Writing Project - name the character!
I like making montages. They make me feel technologically expert...
Today, I come with a special request (or opportunity, depending on how you look at it). I thought it would be fun to ask your help in naming a character, who is yet to appear in my book but will do shortly. I'll give you a picture and some information about him in the form of some questions and answers, then I'd love to hear your name suggestions!
He basically looks like this. This was the first and possibly the only story I've ever written in which I've had very clear mental images of the characters and been able to find corresponding pictures of them.
Here are some random questions and answers about him...
- Age and birthday? Thirty; 30th November
- Occupation? Architect
- Family? Only living relatives are his father and his paternal grandmother.
- Greatest strength? Loyalty when it is deserved.
- Greatest weakness? Coldness
- Important people in his life? His grandmother, who is in a nursing home
- How does he interact with other people? He is formal and slightly distant, yet makes piquant conversation
- Deepest fear? Someone finding out about his past
- How does this shape his actions? It makes him colder than he should be
- What are his pastimes? He plays the cello and enjoys going to concerts. He also paints and does architectural drawings that are unrelated to his current project.
- Are there any internal conflicts this character faces? He doesn't want to let anyone know about his past, and is thus too cold and distant. He knows he should be warmer, but doesn't know how to be without revealing more than he wants to about his former life.
What do you think his name and surname should be? Let me know in the comments!
Ooh, I love this sort of thing!! It's always one of my favourite things about writing, getting to invent the people who live in the story😄
ReplyDeleteIs he by any chance an Oliver? (As a first name, I mean.) Because that is one name that suddenly popped into my head while I sat looking speculatively at him, and now I had to ask! And for another idea, does he seem like a Wesley? Although maybe I should ask first what sort of name he seems like he ought to have... Impressive, noble, aristocratic, or simple and straightforward? That is always helpful to know when one is trying for a name, especially if the general shape of a name has already stuck itself to the person before the name itself has, as sometimes happens ;)
Aha! Oliver! That might be good! Or Wesley... it's just the DECISION! So hard...
DeleteHmm... I was thinking some sort of mix of aristocratic and simple. So not something like Fitzwilliam or Montmorency or the like, but something quietly distinguished, I suppose. I know exactly what you mean about the general shape of the name fixing onto characters... that is exactly the case in this instance! XD
You'll know when you hit on the right one, the character in question has a way of telling you when it fits😉
DeleteI can't wait to see who he turns out to be! Especially since he's already given you a hint at what it looks like, that makes it all the more fun when the right one clicks into place :)
Ooh, I know what you mean 😉
DeleteYes, I need to play around with the names... I'll let you know when I've decided - I am still unsure XD
Ooh, what fun! I find myself thinking of D and E names....like Daniel, Edward, Edgar, maybe even Ebenezer. I'm not sure about the surname, but something formal and maybe a little old-fashioned, but not too unusual - Edward Burns or Daniel Meyers or something like that. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteOoh, all of these are fantastic suggestions! I'm liking Ebenezer, I have to confess, or Edward. The former *is* unusual, but then he's an unusual sort of person. And those surnames are exactly the sort I was going for... understated, yet formal. Perhaps I could go for Edward Wesley, taking a suggestion from each of you ;D It's rather fun, playing around with names like this. What do you think?
DeleteIsn't it fun? I rather like Caroline's suggestion of Xavier, too...and Oliver's good too...it is hard to narrow down, isn't it? I think Emi's right and one will just click at some point. (Do you ever try using baby name websites for characters, by the way? I've used the website Nameberry a lot for TLWILN - I'll get up a name that's similar to what I want, and then look through their list of similar names to see if just the right name pops up.)
Delete(I'm sorry it took me so dreadfully long to respond, by the way! I've gotten so behind on all my blogging things...)
Xavier or Oliver are good options, aren't they? Maybe he should have all of them ;P Oh, I'll take a look at that website... it would be good to have something to assist me on my cogitations. One will probably click, like you say - probably the most outlandish!
Delete(Oh, don't worry at all! I know the feeling very well XD)
Ooh, he sounds a really interesting character! There are so many good names! I could see him as an Edmund, Julian, Hector or Xavier. I like Xavier best for him, I think - what's your opinion?
ReplyDeleteHo-hum, I can't decide... Xavier could be good. I'm liking Julian, too!
DeleteAlpin, or Findlay-could be first or last names
ReplyDeleteOh, those would be great, too!
DeleteOh man, I dunno...
ReplyDeletebut I love that you're looking for feedback with your work! :D
Thank you!!
DeleteOh, and, by the way, I loved reading your latest newsletter! It made me feel happy for the rest of the day just thinking about it :)
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