The names you choose when writing a story have to fit the character perfectly. Until I have the name right, the character I am writing doesn’t quite gel.
Five names to never use — for obvious reasons — Hitler, Jesus, Bruce, Davo and Lady Gaga.
The list goes on . . . a famous name, a name that reminds me of someone I taught years ago, a name that is old fashioned or a name that has become trendy like Harper – this affects how workable a name is for a character.
Until I get the name right — the character cannot be fully formed.
In my current work-in-progress I use initials until I can find the ‘right one.’
With my manuscript Losing February I wait for the characters to form their own names.
But when will DB find his name? I know him, I know what he does, how he feels, but his name . . . it hasn’t come yet.
Names, like titles can be changed but I can get too attached to a title.
In my first novel writing attempt I was so stuck on the title The Perils of Wearing a Tutu that it took me a long time to respond to advice to change it. The whole tutu thing sounded like chick-lit, not there’s anything wrong with that but the story clearly wasn’t chick-lit.
I changed it to — Drowning on the Way Home. And it altered the whole way I saw the story. All references to tutus were dropped and I focused on what the story was really about – belonging and finding a home.
Nothing is set in stone. Not names, not words, not me.
