When I try to write a story, I find it very important to have names for my characters that I feel fit the type of character they are. If I don't like my heros name, I just can't seem to let him play the hero, it seems, that for me, a strong character name is the frame to which I tack a personality.
An appropriate type of name also seems to matter. An amusing character can have an ordinary name, a funny character I prefer to have an almost cartoonish name, a fantasy character almost always seems to want a name beginning with A (I don't know why!) and so on.
In life, I also find this is true, there are certain names which I prejudge as belonging to people who have come from a certain type of background, educational opportunity etc.. (eg if you were born in the late 80s in the UK and your mother named you Kylie I know what she was watching on tv :-) ) and find that I have personality traits assigned to me in turn by others on the basis of my name.
When it comes to screen names, this gets more complicated, because this is a name we put upon ourselves (allowing for the fact that we may have to pick a second choice if SexGod1 or whatever our first choice was has been taken!) For whatever reason we chose the particular name we have, it too can create a different, warped picture of the people we are in the minds of the readers of posts we make.
My most used screen name previously (not here) was based on a book title by one of my favourite authors, I had to change it because people assumed I was Asian and frequently attacked me for being so. My current screen name, which I like, is a Hebrew name, corrupted by me (an extra n) to give it, in my mind, an echo of Ireland (the Shannon) it is the root of my real name, I think it a pretty name. I wonder what you see when you read it? Some people just assume I am Jewish. Because of my own personal experiences, I am never prepared to judge on screen on the basis of a name, but they do seem to be the badge for our online personalities to be hung on.
Perhaps it is these real world situations that make my characters names so crucial to me.
What is the starting point for you when creating characters?
How do you name your characters? Is it important to you?
Shanna :-)

I don't assume too much from screen names, either. Although I must admit that names like ~~The_Evil_One~~ predispose me to think badly of the person behind the name. For instance, I did not ever make the Jewish connection with Shoshanna, and when you started talking about your English background, the "Shanna" part just sounded right then, though I had not guessed before. In what little character creation I have done, I lean toward names that are symbolic. I browse through baby name books to know the meanings behind names. I work similarly with last names, trying to get a name that is both meaningful and melodious. For fantastic characters, I think sound has more of an influence. Evil characters have names starting with M or S or harsh sounds. So it is important to me, but I'm generally more concerned with character traits and plot before I start thinking about names. Mr I =)

What is in a name? Whatever you think it is, can alway change. I am a writer and sometimes names are important, but then sometimes not. I have written stories where my characters had dumb sounding names and all you see in the story is the characters traits. I have also written stories where there are no names at all and you still see the characters traits first. So, I agree character traits are more important than names unless the names are the plot. Which I have also done. How is that for sitting on a fence?

I actually sat down after posting this and wrote a story deliberately without names, just to see if I could. It's one of my entries to the prose challenge, I'd like to know if anyone thinks the story would be better if the characters had names. Shanna :-)

Shanna, I can't figure out how to read you story. Because I cannot get past 2/22/03 [locked] cresent. Where is it? How do I get there to read it? Lost and wandering Awayne2

To get to that particular thread, just click on the link in the forum banner for the Prose challenge To access all the older posts in the forum, click on the archive button in the message selection options on each page and you will then be able to read them. I sent you this as an instant message, but just in case, here it is again. Shanna :-) ps There are some wonderful stories by other people in the challenge thread too. Maybe you could post one? Welcome to the forum.

What's behind a name? I have strange habits in choosing names for my characters... As a general rule I try to avoid the names of people I know... If I'm writing a contemporary story, I want quite common names; if I'm writing a fairy tale I go for strange names, usually taken from the calendar, where you can find names of ancient saints now out of use; if it is a totally fantasy story I often generate names choosing letters at random, and rearranging them a bit... When I'm writing something long, which requires a lot of characters, another habit of me is to choose the names in alphabetical order, so it happens that the first character I name begins with 'A' and so on (it's not always the first character the reader meets, but it's the first I've built in my mind)... This makes it easy for me to recognise them when I need to build a scheme of their moving and relationships... Sometimes queer things happen to my nouns... For example once I named a business man Mr White, and the man blackmailing him I called Mr Snow... In the story I never wrote the names jointed, not even in the same page... so I didn't realized the Snow-White thing until a friend of mine, giving me his comment, declared what a clever symbolism and humor were the Snow/White names for such corrupted people... As for the screen names, I know that most of them have a reason, but I don't try to guess things from them, maybe because I've choosen an English male screen name, while I'm an Italian female... With such a misleading screen name, well, I simply cannot trust the other ones...

