Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Character Names

How do you come up with character names? Do you keep lists of great names? Do you change names mid-story?

For me, the right character name can make or break that character. What are some of your most favorite character names that you've used?

9 comments:

  1. Yeah, I pretty much suck at names. I usually don't change them in the middle of a work, but I do change the spelling. Thank God for Find, eh?
    Teri

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  2. I can't write a word without the charactes naming themselves first. They are sneaky rascals that way!

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  3. My lastest names: Gerard (as in Butler - 'nuff said) and Emma (Austen fan). Generally though, I love the archangel names for men and classic names for women.

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  4. I usually need to come up with a name before I can get a good start.
    The character name is an important component of the character himself (or herself) and I need that up front.

    Beauregard makes be think of an entirely different kind of person than say...Elmer, Wayne or Bixby.

    Hmm Beauregard. I may use that in something. :):)
    Hey thanks.
    L

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  5. I'm with Jax. I can't write a word without knowing the character's name. And it can't change after I get going. That'd be like changing my kids' names.

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  6. I usually just throw in a name at first, like James and Amy. Funny how those two names just sort of stuck for my current WIP. James is a 250 year old protector and Amy is desperately trying to be normal even though she isn't. So I sometimes think I suck at names but sometimes it just works for me.

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  7. I don't change names for the MCs. Sometimes I'll change a secondary character's and then end up having to go back and fix where I forgot to change the names. Some names just come to me, others I sit and ponder over before putting them on paper. Sometimes I use foreign words with some significant meaning as a character's last name. Once I wrapped a character's name up in the storyline. In my third book, the MCs name is... Mary Jones. It just had to be, because it fits the story so well.

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  8. My characters tend to show up with their names, either intact, or with a big old clue. They rarely change in any significant way once I start writing.

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  9. I keep a list of great names, and scroll through till one jumps out at me.

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