100 things, writing, names.

[jana_denardo]

{Take the 100 Things challenge!}

Before I get to the latest entry into my 100 things (i.e #2). check out this survey by the GLBT branch of RWA, for readers of any orientation: rainbow romance writers. There has been a lot of dust ups lately about the inclusion/exclusion of GLBT romances so it looks like they're investigating people's preferences. You can put in for a 25$ gift card from Amazon at the end.

So, names. A Rose by any other...we define ourselves by our names. As an author I got to chose my own name to write under which was a laborious process. It's not much less laborious to name my characters. Some times a character knows what his/her name is the moment they introduce themselves to you. Others defy naming and end up with a variety of names before the end.

Names are important. We don't want (well usually) for the character to have a wacky or off putting name. I'll be honest I've been on Goodreads giveaways and just scrolled on past without even trying to win based on name alone. I'm not sure I have any sage advice for choosing names. I use name books and online sources like behind the names. Sometimes I go for ethnicity or popularity. I do the latter often if I'm writing something historical. For example my own real name wasn't used for girls until the 1960's. Historical fiction readers often know the time period very well and you're going to lose them with a bunch of Ashleys, Ariels and Kaylas.

Sometimes you feel like you have to change a name for other reasons. Right now I'm facing that with my scarred soldier story. In just the last week and a half I've seen no less than a half dozen m/m eroticas with a lead character named Sebastian. And that's pretty much just my authors' list and whatever my friends are reviewing on Goodreads. It was striking, so much so I do think it's time to rename him. Luckily I'm not that attached to the name.

Comments

[caffeinified.livejournal.com]

Names always feel like one of the hardest parts of writing to me.

[jana-denardo.livejournal.com]

It is difficult.