I have had characters change their names mid-story. When that happens, I tend to go with the change. I figure they must know something I don't.

Oh yes, that happened to me too, a couple of times...

You mean like Ozma? ..;) I tend to get 'cute' with my names, usually they're a thinly veiled meaning, that may have to be researched, but occasionally worth a raised eyebrow..;)

OK, OK, Shanna and Jgeoge I will post a short story. But, you have to promise to Laugh. And think about the names as you read. Otherwise, I will be hurt.

Waiting to read it....the link is fixed now to the prose challenge, are you going to enter? Shanna :-)

The Legend of White Dove By A. Wayne Heusel We have all read or heard of different heros throughout history. These stories have been passed down through the years from one person to the next. This one was told to me by my mother. Legends may come and legends may go. But no legend ever told can compare to the legend of White Dove. The legacy she left behind has probably saved more lives than any other legend in the world. White Dove was born with a destiny. This destiny would make her and the men she loved famous throughout history. Even her parents names are still revered in todays society. She was the daughter of Big Chief and her mother Little Woman. Her father was the King of the largest tribes in the world. (Because it was so long ago, the name of that tribe is no longer known.) Big Chief was a proud and honorable man. He stood about six feet tall and must have weighed about two hundred and ten pounds. His eyes spoke wisdom in just a glance. It was just such a glance that made Little Woman fall in love and marry Big Chief. Little Woman was more than five feet tall and proportionately built to suit her man. She worked from sunup to sundown keeping the teepee clean and meals prepared. Often were the times she would surprise Big chief with love notes in his brown leather lunch bag. Big Chief would always find love and comfort in the arms of Little Woman. The love they shared between each other was unlike any the world would ever know. The day came when Little Woman gave birth to their first born child. Big Chief and Little Woman were so proud of their beautiful daughter. She truly was the most beautiful baby girl ever born. Big Chief could hardly wait to show everyone his beautiful new baby girl. He took her in his arms and gently cuddled and hugged her, as he talked to her, the way most new fathers talk to their new born children. After they had a few intimate moments between mother, father and new born daughter. It was time to give her a name and as was their custom the father would carry the new born child outside to show to the world. The first thing he sees is to be the guiding spirit that the child is to be named after. As he stepped through the leather flap of his teepee, a bird flew right into him falling to the ground, unharmed but dazed. This was the first thing he saw and so it was declared that his daughters name would be White Dove. The proud father sent for his head scout whose name was Spread Eagle. Spread Eagle was the best tracker and hunter in the tribe. He was in charge of all the scouts in the village. Big Chief told Spread Eagle to send all the scouts out to all the other villages and tell them he has a daughter. When this was done, all of the other villages sent back congratulations and gifts for the new Princess. Growing up White Dove grew up in a village where everyone worked together. The firewood was gathered for the village wood pile. All the women and children worked together. They would gather herbs, fruits, nuts, and roots every day. A lot of these would be dried to last them through the winter months, that come every year. The evening meal was prepared, like a smorgasbord, for everyone in the tribe. The men would take care of the heavier work like building tepees, hunting and trapping. Breaking new ponies for riding. So, anyway, back to the story. Love Happens White Dove was like a tomboy when she was growing up. She had her favorite friends to play with and their names were, Falling Rocks and Running Deer. These boys were favored amongst all the children in the tribe. Maybe, it was because they were White Doves playmates. But more than likely it was because they were respectful, well-mannered boys. As the years passed and the children were growing into young adults. They remained best friends. And like a lot of young teenagers, they would sneak out at night to talk and play. It was one of those nights that Running Deer proclaimed his love for White Dove. And White Dove told Running Deer how much she loved him. Of course, Falling Rocks was not there at that time. Neither of them wanted to hurt the feelings of their friend, Falling Rocks. Because, he was loved by them as a friend. They believed he might not understand. Together White Dove and Running Deer decided not to tell Falling Rocks, until the time was right. It would be a secret, just between White Dove and Running Deer. It was not allowed to ask for the hand of a maiden in marriage until the boy was a man. Boys were not considered a man until they went through a ceremony and passed the test to be a man. This test was coming up soon for Falling Rocks and Running Deer. They had already begun training under the guidance of Spread Eagle. The boys from the tribe would be sent out to face the wilderness and live on their instincts and training for one full moon or one month to you me. That was the test. Two months passed and the next full moon was the night of the ceremony. The next night after the ceremony, the boys from the tribe were sent out in different directions. White Dove was confident that her one true love and her good friend would be all right. One full month went by and all the boys who were sent out as boys came back as men. Running Deer came back into to the village with two extra ponies and an elk. When Falling Rocks came into the village, he had brought back three buffalo hides and some of the meat that he had smoked to preserve it. There was a large celebration for all the brave young men. When the celebration was starting to come to an end. White Dove and Running Deer was seen sneaking out of the village by Falling Rocks. He snuck up behind them and over heard what they were talking about. Running Deer told White Dove that he was going to her father to ask for her hand in marriage. When Falling Rocks heard this, he was very jealous and hurt. He felt like he had been betrayed. He began to realize how much he loved White Dove and wished that he had told her. He thought about the years of friendship they