it).

    It's crammed full of emotive headlines.

    Pick the ones you feel are most suitable.

    But don't use them verbatim - (never, ever do that) - replace a few words, add a twist and a shake...

    And the new versions will be exclusively yours.


    Steve
    • [2] replies
      • [1] reply
    • Thanks, Steve. I think the problem is that I'm not sure what the best angle is. I'm confident I'll be able to write something once I have the right angle.
  • To find the "angle" ask yourself...

    What is it you want the reader to "feel" and what would entice them to read on…

    Hint for your headline assignment -

    The "Feel" could be the tragedy of dying young and the wonderful, generous sides of human nature.

    Blend what is a very emotive story with intrigue/curiosity.



    Steve
    • [1] reply
    • I want the reader to feel sorry for the girl and for them to want to read on to find out why she is celebrating Christmas early. I was going to go with something like this: "Dying child to have early Christmas". Thanks for the tip!
  • Ok.

    Cancer girl is the star.

    The local business is the hero.

    Many more would like to be or could be hero's (and they are always needed).

    So you might want a headline that pulls them in.


    Steve
    • [2] replies
    • It sounds like you've been asked to write a headline for a news story, not a sales piece. So I don't get the purpose of the exercise.

      But anyway...

      A headline that creates curiosity gets attention. Here are five ways...

      1. Incongruence
      2. Story
      3. The unknown
      4. Challenge conventional wisdom
      5. The product's differentiation

      Alex
      • [2] replies
    • I really like this idea. I have to write 3 versions of the headline once I've decided which angle to take: one that intrigues, one that is informative and another that is for the web (which needs to be informative).
      • [ 1 ] Thanks
  • Isn't it refreshing to get appreciation from someone asking for advice?

    Notice how everyone was individually thanked.

    I'm sure you'll all join me in giving Tara a warm round of applause.

    And we wish her well in persevering and moving forever onwards with her copywriting course.


    Steve
    • [ 2 ] Thanks
    • [1] reply
    • Thank you, Steve.

      I really appreciate everybody's help.
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    Writing headlines

    I'm doing a copywriting course at the moment and as part of my coursework, I have to write headlines. I'm really struggling. The course notes aren't great and neither is the support from the tutor. Everything's done online, so there's no chance of having a telephone conversation to discuss things properly. Anyway, the task is to try to write a 4-6 word headline for a number of articles. I should try to use short words. Here are details of the article I am struggling with: