Unread topics are just that. Something that YOU haven't read. When you create a topic, it's marked as read because they figure you read it when you typed it. It appears unread to the rest of us, because we haven't read it yet. To see responses, o to your profile and look at your list of Topics created.
I also agree with the comments on using a descriptive title. Some days I have time to read everything, but usually, I have to just pick and choose.