Welcome to Day Six* of the Writer Friends Challenge!
Today we’re discussing names and nicknames. Naming characters is so personal. Sometimes it’s easy, and sometimes…not so much. But it’s always a fun time. Most of the time my characters choose their own names. When I start writing, it’s always “he” and “she” but as I get further into the story, and especially when I get to the dialogue, their name just pops onto the page.
To be honest, it’s usually a side character that says their name first, and then I get that “a ha!” moment.
When it comes to choosing a name, I have all sorts of ways to do this. Most of the time I go to The List. Yes, I have a master list of names that I consult. It’s sorted by main character names and secondary character names, both male and female, a list of surnames, and even a list of titles I want my characters to have. Once I have settled on my main characters names, I choose the secondary characters, their friends, family members, neighbors, enemies, servants, even the pets and businesses.
So. Many. Names.
This is an older copy of The List. It is ever growing and changing as I write more stories and come across new names.
As for nicknames, I don’t really give nicknames to my characters. They mostly use a shortened version or diminutive of their name. For A Twelfth Night Wager Arthur Winslow Maddox Barrow was called Win, partially because it’s short for Winslow, and partially because he is a keen barrister (lawyer to those of us here in the States) who hasn’t lost a case in over two years. So his nickname does double duty. In the same story, Adelaide Shipley is called Addie by those who know her.
What about you: What are some of your character names or nicknames that stand out to you?
Christina
*Yes, I know I skipped Day Five. I just couldn’t think of something to write about a lesson learned the hard way.