Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Character Names

I'm very busy working on the second book in my Recon Marines science fiction series. The first book, The Marine's Queen, is still doing really well on Amazon. I hope I can create an even better novel with the second book.

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.

Still I like keeping it simple. The main male character in The Marine's Queen is named Joe. Not as in GI Joe the toy but as in a genetically engineered soldier whose creators couldn't be bothered to even give him two names.

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:

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I never name a character after someone I know. But I do love simple names!!

Maria Zannini said...

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.

The Happy Whisk said...

I had a close friend put me in his novel, using my name and then killed me off. It was great fun.

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

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.

Stephen Tremp said...

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.

Unknown said...

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!

~Sia McKye~ said...

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

Anonymous said...

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.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

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?

shelly said...

My MC's BFF, in Secondhand Shoes, is named after my BFF.

Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly

Michelle Wallace said...

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

Michael Offutt, Phantom Reader said...

Congratulations on your sales success!

Anonymous said...

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.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

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.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

I've never used a friend's name - yet! Most of mine came from the Bible - Sarah, Matthew, Mark, etc.

Bethie said...

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.

Annalisa Crawford said...

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.

Annalisa Crawford said...

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 :-)

Unknown said...

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.