NaNoWriMo: Names

[hwango]

It would be easier if I could call my characters “Bob” and “Tim” and such, and just go back later to fill in more fantasy-oriented names. However, I can’t really seem to do that. A character’s name is part of their identity, and I seem to have trouble writing about someone without knowing what their name is. Worse, I can’t just try to come up with crazy names on the spot, because as part of my effort to create countries that have discernable and obvious differences, I’m trying to give the people in them names that actually sound different. That means following rules. No matter how much I might like the name Osandril, it’s going to have wait to be assigned to someone from country #3, because the people from country #1 all have three-syllable names that end their first syllable with a consonant and second with a vowel. Or re mar. Kar si vus. Pan gu den. Of course, I’ll have to change my own rule if I want to keep Tetragen pronounced Te tra gen instead of Tet ra gen. Ack.

Comments

[hwango.livejournal.com]

I actually do have a list of names ready to be mined for new characters, but I keep forgetting to go back and add to it. This means that I often scan the (too short) list of names and fail to see one that fits, and then I have to come up with one on the spot. I will take your advice and add to the list now, though.

This is yet another thing that I should have finished in October, so I could spend all of November actually writing. Something to remember for next year. = )