Helpful Tip #7 - Picking character names

Should be simple enough right? You'd think.

For your first book, your second likely and maybe even your third you likely have a bunch of names in your head you want to use. Old boyfriends, next door neighbors, people you knew in school, etc, etc, etc. If they fit your character go for it, just remember that if you give them some butch name and they are some guy you could destroy with a sneeze, it's just not going to sit right with your readers. The name you give your character must fit their persona and what they are doing in the world you're creating.

Now, as we mentioned, you likely have a list in your head for your first few books. But what about when you're on book number ten, or fourteen, or thirty? The well has dried up and you're stuck on another variation of Erin (Aaron) or Charles (Chuck, Charley), or whatever. Well, this is where the Internet or, if you have a baby book of names lying around, comes in damned handy.

There are literally dozens of sites out there that you can use to look up names. Both given and surnames. A good majority of these same sites will even tell you the meaning behind the name, where it originated from and what was the original format of the name that the one you like was derived from. Just like anything else, sometimes choosing a name is all about the research. Don't chintz out either, pick a good name that fits for what you're doing and who you are creating. These characters are like your children, don't name them something you can't live with, after all...you'll be stuck with them a hell of a lot longer than any kids you have will live at home. If your lucky.

One rule of thumb though, if you pick a name not a soul on earth can pronounce, put in somewhere at the beginning (or end) of your book HOW THE FUCK IT'S PRONOUNCED!! There is nothing more annoying then stumbling over a name of a character. It's like a jolt every time it appears for a while and soon the readers brain just lurches over it every time it appears after that. But if they know how it sounds out then it's a much more enjoyable experience. Cause we've all read books that have had oddly spelled names that we couldn't pronounce to save our lives. And, really, finding out after the fact from someone that knows the name or hearing the audiobook version of it, and finding out you were wrong all along, is like a kick in the gut.

Don't be a douche, use names we all can pronounce or tell us how it is pronounced.

The Moderator