What's In a Name?

Good Morning,

Sandra here with a large pot of Breakfast Blend coffee, fall flavored creamers such as gingerbread, pumpkin spice, caramel truffle and thick REAL cream. I don't need sweeteners dontcha know. Sweet enough. How about you??? smile

For you tea lovers, chai, green and the standard pekoe.

And steaming cups of Honey Graham and French Vanilla Hot Chocolate with whipped cream on top.

For those who want a bite to eat, we have waffles studded with apple slices, cinnamon and walnuts. There is a bowl of whipped butter and a crock pot full of hot maple syrup.

Now close your eyes and picture who would be sitting on a porch in the deep South with this tasty delight. Can you picture a hero and heroine? What are their names?

Now picture who would be heating precooked waffles over a campfire with a coffee pot hanging on a hook. Can you picture a hero and heroine? What are their names?

I bet you chose different names for the southern porch setting than you did for the campfire setting. I see Rett on the porch and Zach at the fire.

Names are critical in our novels. You want a name that matches the traits of your character. If you have a strong type A hero, you want a strong masculine name--probably with one syllable. His formal name might be long, but a nickname that fits works also.

If your hero is a nerd, think of a name that connects the reader to that image. If your hero is older, think of names popular in his generation. If your hero is a teen, think of names popular amongst current teens. (My crit partner nailed me the other day for confusing her with my characters because their names were not distinctive. She suggested I give the older woman a name you would associate or clue you to the fact we were reading about the older woman)

How do you find these names?

One fun way to think of a name is watch movies, television or read the tabloid magazines or TV Guide for the names of current movie and rock stars.

Famous ball players and sports heroes offer popular names. The public does associate certain characteristics with the names of these real life models.

And okay, its fun to stick in a relative or friend for secondary characters or someone you dislike as a villian, but for our main characters we need that name that says it all.

One source I use is the book You Are Your First Name by Ellin Dodge.

This book claims to be numerology which I don't subscribe to, but it gives characteristics positive and negative for the names as well as national and cultural origins of the name. So even if you don't subscribe to the numerology, it is fun to read all of the traits. It gives you good ideas of what flaws go with different strengths.

Another book of names has descriptions of characteristics is The Hidden Truth of Your Name: A Complete Guide to First Names and What They Say About You by Nomenology Project

Almost every ancient culture including those in the Bible name their sons and daughters by characteristics of that person. So it stands to reason that we associate characteristics to a name.

If you aren't sure about a name you have chosen, ask several people what type of person they think of when you mention _______ name.

So let's brainstorm ideas for how we find our names for our characters.

What methods or resources have you used?

Any helpful hints?

Those who offer helpful hints will be placed in a pool for a drawing of a book of their choice autographed by a Seeker. Leave your email addie if it isn't in your profile.

We'll post the winner on the weekend edition.

And Black Friday is coming up.

Remember books make great gifts and Seeker books even better.

Sandra who is called

San when hubby is endearing,

Sandy when she's with friends and

Sandra Lee when she is in trouble.