I always find that I have to get the perfect name for a character or else the rest of the story does not seem to flow. What are your tips on coming up with names that fit the character just right?
I always find that I have to get the perfect name for a character or else the rest of the story does not seem to flow. What are your tips on coming up with names that fit the character just right?
If you think about nicknames rather than 'actual' names, how many of those might have been used before? My own character nicknames include: Peach, The Ferret, The Pigeon, Slackarse, (sorry!) I've never seen any of them used elsewhere.
If you choose ordinary British names, yes, of course they will have appeared before, but if you choose those names which carry resonance for you for a very particular reason, you can then imbue those names, those characters, with meaning. You won't have to consciously think about it, it will just happen.
Further, think 'foreign' names. One of my most successful short stories features a family of foreign characters, all because I came up with one foreign name and 'allowed' it to carry me into a story.
Place names probably need to be more evocative than character names (unless you prefer to nail a character by his title). Most places centre around a landmark of some kind, for example Maryport (a harbour), Egremont (mont = a mount), Cockermouth (mouth of the river Cocker). Those are real places, you could try thinking about your locations' landscapes and distinguishing features and drawing a name from them. Some of mine are Firfield, The Middles, Bleak Rock and Snowhold, which I hope are fairly descriptive. Hope that helps
It's right. The names mean too much for the reader and the writer. Usually I opt for unusual names and as Zoe King said, I google them sometimes but often I pick names from the 'casting' at the end of a movie. Trust me, it works wonders and if you're lucky, you may come across names of your choice. :)