Loading ...I was flipping through channels like a man either Friday or Saturday night and ran across an old Burt Reynolds, Kris Kristofferson movie. I paused only long enough to listen to half of a conversation, during which a name was mentioned and I knew if fit my guy. His first name, anyway. The last one I’m having more trouble with, and though I can see his first scene, I can’t write it until his name is right. Other authors need titles, or to know their black moment, or their ending. For me, it’s names.
So yesterday, with game after game on the telly while we assembled the Christmas tree and while #2 daughter sneezed and drizzled her germs everywhere *g*, I read the backs of football jerseys. We’ve got Polamalu and Ochocinco and Favre (with the most riDICulous pronunciation ever, bugs the crap out of me every time I hear it; there is NO “FAR” anywhere in the word, only “FAV”), but there are also a lot of nice normal names to fit heroes or anti-heroes.
I do the same with news stories. Have been known to do the same with phone books, or did when I actually had one. I don’t use the names of people I know, or have worked with. It’s too easy to then make the association between the two while writing.
I’ve got a list of several, and I sound them out with the first name, trying them on for size, thinking how it will read (yes, I am this obsessive). It’s funny, because I had absolutely no trouble with my hero or heroine. The first names that rolled off my tongue, fit. I think this one is giving me trouble because of what I plan to do with this character. I need him to be uber sexy, but also uber scary and psychologically threatening. Honestly, I can’t wait to write him.
What about you guys? Are characters names as important to you? What aspect of a story must you know before writing it?
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A title! I need a title!!
Heather, currently titleless
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Interestingly enough, though I never have titles for anything, I do for this one, but I know it won’t stick. Sill, it fits!
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I think it’s easier to write with character names than without.
It makes them more ‘real.’
I have written stuff without character names, but they tend to be fragmentary. Not even chunks of story.
I obsess about titles, but I don’t have to have one.
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I stopped worrying about titles when I realized I’d almost never get to keep them. I did have to change a hero’s name once and it was painful, but he turned out okay in the end, heh.
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Very neat names, I even see a few I’ve never seen used in a book before!! :)
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I love names. @cuppacafe works with a woman whose first name is Narda. That was totally a new one for me. I think he said it’s Dutch.
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Well I’m not a writer but I like good strong names. I voted for Wylie, it makes me think crafty and sneaky.
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Wylie is actually my first choice, too, or it was until another popped into my head, LOL! I still haven’t decided!
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Yes! I was with the crowd on Banning – I’d go with Callahan for “scary” but that’s really because there exists a person with that last name and I extremely dislike him/her. However, that knocks out the “sexy” aspect.
Also I should be asleep at 2:02 AM, not blog hopping. Because then I leave overly long, inane comments >.<
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I think I’ve settled on one and it came to me last night. It’s got the right rhythm and feel. So weird how I can fixate on this for days!
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speaking of cool names, there was a bailiff named Alyss I think :X it doesn’t sound like “Alice” but is close… argh. I feel like I have the spelling off. And the judge retired. (Also it’d be too weird to walk into a judge’s chambers just to scope out name plates :P)
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I’ve seen Alyss before, but have never used it spelled that way. I think I had a secondary Alice once, but can’t remember. Happens when you’ve written too many characters! Alyss would make a good non-contemp name!
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lolz :X well it fits since the bailiff was like in her 70s. O_o
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Makes me think of Night Court for some reason, heh.
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I said Hannigan because it makes me think of Hannibal Lechter.
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Well, that’s a definite reason!