When working on a new story, I have to come up with some new names for all those characters sticking their noses into the plot. When I read, I always cringe when I come across characters names that are really odd or unpronounceable. It won't make me put a book down, but it does make it more difficult to remember the character's names should I want to tell someone about the book. I tend to go with simple names though not necessarily common.
As a teacher, I encounter a lot of names and many strange spellings of said name. Or course, I don't want any of my students to think they're appearing in my books but how can I resist names like Vannie, Primo and Austyn?
On the other hand, my siblings may have noticed their names appearing in some of my books. They're always the good guys. I'm not crazy enough to make four sisters and two brothers angry at me.
A brief shout out to my friend, Misty Simon, who has received a contract for another novel with TWRP. Her last novel, What's Life Without Sprinkles?, is now available and a really fun read.
So have you been using the names of friends or family in your novel? Anybody name a character after you? Would you be insulted if they did?
19 comments:
I never name a character after someone I know. But I do love simple names!!
I don't name characters after people I know either. Though once I used the name of an acquaintance that was simple yet unique enough for a future world.
I had a close friend put me in his novel, using my name and then killed me off. It was great fun.
I can't remember ever using names of people I know in my work. I don't care what the character's name is - if it's odd or long etc - as long as it fits them in the story. I do struggle with coming up with last names, though.
I glean names from various sources. Once I heard my neighbor plating Jimi Hendrix and I was writing a scene with two security guards. So I named them Hendrix and James. Sometimes its that simple to name characters.
I've read a few posts by authors on the process they go through for choosing character names. Most give it a lot of careful thought, looking for meaning in names, making sure the name is appropriate to the setting, if applicable. It's important!
I've never named a character after anyone in my family or friends. I think names help define a character and I want them unique. I agree, names should be simple or if you do name a character some unpronounceable name, give them a nick name the reader will remember.
I haven't read your book yet but I like storyline! I have it on my wish list.
Congrats to Misty!
Sia McKye OVER COFFEE
There's only a couple characters that I've named because of someone I know. It's not because the characters are like the person, but because I love their name and it fits the character.
Congratulations, Misty!
I always brainstorm simple but unique names and always with the thought that they must be easy to pronounce.
You have a kid in your class named Primo?
My MC's BFF, in Secondhand Shoes, is named after my BFF.
Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly
I struggle with names.
My character remains nameless, or becomes Mr.X or Ms.Y for quite a while, until I think of a name...
Writer In Transit
Congratulations on your sales success!
Names are an interesting topic. I tend to have fun with names I can't pronounce in books, making them sound positively jumbled and playful. It keeps the reading lively, especially if it's for a long book with an exciting story and plot.
I suppose it's like naming a baby. The name should fit the personality of the character, making it nearly impossible for the reader to picture her/him named as anything else.
Yes, Alex, I just had Primo in class today. Love that kid.
I think most people like the simple names though we could probably all name some books that had odd names that we loved.
I've never used a friend's name - yet! Most of mine came from the Bible - Sarah, Matthew, Mark, etc.
I want names to be true to the story, but not so hard I stumble over them. If I can't pronounce the name, I'm less likely to relate to a character. Congratulations on the sales.
I just write the first name that comes to mind, and it usually sticks. The character I'm writing about at the moment had to be named via a baby names book, because it needed to be something very specific.
PS I once gave a name to a really horrible person, then my friend named his baby the same name, so I felt I ought to change it :-)
Yes, actually I do use friends and family a lot, but like you, I don't for the antagonist. That's just asking for trouble.
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