Last Names

**My theme for this year's A to Z Challenge is THE NAME GAME. Everything you'd want to know about naming characters.**

When it comes to naming a character, the first name is most likely going to be the most important thing for you to figure out. But if you look at your characters as if they were real people, then their first names really only make up part of what their full names should be. And if you want your character to feel like a real person, then he should have a last name. 

Of course, last names usually won't be as important as figuring out the first name. It won't be used as often. Depending on the character, it may not be used at all. Every single character who pops up in your book doesn't necessarily need a last name. It would probably be distracting trying to keep track of all of them. Your minor characters probably don't need them, but it's probably a good idea to give last names to your main characters. It may come up, and it may not, but it's good to have it in the back of your mind. 

You probably won't be as passionate about a character's last name as you will be about their first, and that's perfectly fine. It doesn't always make up a huge part of their identity like a first name does. It can be something common or generic and still not make the character seem boring. What it really does is make them feel like a real person. Even if you don't use the last name, it's a good idea to know it so they feel more real, more concrete in your mind. And if you need to sneak it in somewhere, then you already have the name on hand and don't have to spend a lot of time searching for one. 

FUN TIP: Can't come up with a last name? If you've got a phone book lying around (yes, they still exist...), close your eyes, pick a random page, and point your finger somewhere on the page. If you like the last name you land on, use it! 

So when will you actually use a last name within a story? Some people go by their last names more often than their first. At my last job, pretty much everyone called me Foster. So whether your character goes by his first or last name can depend on where he is and who he's with. His family will most likely use his first name (or his full name if he's getting yelled at, but more on that tomorrow...), but maybe some of his friends call him by his last name. 

It can also come up when mentioning family members. If your MC's parents are constantly being referred to as Mr. and Mrs., then obviously you need to know your MC's last name. You'll want a last name that actually fits with the first. They shouldn't have similar letters or sounds, or both have a ridiculous amount of syllables. You'll really just want them to flow together, to actually sound like a name that someone would have. 

WHAT I'VE DONE: I only gave the two main characters in Uneven Lines last names (plus the MC's mom, of course). One of Jordan's friends, Brian, pretty much always calls him by his last name, Palmer. I don't even know why. He's just one of those guys, I guess. 

Do you give your characters last names? Has anyone ever called you by your last name? 

Killing the Name

**My theme for this year’s A to Z Challenge is THE NAME GAME. Everything you’d want to know about naming characters.**

Sometimes a character’s name comes to you right away. Other times you have to research it, go through countless lists of names before you find the right one. No matter what works for you, at some point you will choose a name for your character and you’ll start writing. Sometimes, though, you may discover that the name you chose is no longer working, and you have to change it. This can be devastating, but if you feel it’s necessary, it may be the only choice to make.

There are plenty of reasons why a name won’t work for a particular character. If the names of all of your characters have too many similarities (same number of syllables, starting with the same letter), it may be smart to mix this up a bit (I’ll have a whole other post on this subject for the letter V). Maybe the name is too similar to someone you know or someone famous. Or maybe the name just doesn’t feel right. Every time you write it, it just feels off. It doesn’t fit the way you picture this particular character.

There’s also other people’s perspective on the name to consider. If you have one person read your work and they don’t like a name, that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to change it, unless they give you a good reason. If everyone you have read it hates the name, and their reasoning makes sense to you, then you probably should take it into consideration. Ultimately, though, the choice to kill a name is totally up to you. If you love a name and think it’s working, then stick with it.

WHAT I’VE DONE: I actually need to rename a character who is in my sequel ideas for Uneven Lines. The drummer in Jordan’s band so far has been named Joe, but I thought having two characters’ names start with the same two letters wasn’t going to work (and I certainly wasn’t going to rename Jordan!). I’ll probably pick another one syllable name, since the other two guys in the band also have two syllables in their names (Eric and Adam).  

It can be difficult to change a character’s name when you’ve already grown accustomed to it. A secondary character may not cause you as much grief as a main one, but there is still a process to work through. You’ll have to consider everything about this character’s identity. Why wasn’t the name working? What sort of name will work? Will the new name go well with the other characters’ names? It may take a while to find that one perfect name, but it’s out there and you can find it.  

It’s kind of like ripping off a Band-Aid. Once you know you have to change the name, try to figure out the replacement as soon as possible. You don’t want to dwell on the decision or you may second guess it. Also, be sure any mentions of the original name are replaced with the new one. Do a search in your documents to find and replace them. You don’t want your character’s old name haunting your story like a ghost!

