Writerly Ways

I 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.

These dreams

I wish I could remember the whole dream. It was long, it was disturbing. For part of it, I was on a vacation in one of those big rambling houses I often dream of. But I was a rocky beach and I was with a friend but I don't know who she was really. I remember there were dirty pretty panties draped on the rocks here and there (some idea that there was plenty of sex and I wasn't the on having it and I was ticked it was on my private beach).

Then the pretty girls showed up and they wanted me and my friend gone. They were super pissed than a fat slug like me had the same pretty bra they did. this one (which is pretty but itch and I can't tell if I'm having an allergic reaction to it or have a bite on my back but it's all red.)

Then the dream jumped and I was somewhere with even more friends and I was in a store. I remember a big pretty steampunk gun. I wanted to buy it but it was expensive (it wasn't the price was 25$) and to my surprise mom said buy it but when I went back for it and it's Native AMerican design leather holster it was gone. The crafter was going to make a new one.

As I was waiting for it Mom went to buy something and I sat down to play a game while my friends prattled on. At first it was a slot machine and I was winning tons but Mom came back dressed up as Sherlock Holmes complete with Deerstalker hat and pipe and I wasnted to take a picture of her with my phone and was horrified I ened the game mid pay off to do it.

There were more disturbing things but my brain didn't retain them.


And someone just friended Jana raving about Kept Tears I'm so excited. BUt she's more interested in the villians than the heroes. oh gee.


Day 26 - 139 words