| Author |
Message |
    
Gloria Marlow
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 11, 2002 - 07:08 pm: |   |
How imporant do you all feel your characters' names are? I am having the hardest time with the name thing on the books I'm working on. I just can't get them right. I've changed my main female character's name three times in the book I just "finished". I just don't like any of them. Do any of you ever have this problem? The last book, the name was there from the beginning, but this one, Yuk! I know everyone else's name, her neighbors, her students, her friends, old and new, everyone, but she is nameless. Help! I asked my family for suggestions. My thirteen year old son only likes the name "Victoria"; probably because of the "Victoria's Secret" catalog. My husband just names off the same names I rejected when we had our daughter and neither she nor my youngest son have any idea. So...does it really matter what I call her?
Gloria |
Nancy Mehl
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 11, 2002 - 07:24 pm: | |
Gloria,
I've never really had a problem with names for my female protagonists. I always found something from real life.
Cally Jo McAllister from Graven Images came from a Cally Jo in my computer files from the bank where I used to work.
Memrie Austin from Sinner's Song came from a work release volunteer at The Salvation Army. Her name was Memrie.
In Malevolence, my protagonist's name is Icy Curtis. I found this name in the paper once.
Just read the paper, go through the phone book, and listen to the TV and radio. You'll hear something that strikes you.
And next time you hear a name you like, write it down and file it for future use.
Nancy |
LaurieAnne Cruea
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 11, 2002 - 07:26 pm: | |
Gloria,
This is someone you have created. And with that, the choice, of course, comes down to you. If you don't like the name you have given her, then "she" is incomplete.
But I have always felt that the name helps to define the person. Maybe you need to define this character a little more in your mind to make her fit the name you have chosen, or to pick the name that seems to fit her personality.
The most recent book I have started, my daughter picked the leading lady's name. Jade is blooming to life as we speak.
Oh, and one hint I picked up: grab an atlas, let it fall open onto a page, and point blindly. Eventually, you'll find something that just might work. |
Gloria Marlow
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 11, 2002 - 07:43 pm: | |
Thanks. I am constantly going..."Ah, am I completely insane? How can I be a writer if I can't even name this person, the simplest of endeavors?" Sometimes, my brain is so blank it's scary. 
I think LaurieAnne hit the nail on the head. I just don't think I know this character well enough. I wrote this book from start to finish really quickly, knowing I would come back and fill all the details in. However, I told my mom I had "finished" it and she wanted to read it. She didn't like it nearly as much as "Flowers for Megan", but said it was a better storyline, plot. She said she just couldn't get into the main character. Sooo...maybe that is really the whole problem. I told her it was like looking at a really premature baby, it didn't have its little toenails and fingernails, etc. yet, but I think I do need to go back in and get a better feel of this woman.
Another question. Can I mention a national or state park in my book without infringing on anything?
Thanks again.
Gloria |
C. E. Winterland
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 11, 2002 - 09:32 pm: | |
How about "Charlotte"? I always think it has an intriguing ring to it. |
Claudia Turner VanLydegraf
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 11, 2002 - 11:10 pm: | |
Gloria,
What is she like?? Is she strong willed and pretty, or sort of a teacher type but not outgoing, or what are her likes and wants?? Does she strive for the stars or merely is content to float into and out of daily life as if on a cloud?? Those factors, when you decide on them, will help you put a name to the body. Go through a baby name book and look at the way the name is defined and you will come up with some really good ideas, but when it is all solid, they will have the strengths of the character when the name fits....
You can use an everyday name with no problems if your person portrays all of the characteristics that the name means and implies. It doesn't have to be a far out, exotic, or unusual name to gain the character if what the name means is what is in the heart of the character.
Just my thoughts 
Claudia |
femazur.com
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 12, 2002 - 08:20 am: | |
Gloria--
Here's a suggestion. Choose whatever name comes to mind for starters. Later, do a search-and-replace with a new name. Do this again even later. You might be surprised at how the understanding of your character will widen when you sit and read the piece with the new name.
F.E. Mazur
www.femazur.com |
Jennifer Lynn
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 12, 2002 - 08:41 am: | |
I use a baby book of names as a place to start. Once I've got a first and last name, I start fleshing out the character--background, interests, quirks, mannerisms. After I've done that, if the name doesn't fit the character, I go back to the book for another...unless I've heard something elsewhere that works really well.
Jenn |
Jan Fields
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 12, 2002 - 10:06 am: | |
Gloria,
You can use national or state parks in your story without infringing. Do use a place you know well, though, because fans love to spot things and say stuff like "ah ha! I've been to that park a bizillion times and there are no caves there!" or whatever. Even the names of plants can trip you up. Careful research is always a good idea because readers spot this stuff, write to your publisher, and publishers LOVES passing on "fan" letters -- especially when they point out your issues. [Even us lowly magazine writers get fan mail :-)
Jan |
Jan Fields
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 12, 2002 - 10:06 am: | |
publishers loves???
Some days I wonder where my keyboard went to school -- surely these typos aren't MY fault :-)
Jan |
Barbie Perkins Cooper
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 12, 2002 - 10:07 am: | |
This is really a super topic for discussion. Thanks so much for thinking of it.
My characters come from the phone book, sometimes. Other times, I have to wait until I think of a name that really represents who the character is.
