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| Mitch? Rod? Morgan? Julian? Broc? |
So, in between obsessively checking Sandy reports (lots of family on East Coast), today I've been working on fleshing out an outline for a sequel to
RAISING CHEER. I'm one of those writers who has to name my characters before I can even write the first sentence (or truly tap out a meaningful outline). Of course, I often search-and-replace the names in subsequent drafts, but I simply cannot lope my people through their various conundrums until I get initial purchase on names.
And before I can name them, I need to know what they look like.
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| Brady |
In the old days, before stock photography, I used to sketch my characters, and make tab-festooned clothing for them. Sort of like those
Betsy McCall paper dolls of yore. Thank God I don't have to do that anymore. I'm not much of a sketcher. Now I just pop on a site like
this one, and peruse the offerings. It's sort of like porn for character development. You know, like, Hey boy, what're you wearing? You never know where it will lead...
Since the second RC book will have most of the same characters as the first one, the only real name challenge is a new character. A love interest. A swarthy fellow (the pic above is a guy a bit older than the character in my book, but same brand of attitude). The third party in a love triangle. The romantic foil.
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| Connor |
The stoneresque boy pictured left is the hero, Connor, from book one (that's a soft spot I have, I guess-- a sort of scruffier Josh Hartnett type burnout with a heart of gold), and the young gal with the cell phone above is exactly who I envision my main character, Brady, to be.
So, top picks for naming the ass hat (as discussed on
Facebook): Julian, Prescott, Marcel (Marc), Broc, Adam, Georgio, Shane.
What do think, oh fabulous writing community? What would you name my asshole?
You know my thoughts, but now I see what you're working on. Sounds cool. And I love the looks of your characters.
ReplyDeleteIsn't naming characters fun? Sort of like having more kids without pregnancy, childbirth and raising...
DeleteAll my female characters start out w/ "m" names. i think it's an unconscious desire to simple name them all "me"
ReplyDeletewhat about a nick name (t-bone, spiff, guns) or two first names (justin bobby = instant asshole-some-ness)
thinking of asshole names reminds me of this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7URSM_ShQQ
Fun! I'm struggling with a name for one of my guys, too. Everything I think of is not . . . quite . . .
ReplyDeleteFor your asshat, Julian gets my vote. Or maybe Jude, or Jules. J, u, and then some other letters after that.
Thrilled to hear that you're off and running with the sequel!
Love Jude! It's got that cooler-than-thou-but-really? quotient. Hm....
DeletePlus, nobody in my real life has that name, so there's that...
DeleteJulian gets my vote, too ---- he's either going to be a cool, handsome European wearing a great scarf, or a total jerk-off.
DeleteIt's funny how you remember the asshats in your life, forever. If I read about someone named Fletcher, Chip, or Tripp, I cringe.
Did we all date the same asshats? Maybe there's only three, and they make the rounds?
DeleteMy particular asshat was named Cole. I think I'll write him into some awful scenario, like a prison rape or attack by chimpanzee.
DeleteCole. And that rhymes with mole. And Skoal. And troll.
DeleteSo, I'm thinking Julian Stone for the asshat. Thoughts?
ReplyDeleteThat works. Sophie, who is home sick today, agrees.
DeleteYay! And thanks for Beta-testing on the teen, Lisa!
DeleteJulian Stone. YES! I can already imagine what an asshat he is and can be.
Delete