Over on the Deadline Divas' blog, Rhoda recently posted a picture she used for inspiration and I absolutely loved it. In fact, it inspired me too! Several years ago I was inspired to write this story. In my head I saw it on stage rather than in a book. Not sure why but that's what I was seeing. And having less of a clue of how to write a screenplay than I do a book, the idea got shoved to the further most recesses of story idea queue in my mind. Well, plus, the idea wasn't fully formed - I basically only knew the concept.
Fast forward to this picture of inspiration and suddenly the concept is fully formed. I know the beginning, the middle and well, I don't know the exact ending but I do know it is a happily ever after one. I even have a title for the story.
The only thing I don't have is the character's names. I never get fully invested in the names so they might change a gazillion times in the process. And I hate that.
One exception to that is a story idea that I have but it's based on someone I actually know and so I only see that person's name for my character. But, should it be published and should my friend actually read my book, I wouldn't want her (or a jury) to know (beyond a shadow of a doubt) that I based the character on her - or at least one of my initial impressions of her. (I should point out here that it is a person I adore and have the utmost respect for but this particular aspect may not seem "flattering" and I don't want to hurt any feelings.)
Anyway, I've told you all this to ask this - how do you come up with your character's names? Do they just come to you? Do they grow into them?
I just had this flashback to when I got my dog Harley and I called him something different every day until I took him to the vet and was forced to decide on a name. I don't know that I can do that with my characters.
Again, anyway, how do you work these details out? Inquiring minds want to know. :o)
3 comments:
It's both fun and a torment to choose character names. It seems so...permanent. LOL.
I life old fashioned names for my guys (archangels, bible names, or just simple like Max, Sam, Mike).
For heroines, I usually base it on her pesonality. What is your heroine's personality?
Good luck!
It takes me forever to find a name, but once I do they usually stick. I use pictures of my hero and heroine (cut out from magazines, internet, etc.) and try to match the name to a face. Don't know why, but it works for me!
I have the character naming sourcebook by Sherrilyn Kenyon on my shelf and also use a baby naming website. I just scroll through or flip through until I find a name that resonates with me. Then that's it. I don't usually change names after that. Good luck! :)
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