need for names

[marycatelli]

Some writers have no need to know the characters' names.  They can write away with a placeholder like YXGY or something, and get the entire draft done.

Me, I can outline that like.  Naming character "-" or "--" so I can keep them apart -- and put them in the character list to note down any things I have figured out about them.

But I can't write about them like that.  I need a name.  A good name.  One that manages to convey something of who the character -- personality, position, age, etc -- is without being too blatant about it.

It can mean an outline hanging in Limbo for a while while I hunt through baby name books and online sources. 

sigh

Comments

[nagasvoice.livejournal.com]

What I also find is that changing an established name changes the whole embedding, their background, even if I use a similar name from the same culture it's just...entirely different. Like using Rafe instead of Ralph or Dave instead of Davin, as white-bread as those are, it still evokes different things.

[marycatelli]

Or even Katherina instead of Katherine.