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 |   A month-long novel-planning challenge with prizes galore. |
Is anyone still questioning the name of their protagonist?  I've still got a place-holder name in place. I was going to use Eva, but then thought maybe Eva wouldn't be great as another key character is called Ezra. In short, would having a character called Ezra and a character callled Eva be ok? They're going to be in a lot of scenes together, almost always in the same scene... ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| This has been a sore subject with me in original writing because there will always be someone who is so offended by a character's name they are unable to get past it and objectively review anything else about my writing. I'm pleased when those sort drop out of my critique group because they aren't helpful. However, I am also a fast reader that sometimes mistakes similar words, realize the context doesn't make sense, and then have to stop and go back and reread a section. That is where I feel there may be reader confusion or disappointment with Eva and Ezra as character frequently interacting with each other during the course of the story. Neither Eva or Ezra is a name that triggers a poor reaction with me. Though one of my clients has an 'Ebenezer' on their team which has me wondering what his parents were thinking each time I see it. Sharon from New Jersey |
| I wouldn't recommend it because I'm afraid it would cause confusion, but what about something that's very similar but not likely to create confusion, like Ava? Cheers, Michelle |
| I have to reply to this one. Recently I was asked to review a novel for someone that had several characters with similarly spelled names. At first it was a mild annoyance to stop and double-check I was interpreting the right character, but as the plot (and the story) thickened, it grew tiresome and actually began to, well, piss me off. In short, had I not committed to read and review, I'd have trashed it, and you can bet the issue featured highly in my review. Not only that, but now I don't trust the writer. Next time she asks me to review her, I'll politely decline. The last thing you want is for your reader to confuse the story over a simple letter "e" If you need the sound, which I'd still suggest you alter, then please take Brandiwynš¶'s advice and at least spell it differently.  I write because I am a better person when I spend a good chunk of my time with people who only exist because I made them up." -- Leslie Budewitz The members and Superstar Reviewers of "Cross Timbers Novel Workshop On Hiatis"  are thrilled and honored to share the news that our new breakout contest, to run annually in September, "The Chapter One Competition." has been nominated!2016 Quill nominee |
| did you read the divergent series? somehow she got away with main characters Tris and Tobias (4). I'd have preferred she keep him named Four, but in book 3 she went with Tobias. it was awful trying to figure out who was whom. I'd say switch it. Light Strikes |
| My business partner for many years and I have very similar names. "Robert" is my pen name, but it's like if her name was "Roberta." No one appreciated the situation, but neither of us wanted to change names. Change it. |
it's a lot like that time i changed my band to Robert Waltz. (with the period at the end). but i did change it because it's only fun for about a day abs everyone gets pissed at you.  Light Strikes |
Thanks for the information and advice everyone! Consider the name changed!  ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
I have that problem all the time! I am not good at character names, at all. They never seem to fit, I'm never happy with them - ever! It's super frustrating. I go through a lot of name generator's online, and I wind up making a book full of names (I literally have a book specifically dedicated to character first/last/nick - names) but even then I've never had that feeling of joy-to-the-core when I've finally named a character using these methods.  I don't know what to do about it. I mean, I love the name Katniss Evergreen - I mean HOW did she (the author) come up with that one? UUUGGGHHHHH!!! I could use help in this area (naming characters) too...head banging on desk, softly sobbing... |
Yeah, I definitely understand! I end up reading hundreds of names until I read that one name and have that "aha!"  moment. Good luck with naming! ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** |
| You know, I've never had an "aha!" moment with a character name, either, but I don't know that you're supposed to. What happens with me is that I eventually get to know my character, after I've named them, and then the name fits. Mildred just IS Mildred. Dana is Dana. It's who they are. Once you profile them, write about their history, and place them into situations with your other characters, they start to feel like real people and you couldn't possibly change their name anymore, because that would be like changing their whole identity. Consider names in reality. Have you ever stopped to think, either with yourself or with people you meet, what made parents pick the name they picked? Do you think they had an "aha!" moment? Or do you think they agonized over the name until they finally reached agreement and wrote something on a birth certificate, only to feel doubt and regret? But they eventually get over it as they get to know the little person bearing the name. Don't get me wrong; some people change their names for various reasons (I'm looking at you, Storm Machine  ) but even when that happens, it takes a looong time for people who knew you by your former name to fully buy into your new name, especially if you don't see them very often. The people who do the best job of buying into your new name are the people who see you every day, who associate your identity, the core of who you are and who you are becoming as time passes, with that new name. I have a cousin who changed her name from Tristan to Lori literally twenty years ago, and I still think of her as Tristan (don't tell her, lol) because I barely ever talk to her or about her. I get why she changed it (she married a man named Christenson, and it sounded too alike, so she changed her name to our grandmother's name, Lorraine) but the thing is, I don't think of her as Christenson either. I think of her by her maiden name. Because the cousin I know is still the cousin she was when we were kids.Cheers, Michelle |
And when you change a name like I do- It's easier to meet new people and introduce yourself as you choose to be called than to correct people forevermore. I often get not-called a specific name. Because there are honestly too many people worried about saying the wrong name that not using a name is easier. And that's fine in my life story but it's hard in a novel. Light Strikes |
| Mildred just IS Mildred. Dana is Dana. It's who they are. There is no Dana. There is only Zuul. |
| So, I wasn't talking about Sigourney Weaver's Dana. You know what I've learned from this? You haven't read Bard.  Cheers, Michelle |
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