If I didn't know people's names then I wouldn't know who was who using an easy identifying label. However it's all a rather moot point since I usually forget someone's name shortly after they've told me. So I guess that much of the time even with the names I still don't know who is who...
Join us on the first Wednesday of each month in Alex J. Cavanaugh's Insecure Writer's Support Group--a forum of writers who gather to talk about writing and the writer's life. For a complete list of participants visit Alex's Blog.
Co-hosts for the June 6 posting of the IWSG are Beverly Stowe McClure,Tyrean Martinson, and Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor!
June 6 question - What's harder for you to come up with, book titles or character names?
Titles come from many sources for me. It might be something I hear someone saying, a reference to a current or historical event, or some phrase that seems to pop into my head for no reason. I'll get a title and then start thinking up something to go with it.
For example, my most recent focus has been on a song that I've written (which I mentioned here and here). The song idea started with a chord progression, a rhythm, and a somewhat odd melody--no lyrics or title. As I worked with the song in my head. the concept of running came to me--that's what the music reminded me of. From there I started with a working title of "Run" which almost immediately changed to "Let's Run" partly because it was a two syllable phrase and it suggested a corporate venture between singer and listener (or writer and reader). The title came quickly and stuck because it was logical, simple, and I thought it sounded good in context with the song feel.
The names for characters in stories is a bigger challenge to me. Since I often picture actual real life people whom I know, it is difficult to disassociate my character with that real person whose name just seems to make sense. Changing a real name to a fictional moniker rarely feels right to me so I'll try to come up with a name that is similar to that real name or suggestive of something about that real person. Maybe I should avoid modeling characters after real people, but I think most writers probably come up with characters this way. After all, it's easier to write about a character whom I can clearly picture in my mind. That's the way it works for me.
By the way, regarding my song "Let's Run": I've been putting together some rough recordings with the help of a couple of my neighbors. Hopefully, by the end of the summer I'll have something to share with my readers. I'm writing about it on my blog for legal purposes since I don't know the first thing about getting a song published or recorded. So this is notice that I've written a metaphorical song with the title "Let's Run." I'm probably doing this all wrong, but we'll see where this all goes.
What do you think makes for a good title? Do you base your fictional characters on actual people? Do you have any favorite fictional names that other authors have used?
My most recent Battle of the Bands can be found here. If you haven't voted yet, please do. Voting closes Thursday June 7th with winner announced on Friday the 8th.