had between them and about how foolish he felt. Anger took hold of him and tears started to flow down his cheeks. Falling Rocks quietly sobbed as he went back to his teepee. He dropped to his knees and beat the ground with his fist. His emotions were running rampant as he thought about what he had overheard. Finally he fell into a tormented sleep. When he awoke, he decided he was not going to give up that easily. So, very early that morning Falling Rocks went to have a talk with Big Chief. He told Big Chief about his love for White Dove. He assured him that his daughter would be well provided for. He told him that White Dove would always be the center of his world and he asked for the hand of White Dove in marriage. Big Chief was very proud that Falling Rocks wanted to be the husband of his daughter. Big Chief knew how close the friendship was between the two. He told Falling Rocks that he would be honored to have him as a son and he said he would go and tell his decision to White Dove. ( In those days it was the father who chose the husbands for their daughters.) When Big Chief Told White Dove that he had given her to be married to Falling Rocks. She broke down into tears and screamed how could you do this to me. She ran out of the teepee. Frantic and hurt, she searched for Running Deer all through the village. Finally she found him down by the river. He was washing up to be presentable when he goes to see the chief. He had no idea what was going on when he saw White Dove running down the hill to him. She ran into his arms, nearly knocking him down. Her tears and sobs were choking her voice to the point of not being understood by Running Deer. Burying her face in his chest, she clutched and hugged him very tight, as if someone were trying to tear her from him. Running Deer did not understand one word she was saying. Nor could he even begin to know what it is that upset her. All he could do is stroke her hair and hold her. He began to calm her by telling her to take some deep breaths and try to tell him what it is that she is crying about. She tried a couple of times to tell him, but would break into tears and sobs again. Finally, he got her to calm down enough to tell him. And when she told him, oh!!, you could see the color of rage build in his countenance. He immediately storms off, up the hill, to the village. He is searching for Falling Rocks. He finds him about to make a fire for breakfast or coffee or something. (That does not matter.) Running Deer said not one word when he jumped on Falling Rocks. As he was pummeling Falling Rocks into an unconscious state, other men from the tribe came running over and pulled him off. They held him back as they helped Falling Rocks to his feet and then they had to hold Falling Rocks back away from Running Deer. The men of the villiage dragged the two young men to Big Chiefs teepee, for a decision on what was to be done. Big Chief already knew what was going on, because White Dove was inside the teepee being comforted by her mother. But that did not matter to Big Chief. What did matter to Big Chief was to not look like a fool in front of the whole tribe. He had already given his word to Falling Rocks. Big Chief ordered that each of the young men would be given a chance to be heard at the council meeting that evening. And the councils decision would be final. Until then, both Falling Rocks and Running Deer would be confined to their tepees. ( sort of a teepee arrest ) That evening after dinner the men of the council were settling down with a drink. A peace pipe was being passed around as they talked to each other. They had all heard rumors from their wives and friends all day long. ( You know how that goes. White Dove tells her mother. Little Woman and Little Woman tells a few friends and a few friends tell their husbands what they think. And of course that is the way their husband should vote on the final outcome.) The meeting would not start until Big Chief gets there and calls the meeting to order. Big chief and Spread Eagle were talking to Falling Rocks and Running Deer. They assured the two young men that their arguments would be heard separately and fairly. They were each given a chance to back out and apologize. But neither one of them would hear of it. They agreed to abide by the decision of the council, no matter what that decision would be. Big Chief and Spread Eagle go to call the meeting to order. When they were through discussing and voting on other matters concerning the village.Spread Eagle is sent to get Falling Rocks. Falling Rocks comes to the meeting with a fattened lip and a black eye. It is really hard to look at him without some kind of pity. He tells how he had gone to see Big Chief and asked for White Dove to be his wife. He told the council how Big Chief had agreed to the union. He told them how much he loved White Dove and what a good provider he could be for her and her parents. Big Chief stood up and asked the question. That question, the one that Falling Rocks did not want to be asked. Did my daughter know you were going to ask me to marry her? Falling Rocks answered, that does not matter. Marriages are arranged all the time in this day and age. Many men here would be proud to have their daughters married to me. Just as you told me, you would be proud to have me as your son. Many of the council had to agree. What Falling Rocks said was true. But there was another consideration to be considered. Whoever married White Dove would one day be chief of the whole tribe, not just the village. Falling Rocks would make a good chief but then, so would Running Deer. Spread Eagle escorted Falling Rocks back to his teepee and told him to wait for the decision. It is time for Running Deer to be heard by the council. So, Spread Eagle goes to get Running Deer and takes him to the council meeting. Running Deer begins to tell the council how he was done wrongly by Falling Rocks. And how he and White Dove had been seeing each other and had been discussing marriage for quite some time. He told them about their plans to ask her father. When that very morning Falling Rocks had gone and beat him to it. In his final appeal he said, White Dove loves me and there could not be a man other than him for her happiness. The same question was asked of him that was asked of Falling Rocks. Big Chief stood up and asked, did my daughter know you were going to ask me for her hand in marriage. Running Deer answers proudly, yes she did. Spread Eagle escorts Running Deer back to his teepee and tells him to wait for the councils decision. After an hour of debating and arguing among the council members. There