Names

Naming Your Characters

/ Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 28 Comments

Day 14: #atozchallenge

When William Shakespeare’s Juliet discovered Romeo bore the name of her enemy, she asked:

NameWordle“What’s in a name?
That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”

 I  respectfully disagree with Juliet. To me, a rose is a rose, is a rose, and I venture to say others feel the same. To call a rose by any another name would be nonsense.

We all have certain mindsets when it comes to names. For example, Billy Bob denotes an image far different than the name Randolph. Naming a child, Elizabeth Marie Kennedy Thornton (fictitious) makes us think privileged.

Names conjure memories both good and bad. Ever time I hear the name Gene I am once again in the 5th grade. Our brothers, sisters, or distance cousins all provide us a mental picture of a person. It’s from life experiences and the individuals that cross our paths in which we draw inspiration for naming the characters in our stories.

Important Points to Remember:

  • Match the name to the character’s personality. Channing is not likely to make readers think of a shy introvert.
  • Don’t get stuck on a letter. Sure it might be easier, but Carol, Cait, and Cami will make the readers head spin trying to tell the characters apart.
  • Assigning cute or unusual names is tricky. When done, the character’s personality must fit the name like a glove. The name, Apple, however, popular in Hollywood, is never going to make me think of anything other than a red delicious.
  • Tread carefully when naming a character based on someone you know. Get too close to the real thing and you might just have a family member on your back.

Helpful Resources for Naming Characters:

It isn’t always easy to come up with the right name, or one we think fits the character, but there are resources.

Naming characters can be fun or frustrating but don’t let it get in the way of telling your story. You can change names anytime, just write the story.

How do you choose the names of your characters?

I’d love to hear your comments. Talk to me. Tell me your story and look for me on Facebook at SheilaMGood,  Pinterest,  Bloglovin, Twitter@sheilagood, and Contently.

What’s in a Name? Like it or Leave it

/ Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 10 Comments

DAILY PROMPT : Say Your Name

Write about your first name: Are you named after someone or something? Are there any stories or associations attached to it? If you had the choice, would you rename yourself?

newspaperNames are important. New parents, in particular, spend weeks or months picking out the perfect name to attach to the 3-D face of their child.

Books listing baby names from the most popular, gender, or meaning line shelf after shelf.

Family names are passed from one generation to the next with surnames becoming the first, middle, third, or hyphenated name. We chose them based on our belief systems, ideology, favorite fruits, hobbies, movies, idols, or the desire to be different. Take your pick.

My mother, a voracious reader, chose my name, Sheila, after a character in a book. I don’t know the name of the book and the last time I asked mom, she couldn’t remember. But, my grandmother hated the name and for the first few months of my life refused to call me Sheila; instead she called me Shitty.

No wonder I’m such a sensitive soul (Not). However, starting life out with the nickname Shitty is  probably why I grew up to be the strong woman I am.

What’s in my name?

51n3k6ijdxl-_aa320_ql65_According to the baby name books, Google, and Wikipedia they’re a few things worth mentioning about my name.

The name Sheila is from the Latin Caelia, which is a feminine form of the Roman clan name Caelius or dimintitive of Cecilia — meaning heavenly, or of the heavens. Yes, those are angel wings you hear in the background.

It is also, derived from the Irish name Síle/Sìle, which is believed to be a Gaelic form of Cecilia, meaning “blind,” from the Latin word caecus (Am not!).
 o
And in Australia, Sheila, is slang for “woman,” derived from the Irish girls’ name Síle (anglicised Sheila). Take notice the next time you go to the Outback Steak House – I have my very own room.
Would I change my name? No. What would I call myself? Do I like it? Yes. I mean, as a writer, what’s better than being born a heavenly, feminine, woman, named after a character in a book? Okay, I left out blind. I’m Scottish, not Irish and if that sounds a bit snobbish or shitty – well, what can I say?
The name fits.

 

Are You a Writer?

/ Sheila McIntrye Good, Author / 7 Comments

I hope everyone had a wonderful Memorial Day, and took a moment to say, “Thank you” to our military. Without their sacrifices we may not enjoy the privilege to write so freely.

During my long holiday weekend someone asked me a two questions I thought worth sharing.

1.”Are you a writer?”, and
2. “What makes one a writer?”

Their position was clear. One trained to become a writer, completing an apprenticeship of sorts, and at some point down the road, proved their competency as a writer. I pressed, “How would competency be measured?” They were unable to define how.

“Is it after one publishes his/her first book?” I asked.
“What about articles and stories? How many must be published before one can call themselves a writer?”
“Must one make money or be employed in a regular job writing?”
“What about being the author of blogs? Does that count?”

This isn’t a new topic. If you goggle the question, you will discover any number of discussions and opinions on the subject matter. Even the dictionary and wikipedia  list more than one definition, from one who writes a particular text  to how one writes.

Don’t get me wrong, I agreed with some of arguments presented in our discussion. For example, I believe writing is a learned skill. Therefore, continued opportunities to improve one’s writing through classes, conferences, etc should be utilized by all writer’s.

For me personally, I  use a number of avenues to improve my writing. Critique groups where I seek honest and constructive feedback, classes, and subscriptions to writing resources, books and magazines. Everyday I  learn something new. Writer’s come in all shapes and sizes, some with the ability to move us from word one, while others must work harder.

I am not an aspiring writer, although I aspire to be a better writer, and to have my first novel published. I aspire to do many things in this life.

I am a writer because it is how I see the world. I believe words are powerful. They delight, sadden, provoke, and soothe us. They move the world, and influence people, and when one has the courage to put pen to paper, because they want or must share with others,  I call them by their name, Writer.

Shakespeare reminded us long ago the value of a name.

“What is in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would not smell as sweet.”

My name is Sheila and I am a writer. What is your name?