Writerly Ways
Sep. 26th, 2016 12:01 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cornerofmadnessI did nothing all day but work on my lectures. I sat down at 1:30 to work on it and suddenly it was 5:30. Sobs. I was tired anyhow but I would have liked to clean a little and didn't get to that at all. I did at least edit through 3 chapters of BRR and whacked out about 400 words. I'm feeling more and more gloomy about this.
But that is not the theme of my writerly ways. No, this one is about names. It can be summed up as 'names are hard.'
God they're hard. Okay not always. Some characters come bearing their names in neon signs across their chests. Others are ridiculously hard to name and end up as ZZZ, YYY in the document for chapters before you can nail it down, or worse, they have one name then decide nope, that's not their name and then you have to search to be sure you've replaced it everywhere.
I think, however, sometimes we're not so careful of what we name our characters as we need be. Example: Rhys. He was Sebastian almost up to the moment I pushed send to the publisher. I saw, however like four 'coming soon' novels where the MC was a Sebastian (and dozens since. What? Is Sebastian the official gay romance name?) and thought about it. WHY would a Welsh fairy have that name? And so he became Rhys.
I was leafing through Goodread giveaways and came across the character Nud Leatherleaf and asked myself, is Nud really a name I can get behind as a hero. (the answer was no). Yes, some names people are tagged with are just bad (really bad) but think about what you're trying to say to your reader.
I read somewhere we're past the point where naming a character to represent the thing they are like a strong woman being named Steel etc. Though you still see it. Looking at you Professor Sprout the herbology teacher...
I come offering no wisdom other than to consider it carefully and listen to your beta readers. After several told me the Welsh name I was using Aneurin looked too much like Aneurysm (and it's a fair point), I went with the alternative spelling Aneirin.
And before I give you this week's writing links I wanted to share this picture. One of my friends put it up in her FB because the guy on the left looks like Sam Winchester having a bad day. This should make a great writing prompt for one of you. It doesn't have to be Supernatural fan fic. It could be original. Maybe in this world, this is how men are punished. What do I know?
And here are Betty's link's for me this week.
mastering the art of the scene
after you type the end
the villain’s arc
Day 25 135 word written (and nothing on day 24)
I've been AWFUL about recording my progress here
Splinters - done diddly with editing
Blood Red - got 3 chapters edited
Yearly word count -
56897 / 115000 words. 49% done! yeah not even at the 50% mark at nearly 10 months in. Yikes. This year is a failure so far.
But that is not the theme of my writerly ways. No, this one is about names. It can be summed up as 'names are hard.'
God they're hard. Okay not always. Some characters come bearing their names in neon signs across their chests. Others are ridiculously hard to name and end up as ZZZ, YYY in the document for chapters before you can nail it down, or worse, they have one name then decide nope, that's not their name and then you have to search to be sure you've replaced it everywhere.
I think, however, sometimes we're not so careful of what we name our characters as we need be. Example: Rhys. He was Sebastian almost up to the moment I pushed send to the publisher. I saw, however like four 'coming soon' novels where the MC was a Sebastian (and dozens since. What? Is Sebastian the official gay romance name?) and thought about it. WHY would a Welsh fairy have that name? And so he became Rhys.
I was leafing through Goodread giveaways and came across the character Nud Leatherleaf and asked myself, is Nud really a name I can get behind as a hero. (the answer was no). Yes, some names people are tagged with are just bad (really bad) but think about what you're trying to say to your reader.
I read somewhere we're past the point where naming a character to represent the thing they are like a strong woman being named Steel etc. Though you still see it. Looking at you Professor Sprout the herbology teacher...
I come offering no wisdom other than to consider it carefully and listen to your beta readers. After several told me the Welsh name I was using Aneurin looked too much like Aneurysm (and it's a fair point), I went with the alternative spelling Aneirin.
And before I give you this week's writing links I wanted to share this picture. One of my friends put it up in her FB because the guy on the left looks like Sam Winchester having a bad day. This should make a great writing prompt for one of you. It doesn't have to be Supernatural fan fic. It could be original. Maybe in this world, this is how men are punished. What do I know?
And here are Betty's link's for me this week.
mastering the art of the scene
after you type the end
the villain’s arc
Day 25 135 word written (and nothing on day 24)
I've been AWFUL about recording my progress here
Splinters - done diddly with editing
Blood Red - got 3 chapters edited
Yearly word count -
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no subject
Date: 2016-09-26 03:03 pm (UTC)Speaking of nightmares, I agree with your assessment on names. Some come easy and some hard. Others fall in your lap. Since I work in a college town, I frequently look at name tags on student workers in stores or restaurants, read the college newspaper, or read stories online. An old paper phone book has been good at times. But you're right - sometimes it's a placeholder until you know more about the character.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-26 04:42 pm (UTC)I often peruse headstones as well for names. I DO borrow some student names (never the whole name of course) as well. If you see a truly annoying character in my stuff it's probably a student
no subject
Date: 2016-09-26 08:19 pm (UTC)(wicked laugh) Students, mangled names of course, do make good fodder.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-27 12:48 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-09-26 10:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-09-27 12:30 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-09-27 02:39 am (UTC)...I knew a gay Sebastian.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-27 02:59 am (UTC)of course you did because that's THE name
no subject
Date: 2016-09-27 03:03 am (UTC)Of course. That was during the 80s, even.
no subject
Date: 2016-09-27 03:09 am (UTC)ahahahha
no subject
Date: 2016-10-03 12:04 am (UTC)It's 3 October tomorrow, write it. :D
no subject
Date: 2016-10-03 02:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-10-03 02:24 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2016-10-03 02:51 am (UTC)