Comments on: naming characters

By: Cece

Cece — Thu, 18 Aug 2005 23:45:26 +0000

My name was Sue Shi

By: Jordan

Jordan — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 22:27:45 +0000

My characters also tend to name themselves. It’s when they don’t, that I worry.

By: Emma S

Emma S — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 16:51:28 +0000

Usually my characters come with a name. It’s not always the right name but ususally pretty close - like the first letter is the same or something.

I like to use names with a certain meaning, even if the reader never knows it.

By: Amy K.

Amy K. — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 14:48:44 +0000

I use the baby name book, and I have to know a little bit about the character before I can name him/her. But I could probably take a name for a good cause and write around it. It’d be interesting to try. :)

By: Sharon

Sharon — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 13:13:38 +0000

If you only knew how LONG it takes me to come up with a characters name. I agonize over it forever and ever and ever…

So NO I could not just take a name given to me and run with it.

By: Suzanne

Suzanne — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 12:46:27 +0000

I do names by instinct. I just know the right name when I find it, and I can’t even start the story without the right name.

By: kacey

kacey — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 11:44:59 +0000

I have the HARDEST time with names. And I’ve been known to change them after rewriting chapter one for the billionth time… I usually have a harder time with deciding on male names. Both for the hero and other male charactes. What does that say about me???

By: Jerri

Jerri — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 10:48:04 +0000

I always have the names of both my H/H before I even write one word. Usually the title as well..or a semblance of one.:grin:

By: Emma

Emma — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 09:12:38 +0000

It takes me forever to come up with a main character’s name. It has to *feel* right and fit his/her personality. I could never start writing without names! Just like I could never write out of order.

Oh, and my outrageous name is Connie Lingus.

(I almost didn’t log out before posting this. But just almost!)

By: Steph T.

Steph T. — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 03:12:34 +0000

Lynn - you sound just like me with the characters telling you things about their names…

ROFLMAO @ Michelle’s name *g* Do you find it easier to pick a name when writing historicals? I usually love the names I finnd when I read historicals, because they can be more over-the-top and still fit perfectly.

I’m with you, Teresea. The character’s already ‘there’ first - so to just pin a random name would feel strange. But, like Lynn said, maybe a secondary character. Or maybe, if I were Nora Roberts, I could do it *ggg*

Cece - there are a few times I’ve started with a name and then couldn’t continue until I changed it. Damned bossy characters (yes, Jake, I’m taking about YOU)

So Rene - are you more plot-driven, then?

By: Rene

Rene — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 01:53:32 +0000

My names are rarely that important and I tend to change them in the midst of the story. If it is a historical, I will research to make sure the name existed. If you handed me a name, I could write it.

By: Cece

Cece — Wed, 17 Aug 2005 00:03:05 +0000

Mine usually come with names. Though sometimes I do get to choose. I know with one secondary character he totally balked at the name Pete so I ended up changing it to I don’t remember what. I gave Jade an off the wall name on purpose.