Are character's names the hardest part to write for a story??? Any tips?
Is it me or...
Not the hardest, but I definitely struggle to come up with one I'm happy with.
I've heard a tip to use the names given in spam emails, you could try that?
Don't worry about finding it hard, character names are an overlooked key to the character and do demand effort, especially for the leads. Definitely don't use a random generator or you'll loose giving the audience a quick handle on the characters.
Most tips I've picked up:
Think of the person's character. Try and list their qualities. Try and reduce that person to a two word tag - Dark Crusader, Fussy Narcissist etc. Then think of word associations. One character I had was obsessed with right and wrong but physically unimpressive, a bit of a joking crusader, so he became Justin. Justin is a imo a posh but maybe nerdy name (apologies to Justins) but the family called him Just, which summed up his character, always wanting justice and to be just.
Evil characters usually have harsh sounds in the name. Good characters tend to have softer sounds.
William, Bill, Billy Will, Willy, Wills are all derived from the same root but each says something different about the person. What you choose for them says a lot about that person. They were all probably christened William but some have chosen to shorten it. The person who chooses Bill says something other than the person called Billy.
Nicknames are good handles on character. You're telling the audience how the world sees your character. Ripper, Ace (Rimmer's brave alter-ego).
Make sure that all lead characters have different initial letters. Daphne, Ross, Frasier, Niles, Martin (Marty). The reason is to help the reader. As we're lazy readers the brain tries to shortcircuit a word by filling in the end from the start - like phone text algorithms - Having too many sharing the same initial William, Willa, Weston, will force the reader to read the whole tag slowing down the pace.
Hope these help, but yes names are crucial and we shouldn't select the first random thing that pops into our heads.
i usually use footballers names (but not the popular ones). maybe 2nd, 3rd division
I can't really write anything until I have the main characters names decided on.
I'd agree with Zooo that the lead names are THAT crucial.
Quote: nicholas keegan @ July 16, 2007, 12:14 PMi usually use footballers names (but not the popular ones). maybe 2nd, 3rd division
Charlie Nicholas - Kevin Keegan?
I too don't write until I have names.
They've vital. Think of all the best sitcom characters - great names. Blackadder, Rimmer etc. Think of the most forgettable characters - Ben Harper. Nothing name, just poorly thought out.
In my mind names have certain feelings and connotations - often because of people I've met, so if it matches a character I'll give them that name.
Use real life names - Larry David did it on Seinfeld all the time: Costanza, Kramer, Joe Davola, Lloyd Braun.
I'll also note down cool names I read in magazines, or hear and use those, that's one of my number one ways.
Word of caution re: cool names from papers ... we had a lawsuit from Tom Cruise and Wayne Rooney using that method.
And David Baddiel got sued for using Maurice Gross in his first novel. Though he didn't hide it very well, as he also gave him the same job as the real one.
He got sued and lost, so it was changed in the re-print. To Maurice Coat. Which is rubbish.
I write any old name till after. Then I change it. There is a lot in a name. If your character is a bit of a lad then he needs a name to show that.
Moved to the correct forum.
I Google names from the popular to the more unusual from the year of the character's birth. Baby name sites are pretty good. I don't always use them, but it always gives me a few ideas.
I agree names are vital and can conjure up so much information.
Probably best if you've got no idea is to start with say John & Mary and then if you can see any gags develop around a certain name change them to make it work.
It depends on what type of comedy you write too as the Office was all about reality and had pretty normal names: David, Tim, Gareth, Dawn, Keith, Simon, Lee. Nothing special there but that reflected the characters. Of course they had Finchy who was a lad so that was appropriate.
A bit like Malcolm Tucker is a great name for whats his name from the Thick of It?
Quote: ContainsNuts @ July 17, 2007, 9:02 AMOf course they had Finchy who was a lad so that was appropriate.
What's so unusual about the name Chris?