I've used a baby book at times, too, especially when I'm not happy with the name. And like someone suggested, when I'm not happy with a name and finally discover a name for the character, I 'search and replace.' |
Dennis Collins
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 12, 2002 - 10:23 am: | |
My names are really a mixed bag. I try to picture the person and the say, "He looks like an Arnold," or something like that.
In my latest book, I have a totally evil villain who goes by the name, "Billy Bones." It's strictly a street name.
Another character, Charlie Whitepigeon, a Soo Tribe Chippewa, is a good guy and has an important supporting role. He enjoys his motorcycle, so I've nicknamed him, "Harley Charley."
Names are important because they convey a mental picture. Just think of "Mike Hammer."
Hey gang, I'm outta here... See you in a week. |
C. E. Winterland - work
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 12, 2002 - 01:39 pm: | |
I have the Websters Online Dictionary and Thesaurus (which is a dictionary and thesaurus on disc, not really online). Anyhow, it has a names etymology in it.
Since I make up all of my names (I haven't used many surnames in my fantasy books, so the names have to be unique) I use etymologies a lot. Using the names database in this program is cool too because it tells you what the history of the name MEANS (ie: Celeste = stars or something).
Anyone ever visit merriam-websters website? Check it out at http://www.m-w.com
CEW |
Scott Grueninger
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 12, 2002 - 02:41 pm: | |
Interesting topic. I always wondered how other writers came up with names. Personally, I collect baseball cards from the 50s and 60s. Whenever I'm stumped, I look at the cards. Of course, that doesn't help me much with female characters. I've used old high school yearbooks for some of those. I tend to mix the first and last names. Dennis makes a good point about conveying a picture with a name. |
laurelj
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 12, 2002 - 03:11 pm: | |
I never have any problem selecting names for my characters. I pick names of relatives or whatever. And a good friend has a new grandchild with the coolest name so I will use it in some future story. Jace Britt is the baby's name and to me it sounds like a cowboy or a rakehell. ))
Laurel J |
LaurieAnne Cruea
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 12, 2002 - 06:22 pm: | |
My step-daughter is following in my footsteps and wishes to write as well. She writes almost as much as I. This weekend, she wanted to start a new book. She had an idea of what her characters were like (ethnicity, history, etc.) and had a first name for the female, which I might add was a very good choice for the personality she gave this girl. Jessica Effingham is the name she chose for this woman (spoiled English rich, moved to Canada to inherit from Dad).
As an exercise for her, I made her sit down and detail every aspect of Jessica's history. It was cute, too. Erin would tell me that Jessica had gone to college. "What did she study?"--"I don't know."--"Then you don't know enough. This is something that could come up into conversation later in your book. You need to know more about your character than you do about yourself."--"Rats." (Mind you, Erin is 13. Rats is the worst she's allowed to say right now, but I know what she was thinking.)
Whenever I sit down to a new book, I start writing. I describe the scene opening on the leading lady (I know, I'm sexist). As the scene develops, the picture of this woman develops in my mind. By the end of the 1st paragraph, I have a name. I think it's that collective unconscious stuff.
LA |
Vickie Adkins
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 12, 2002 - 07:51 pm: | |
Gloria,
I did some research on this for my column at MyShelf.com. It was very interesting because I polled around 100 writers on different groups that I belong to. Some writers actually cut out pictures of people they see in magazines and catalog them, often eventually naming them as well. One writer said if this person looks like a Julia, I write Julia below the picture. Then when I'm writing, I refer back to the pictures and if one of these faces jumps out at me, or reminds me of a character I'm writing about, I keep that image and name with me as I write. Others see actors and actresses as they're writing, and use their first name for their own characters.
Some good advice I remember from one author was, don't use a "dated" name outside of the era it first became popular. Some names have been around forever (Adam and Eve, or other bible names, for instance), but others are too modern-sounding to use for say a housewife living in the 40s. A good example is Heather. I can't imagine a grandmother named Heather because that name became popular in the 80s. Or a cowboy living in the 1800s named Travis or Christopher, or some other now popular name.
Some authors get their names from family members that fit the personality of the people they're writing about. Others from cemeteries, or as Barbie mentioned, phone books or baby books.
Myself, I actually sort of become the characters I'm writing about, so I can sense what their name should be. I like to use family member's names (my own children, mother, grandparents) and if I need dates, I use the dates of their births as well. It kind of adds a personal touch.
Keep us informed. I'd love to hear more about your character. Maybe you could describe her and we could all suggest names. That would be kind of fun....
Best,
Vickie |
Gravity
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, March 12, 2002 - 10:05 pm: | |
The villian in my book SOCK MONKEY BLUES is a genetically-altered human killing machine whose real name is Charles Gwyllym...but, because he moves so fluidly when he kills, is known also by the nickname Boneless Chuck. Once I had the name, the character fairly leaped into being. Weird how that works, huh? |
C. E. Winterland
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, March 13, 2002 - 06:23 am: | |
Boneless Chuck! I LOVE it! That's funny.
CEW |
poker casino848 (Unregistered Guest)
Work-in-progress guest
Posted From: 155.230.7.98
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, March 06, 2006 - 06:10 pm: | |
poker casino poker 384 |
|
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page