Character Development: Names

So, you've got a character, but no name. Nothing sounds right. There are too many Tiffany's, Claire's, Thomas', etc, yet finding a random name on the baby websites just doesn't seem fitting after you've put so much work into developing these characters. What I like to do when chosing a name for my character is to pick one of their most important characteristics, whether its their strength or their evilness.

Once you've done that, search for names with that meaning. For example, in a novel I am writing, the main character is a young woman who is not well versed in relationships or life. After breaking up with her fiancee, she finds herself in the middle of the Bering Sea, battling herself and learning how to become the person she wants to be. When trying to name her, I felt that her greatest strength was her inner battle in order to become a better person.

After some research, I discovered that the surname Blair means "battlefield", which I thought was more than fitting. Therefore, my young woman who is struggling with herself is now named Blair.

If you are naming a lesser or support character, obviously you don't have to pay this much attention in naming them, but it is important to stray away from certain names.

For instance, if you are writing in a semiautobiographal nature, steer away from using your friend or family's real names. Not only could it upset them, but if you have something minutely negative to say about them, they may not appreciate their name being put on blast.

Finally, don't be afraid of being creative. A name doesn't need to have a specific meaning and if you plan on naming a vampire or a fairy, generic names may not apply.

Character Development # 1

For those of you who already have a story in mind, but might not be so keen on your character, let's start some character development.

A couple things to remember when you're creating a character:
-Everyone is unique. Make sure your character has quarks
-No one in the world is perfect, so don't forget to add their flaws also
-Be creative. Your character is your chance to be someone you're not. Don't
be afraid to make them slightly evil or a complete super hero.

While names are important, it's not the first place I like to start. Here is a good starting point:
Age:
Race:
Location:
Living situation:

Once the basics are in place, I like to add information on like I am scultping a person. After I have the basic body shape, we need to add more clay for limbs and a face.
Gender:
Hair color:
Eye color:
Face shape:
Body shape:

Once you have a picture of your character in your head, start describing their finer details. Do they have a big nose? Are their eyebrows slightly unkempt? Literally list all their features from head to toe OR if you are so artisticaly inclined, draw a picture.

Now it's time for the finer things.
Clothing style:
Hair style:
Car (if they drive one):
Job/Schooling:
Family:

The exciting part, in my opinion, is to shape their personality.
Pet peeves:
Sense of humor:
Smart?
Likes:
Dislikes:
Introvert or extrovert?
Protagonist, antagonist?

This is your main character so get to know them. You may want to imagine their bedroom, and things like favorite color, band, book, television show, etc. Dialog is important in a story, so don't forget to give them a specific speech pattern. Perhaps they have an accent or they use words like "dude" or "like" alot.

A person is complex, so any little detail you can think of is that much more realism in your character.

After I've got a pretty good idea of who your character is, it might be easier to give a name, which we will go through in the next post.

Writing Exercise #3

When I look back on all the things I've written, I find that almost all my characters are similar in more than a coincidental sense. I have a hard time writing from the viewpoint of a character who is anyone other than me, and any love interests always end up resembling the same image of the perfect man in my head. Now, I will attempt to break through that and turn someone into a completely different person.

Go to Google. In the search box, type in a first name. Scroll through the images and pick one. Physically describe the person first. Then, based on what they are doing in the picture, describe their likes, dislikes, pet peeves, favorites, job, etc. Try to go into as much detail as you can. Once you're finished with that, repeat the search, only this time, chose someone with the gender opposite of what you just described. Try this for at least 3 different pictures. Compare them. Are they too similar? Are you using the same words to describe them? How are their personalities compared to yours? Don't be afraid to make one or more of them an antagonist, or to make one of them someone you wouldn't like. Feel free to share!