tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780510492901683811.post4530524549371159627..comments2023-10-31T06:13:42.626-07:00Comments on Author JL Henry: Naming NamesJodi Henryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03216373059861459896noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780510492901683811.post-38481360266979243192010-11-20T19:12:59.105-08:002010-11-20T19:12:59.105-08:00I hate naming my characters. If it doesn't ju...I hate naming my characters. If it doesn't just shout out at me, I have a hard time.<br /><br />But I'm with you on stealing unique names from real people I meet. Oh yes, name tags are so cool! I have had to research a few names here and there; honestly, I get lost in the research. I like reading for the sake of reading, knowing just because. Trivia sucks me in every time.<br /><br />I read your chapt 9 excerpt. Wow. Is that a dream? Or some mystical meeting? I'm intrigued. And you used the clerks name! Fantastic.<br /><br />.......dholedolorahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08715849844092553699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780510492901683811.post-61213678730113701262010-11-20T05:00:21.872-08:002010-11-20T05:00:21.872-08:00I have to have a name most of the time before I ca...I have to have a name most of the time before I can even put the character on the page. It gives me a sense of who they are, where they're from, and what they're like. I have a collection of baby books (be careful to hide else they freak the boyfriend out) and online sources that I use, usually making notes in the meantime about the character, scraps of history, hair color, former lovers, that kind of thing. I've always found it like an archeological dig, hot, stinky, dusty, and yet you might uncover gold.Axhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14622048953939589564noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780510492901683811.post-24607831973851662042010-11-18T15:59:52.756-08:002010-11-18T15:59:52.756-08:00Coming up with character names is so much fun.
My...Coming up with character names is so much fun.<br /><br />My MC's name, Gardner West, came from two sources. Gardner, a college roomate of my husband. And West, a summer boyfriend. I like both men and both names and they sounded New England enough without being New England cliche.<br /><br />Fun post! Love the Aleaktra story:)Terry Stonecrophttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03726985400500572770noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780510492901683811.post-31449677793790044392010-11-18T06:42:00.129-08:002010-11-18T06:42:00.129-08:00Coming up with characters' names is my favorit...Coming up with characters' names is my favorite part. It is such an important part of my process. I can't even start writing until I figure out my characters' names. <br /><br />There's only been one time I've named a character after a real life person. I named my MC's friend after a student of mine because he kinda became my friend and pushed me to write the book. I also based the character's looks off of this boy. <br /><br />I wouldn't name a character after someone I hated and wanted to see punished or anything. I just ... those people aren't worth immortalizing. Sure I'd be killing or torturing them or something, but I don't want to give anyone the satisfaction of knowing they got to me that much that I had to put them in my book. <br /><br />I too like unique names. I don't go too crazy because I don't want to be distracting, but I like names that are different and special. <br /><br />By the way, I like Morana and what the name means.Basthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12561466241112288690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780510492901683811.post-69549665048401016952010-11-18T01:43:41.003-08:002010-11-18T01:43:41.003-08:00Names are REALLY important, to me, at least. They ...Names are REALLY important, to me, at least. They help define the character. Of course, I'm writing a memoir now. It's probably a good thing I've always liked my name.Samantha Véranthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07446488761214047647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780510492901683811.post-48450354927010540072010-11-17T19:53:51.438-08:002010-11-17T19:53:51.438-08:00I didn't name any of my main characters. I did...I didn't name any of my main characters. I didn't. I named all the side characters though!Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12096764010151024050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780510492901683811.post-45223023368675602592010-11-17T19:53:23.889-08:002010-11-17T19:53:23.889-08:00So far my stories have all been set in Ancient Gre...So far my stories have all been set in Ancient Greece, so I pore over ancient Greek names. 99% of my characters' names have something to do with their physical characteristics, where they are from, or something they do well.<br /><br />Nice post.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07995267172282765794noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780510492901683811.post-38481220424547646532010-11-17T16:42:13.376-08:002010-11-17T16:42:13.376-08:00I am given the main characters name before I start...I am given the main characters name before I start the story, but the others leave me confused and frustrated. I love names, researching them, testing them out, hating them, loving them, and then all over again.<br /><br />What's fantastic is that when you finally find the name it's like finishing that very first draft. You know it's right.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03667521490706435608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5780510492901683811.post-59178977539603079312010-11-17T16:00:53.786-08:002010-11-17T16:00:53.786-08:00Hi Jodi!
You have no idea how heartened I am to r...Hi Jodi!<br /><br />You have no idea how heartened I am to read "As Authors, we spend countless hours ... finding names for our characters." I find choosing names to be hair-tearing out difficult. This is multiplied exponentially for a fantasy setting where there might be hundreds of names to dream up! <br />I recently came up with an idea. I dashed off a page of names, stringing any old syllables together, then I gave it to my daughter and asked her to decide on their gender, their occupation and their character - all suggested from the sound the name conjured up in her mind. Now I have a little store of minor characters at least. If only I could settle on the MC!Dominic de Mattoshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05171145945316152596noreply@blogger.com