were some that said one of the two had to be cast out of the village. Others said there should be a competition between the two. And that was the first thing the council voted on. It was decided by vote. There would be a competition between the two suitors. The council began to discuss what kind of competition that the two would have equal chances at. As such an equal competition would not be on their conscience. It would be decided by whoever the Great Spirit favored the best. Some of the council members said, the competition should be hand to hand combat to the death. But others said it should be whoever goes out and brings back the most meat for the village. After the vote, both Running Deer and Falling Rocks were brought before the council at the same time to hear the decision. As they stood there glaring at each other. Big Chief stood up and told them both, the council has come to a decision. It has been decided that you both have three days to prepare for a hunt. Whichever of you brings back the most meat for the tribe will be the one to marry White Dove. This meeting is over. In the next three days both Running Deer and Falling Rocks prepared for the hunt of their lives. They sharpen knives and put together arrows. They put together provisions and things they might need. On the third day they were brought together with the whole tribe. Everyone was there to wish them a good hunt and to come back safely. White Dove was not aloud to see either of them. But she sent a brown leather lunch bag full of food and a love note, by way of her mother, to Running Deer. ( And of course you know, her father sooner or later would miss his lunch bag. ) Running Deer and Falling Rocks were sent off in different directions. With part of the villagers running along with them to the edge of the village, to see them off. White Dove was praying every day all day long for the safe return of her love, Running Deer. A week goes by and neither of the two men has returned. Two weeks go by and still not a sign of either of them. White Dove is so wrought with anxiety she begins to fast and pray. Eating hardly anything at all. A month goes by and one of the scouts comes running into the village, shouting Falling Rocks is coming, Falling Rocks is coming. Everyone runs out to meet him and see what he has brought with him. Everyone except White Dove. Falling Rocks had caught three more ponies and they were piled high with all kinds of meat for the village to feast on. Falling Rocks went directly to Big Chief and said, I have brought back the most meat anyone could ever bring. I have won the competition. Now, can I have White Doves hand in marriage, as you promised? Big Chief, very calmly told him, Running Deer has not returned. When he returns then we will see who will marry my daughter. Another month goes by and still Running Deer has not come back. White Dove has lost weight and is looking sickly and pale. She cries and prays continually every day and night. While Falling Rocks is daily demanding of her father to live up to his promise. Big Chief not knowing what to do, asks the council. At the council meeting it was decided to send out the best scouts to find Running Deer. The next day Spread Eagle got his best scouts together and sent them off in different directions. They were to go out and find and bring back Running Deer. After two weeks, all of the scout that had been sent out, returned. None of them had found Running Deer. That night at the council meeting, Falling Rocks was adamantly demanding the hand of White Dove in marriage. The council made a decision and told Falling rocks they were going to try one more time to find Running Deer. And if the search did not come back successful, then they would honor him. White Dove had heard of the decision made by the council. She went to see Falling Rocks with tears flowing down her cheeks and she made a desperate plea for help. She explained, that she loved Running Deer with all of her heart. She told him that she had always loved him too. But her love for him was as a brother which she never had. She told him that she would marry him if she had to, but she would always love Running Deer. She went on to tell Falling Rocks that if she were forced into marriage with him, her love for him as a friend would die. She began to recount times when the three of them were growing up together. How they used to play together and some of the things they learned about life as teenagers. As she talked to him, he started to recount some of the good times also. And as she talked to him, he began to cry. He started to explain his jealousy, but White Dove put her finger to his lips saying, shhh, I know you love me. Falling Rocks wiped the tears from their eyes, because they were both crying, and told her, That the love they both felt for each other would not die. And her happiness was more important to him than anything else in the world. If she wanted Running Deer for her husband then he would go find him and bring him home to her. The next morning, Spread Eagle called his scouts together and sent them out again to try and find and bring back Running Deer. Falling Rocks was among them. Because he meant what he said, to White Dove. He too, would go and search for Running Deer. White Dove was there to see him off and wish him a safe and successful return. Weeks go by and all of the scouts have returned without any good news. They all said, Falling Rocks has not returned yet. Surely, if anyone can, he will find and bring back Running Deer. But weeks go by and six months pass. Still, no sign of either Running Deer or Falling Rocks. White Dove is pining away and getting weaker by the day. So, Big Chief, fearing for the health of his daughter and the future of the tribe, calls for Spread Eagle and tells him to gather all of the scouts from all of the tribes in all of the villages. When they were all assembled for the meeting. Big Chief told them all, they were to go out in all different directions as far as they could. They were to ask everyone they met and talk to people for information that might lead them to find the two that were lost. And as they went in their search they were to put up signs along all of the paths and roads that they traveled. Many months later the scouts all returned without ever finding either Running Deer or Falling Rocks. The scouts had all did as they were told. They all put up signs everywhere they went and still to this very day. You can see those signs along the highway and byways of this great nation of ours. Those signs still read, look out for Running Deer and watch out for Falling Rocks.

