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Printed from https://writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/3586-.html
Fantasy: March 03, 2010 Issue [#3586]

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Fantasy


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  Edited by: Prosperous Snow celebrating Author IconMail Icon
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Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter

There are many different ways to pick a name for a fantasy or science fiction character.


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Letter from the editor

How important is your character’s name? Does the main character’s name indicate anything about his or her abilities, talents, and personality? Should the main character’s name give a hint as to that character’s personality or abilities? How do you choose a name for the characters in your short stories or novels?

Choosing a name for a child varies widely across earth. Each culture has its own naming customs and patterns. In America, each Native American tribe has its own customs for naming a child. Some tribes use birth order in naming a child, while other tribe use the way water flows when the child is born to pick a name. Does an author use similar methods in choosing the names of his or her characters?

How important is the name of a character in a novel or short story? The names of some characters in novels, Scrooge for instance, become part of the language and the cultural. You mention the name of Scrooge and immediately everyone thinks of a miser who is so stingy he will not let his office help have more then one lump of coal to keep the outer office warm in winter. If Scrooge could have chosen his own name, what name would he pick? This brings us to an interesting exercise in picking character names, one that may help if you have come to complete stop in the story you are writing.

Take out a piece of paper or open a new document in your word processer program. Now answer this question: “If your newest character could choose his or her own name, what would he or she choose?” Let your character write a letter to you giving the reasons he or she does not like the name you have given the character. Is there another name that would be a better fit for the character?




Editor's Picks

Stories and Poems


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 The Body of John McCord Open in new Window. (18+)
An ex-soldier is faced with a widow who wants to know where her husband's body is.
#1642303 by lemonkeyman Author IconMail Icon


Interactive Stories


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Contests and Review Forums


Daily Flash Fiction Challenge Open in new Window. (13+)
Enter your story of 300 words or less.
#896794 by Arakun the twisted raccoon Author IconMail Icon


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Ask & Answer

Raven Author Icon writes: I suppose you could count the South American feathered serpents - Quezacoatl (whose name I've probably mispelled)is a lot like a Chinese dragon.

Angelica Weatherby- Bday mom15 Author Icon writes: I have dragons I've made up- compromising of hybrids between animals. Hehe I am still studying dragons and love as much info. as I can get my hands on. *Smile* Awsome newsletter! I'm thrilled to read it. :-d

Bmao Author Icon writes: If you really want to see a great interactive story about dragons, check out Life of a Dragon by Dragonpuppy.

Do you have a specific way you pick a name for your characters?
Prosperous Snow celebrating Author Icon

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