Names are perhaps one of the most important and most underutilized aspect of character development in fiction. drama, poetry etc. Most times we just try to give an outlandish, unique name to our main character because we want our work to be "different" from everybody else's. I can't tell you how many oddball names I have come across in emerging fiction writers and student writers. The truth is, in the real world, for every Dimitri there are fifteen Pauls and our writing should reflect the real world right? So the question becomes, how can you use "normal" names to build character? Something I do is use syllables as a helper...shorter syllable names are simpler and less complicated to deal with...obviously they belong to characters that are what they seem and have a more simplistic outlook or place in our writing. Roy Stead is a hardworking man who sees the world as black and white and therefore cannot stand by while Dimitri Wilvirer uses intimidation and blackmail to advance the company's interests in oil-rich Iran...(hypothetical)
I used two different tricks here...first was the syllable length which I just spoke of. Next is the use of Stead which should remind the readers of Steady as well as Wilvirer which sounds foreign as well as has vir in it which makes the reader associate him with virus or violence or some other awful v word.
What are some names of your characters and did you use names intentionally...what other ways are there to develop character with name?
Name Meanings. In other languages, if you take a name and translate it then it will usually have a pretty or characteristic-like meaning. The spanish name "Flor" means "flower" in English. In Japanese too, when naming characters for a book the author will take apart words and look at the combined kanji for them. The meaning then usually has something to do with the theme of the story. For instance, "Ashirogi Muto" (Bakuman) is made up of several different names, but when put together it roughly means "Our dreams come true". I'm not really sure how this really helps in English, unfortunately. Most people don't seem to give two pigs about names unless they're pregnant. But I always thought it was a good factor to consider when choosing characters.
ReplyDeleteI do the name meaning thing too! In one full-length story thing that I'm still working on in my spare time, I have characters names Aislin and Jalen. Aislin means dreams, and her character has "powers", if you will, that sort of have to do with dreams in a sense. Jalen means "bird of light," and he is sort of a light-hearted and happy character. I find picking names to be one of the most fun things about a piece of writing. :)
ReplyDeleteOh, I do the same thing. I usually use a Japanese word that has something to do with the character for the name. Like, if the character is very optimistic and in general a happy person who aims high I'd probably name that character "Hikaru" or something like that.....
ReplyDeleteAnd on a side note, Mariah, isn't bakumon that manga illustrated by Takeshi Obata? Or am I confused?
Yea, Lian, Bakuman is by the Death Note couple. It's the one about the aspiring mangakas. I take it you read it, then?
ReplyDeleteAh, no but I've read Hikaru no Go and Death Note which are both illustrated by him, so ya I've heard of it and was going to read it, but I couldn't find it online. Wow this comment is really off topic. sorry.
ReplyDeletewhenever i name a charcter, (i hate to, too many names!) i usaully look up the meaning or whatever back story there may be. for example, daniel (spelling?) brought destruction and pain wherever he went, so id use that name for a troubled charcter. i always love to think of a word that embodies a charcter, then go to old galiec and find the same word, it usually makes for an odd, but fitting name.
ReplyDeleteI like that idea, Kace.
ReplyDeleteYea we are off topic (shhh! Don't tell Horvath!) but it's hard to find cuz its liscensed. I used to read it on ourmanga.com and you could try there. I stopped because I kept getting viruses from the website..
Hahaha. I won't tell if you don't. But yeah, i started reading it and its good! Its inspirational and kindof depressing at the same time since i want to be a mangaka too.
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