Choosing the right name for a character is massively important, if I don't get the name right, I don't get the character right. Now that I've started work on my fifth book this is becoming more and more of a challenge as a lot of my favourite names, I've already used.
The next book - This Christmas - is going back to my chicklit roots and I find this notoriously harder to get the names right than in my 'bonkbusters. With the likes of Famous & Shameless and the other two books set in America, Betrayal & Twisted Sister I purposely make the characters a bit OTT so I can give them some of the most outlandish names possible, that's half the fun. So my Magenta's, my Hunter's, my Chase's, my Jez's my Lexi's and my Fly MacFly's were surprisingly easy to come up with.
For this new book, I'm struggling. Firstly I have some character's that featured in Love Overboard in it, so that's ok, they already have their names, it the new character's that are a problem and there are LOT of new characters. Firstly I have to like the name (well, it's like naming a child, they're stuck with it, so it better be good!) Secondly it has to fit the character and thirdly, because these characters are a bit more 'normal', people you might live next door to, work with or have as a facebook friend, there are a lot of names I can't use. For instance, I love the name Will, but that's my brother's name, so I am never going to give it to a romantic lead! There are also other names I like, but may not like someone with that name (for example if I knew a traffic warden called Josh!) Also ex boyfriend names are out (unless I was going to kill them off - obviously!!) As are names that made the short list on the baby names list - if they weren't good enough for my children they weren't good enough for my characters.
Today was a bit of a name nightmare - I needed EIGHT boys names for one scene, I turned to Facebook and asked for some suggestions. So thanks to my lovely FB friends, I got a few, but not enough. THEN I had a lightbulb moment. Where would I instantly get at least 12 boys names? Thank you England Rugby Team for coming to my rescue. (and you know I have a thing for rugby players!!) Just wish I could've used Billy Twelvetrees full name and not just Billy, he has the best name! Also, the accompanying google images of the England Rugby Team enhanced my research experience!
So, the name issue seems to have resolved itself, but then I came upon another little issue....
My nan popped in for a cuppa this afternoon. I love my nan to bits and she is my biggest fan, she's read LOVE OVERBOARD three times and has told all the ladies at painting to buy it. So, this afternoon she spots the cover to Famous & Shameless....
NAN 'Oooh, love, I didn't know you had a new book out.'
ME: 'Yes, it's been out a few weeks.'
NAN: 'Can't wait to read it.'
ME: 'You can't.'
NAN: 'But I love your books.'
ME: 'Flattery will get you everywhere, but you're still not reading it.'
at this point the hubby joins in: 'It's worse than fifty shades.'
(I'm not sure if he meant this as a compliment or not????}
ME:' No it isn't nan, it's just not suitable for nan's or vicars!'
Just hope she doesn't tell the ladies at painting about this one!!!!
The next book - This Christmas - is going back to my chicklit roots and I find this notoriously harder to get the names right than in my 'bonkbusters. With the likes of Famous & Shameless and the other two books set in America, Betrayal & Twisted Sister I purposely make the characters a bit OTT so I can give them some of the most outlandish names possible, that's half the fun. So my Magenta's, my Hunter's, my Chase's, my Jez's my Lexi's and my Fly MacFly's were surprisingly easy to come up with.
For this new book, I'm struggling. Firstly I have some character's that featured in Love Overboard in it, so that's ok, they already have their names, it the new character's that are a problem and there are LOT of new characters. Firstly I have to like the name (well, it's like naming a child, they're stuck with it, so it better be good!) Secondly it has to fit the character and thirdly, because these characters are a bit more 'normal', people you might live next door to, work with or have as a facebook friend, there are a lot of names I can't use. For instance, I love the name Will, but that's my brother's name, so I am never going to give it to a romantic lead! There are also other names I like, but may not like someone with that name (for example if I knew a traffic warden called Josh!) Also ex boyfriend names are out (unless I was going to kill them off - obviously!!) As are names that made the short list on the baby names list - if they weren't good enough for my children they weren't good enough for my characters.
Today was a bit of a name nightmare - I needed EIGHT boys names for one scene, I turned to Facebook and asked for some suggestions. So thanks to my lovely FB friends, I got a few, but not enough. THEN I had a lightbulb moment. Where would I instantly get at least 12 boys names? Thank you England Rugby Team for coming to my rescue. (and you know I have a thing for rugby players!!) Just wish I could've used Billy Twelvetrees full name and not just Billy, he has the best name! Also, the accompanying google images of the England Rugby Team enhanced my research experience!
So, the name issue seems to have resolved itself, but then I came upon another little issue....
My nan popped in for a cuppa this afternoon. I love my nan to bits and she is my biggest fan, she's read LOVE OVERBOARD three times and has told all the ladies at painting to buy it. So, this afternoon she spots the cover to Famous & Shameless....
NAN 'Oooh, love, I didn't know you had a new book out.'
ME: 'Yes, it's been out a few weeks.'
NAN: 'Can't wait to read it.'
ME: 'You can't.'
NAN: 'But I love your books.'
ME: 'Flattery will get you everywhere, but you're still not reading it.'
at this point the hubby joins in: 'It's worse than fifty shades.'
(I'm not sure if he meant this as a compliment or not????}
ME:' No it isn't nan, it's just not suitable for nan's or vicars!'
Just hope she doesn't tell the ladies at painting about this one!!!!