Yes, I think names are very important too. I will agonize over the name for some characters for quite some time, using every resource available to me. The more important the character, the more important it is for me to get the name just right. And I don't hesitate to use diacritical marks found in the special fonts libraries, since I like using Old English and Old Norse names quite a bit when writing fantasy. I have an entire book shelf on name books and dictionaries; baby names, surnames, place names, dictionaries of mythology, foreign language dictionaries, and last year's telephone book. Plus the Internet. Interestingly, if the character is not important, I am perfectly happy to use a place holder, to come back to them later, so that they don't hold up the story. So I might write: [what's his name] waited until she was out of the room, and then peeked into her desk drawer to see what she had been so upset about. I will also agonize over place names, and feel that place names must conform to some logical naming system. Nothing bothers me more than seeing a map in a novel that has uninteresting or a seemingly discordant place naming system. I think that is one of the reasons Tolkien was so good, his world was crafted to a plan based on linguistic structure and therefore seemed to make sense and exist in perfect context. As to screen names, sexgod1 was taken, so I had to settle for jstro. ;-) Oh well. awayne2 - The writer's challenge can be found at the attached link. Would love to see you enter. jon

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/messages.ez?ForumID=12436&Form.ShowMessage=1126491

Thanks jon. Should I delete my entry here? I am still learning my way around.

If it's for the challenge, I think you should at least put a copy of it in the Challenge thread. Don't know that you need to delete it here. jon