Have you ever had to change a character’s name? Why did it need to change? 

Just Make Up a Name!

**My theme for this year’s A to Z Challenge is THE NAME GAME. Everything you’d want to know about naming characters.**

Sometimes you may have a particular story, or a particular character, even, and no name on this entire planet seems to work for them. Maybe they don’t even live on this planet and that’s the problem. Maybe they’ve just got really wacky parents. For whatever reason, sometimes it’s necessary for you to make up a name for your character.

Of course, there are only a few times that you’ll be able to get away with making up your characters’ names without the reader thinking you’re crazy. Genre will usually be the deciding factor. If you’re writing something that is Fantasy or Science-Fiction, for example, you could definitely get away with making up your character names. If you’ve created a world that is completely separate from the real one, then it would make sense for this world to have its own set of names.

So how do you come up with these made up names? It could depend on the story you’re writing. Maybe the universe you’ve created has a specific way of naming its people. Maybe they have a different alphabet. Or you can just put different syllables together until you come up with something that feels right. A name could reflect where your character comes from, or even have some symbolic meaning for what kind of character he is (good or evil, for example). You could incorporate different languages or even make up your own. You could just have fun coming up with your original names, or find a way to put some meaning in to it.

Your characters can have long, elaborate names, but if the reader has no idea how to pronounce them, it might trip them up. Try to make your names understandable and not something that makes the readers pause every time they come across them. You’ll want to avoid anything that makes it harder for the reader to just get through a paragraph.

If you’re writing realistic fiction, it probably isn’t a good idea to create a fake name for a character. If you do choose to do so, it needs to be explained. Maybe this character’s parents wanted to create a unique name for their child. It’s probably something that your character will have to explain to everyone he meets. Whatever the reason for having one, if you just leave a freaky name out there with no explanation, it may throw off the reader.

FUN TIP: If you have a non-fantasy character with a crazy, made-up name, maybe he gets really sick of explaining it to everyone he meets and adopts a more normal sounding nickname.

How do you come up with your Fantasy & Sci-Fi names? Do you find it easier to make up a name or find an existing one? 

Introducing Your Character

**My theme for this year's A to Z Challenge is THE NAME GAME. Everything you'd want to know about naming characters.**

So let's say you have a character, and that character has a name. At some point within your story, you're going to have to introduce this name to the reader. Your characters' names are a very important part of distinguishing who is doing what within the story. Before we really get to know these characters, we simply need to know who they are. Each character should be clearly identified before you get too in depth with the story. And each time a new character comes along, we should be given their name as soon as possible.

Ok, I realize this sounds like a no-brainer, and most of the time this will be pretty easy to do. But there are some things that could complicate it, and there are also ways to have fun with it.

How you go about writing your story will have an impact on where and how you'll need to introduce your main character's name. If you're writing in third person, it will most likely be very straightforward: "Bobby walked into the classroom." There--you've stated the name and introduced your character. If you're writing in first person, however, it may not be so simple. Just having a sentence within the narrative that says, "My name is Bobby," will most likely feel awkward to the reader.

Using dialogue is an easy and natural way to introduce any character's name. Maybe another character will call out your first person narrator by name. Maybe he'll need to introduce himself to someone. This will also work when you meet other characters along the way. If your narrator already knows a character, he could use their name when saying hello. If he doesn't know this person, then they can introduce themselves to each other.

FUN TIP/ WHAT I'VE DONE (yes, both!): Keep your main character's name a secret until an important moment occurs, such as when when your love interests meet (I love doing this!). That way the reader gets to learn both characters' names at the same time. Here's how my two characters meet in Uneven Lines, and it's the first time I used each of their names:

            “Hi. Jordan?” He smiled, looking down at the floor and then back at me. I was done for. I was probably drooling. “I’m Tom. Your geometry tutor?”

            Oh, right. Say something. “Hi,” I finally managed to choke, but I sounded like a frog croaking.

This is actually not the first time that I've saved the first person narrator's name for the moment when he/she meets the love interest. I just think it's a fun, cute way to introduce your characters. :)

Do you find introducing your characters' names easy or a bit more difficult? How do you usually introduce a first person narrator? 

Hey, You! Calling Out Your Characters

**My theme for this year’s A to Z Challenge is THE NAME GAME. Everything you’d want to know about naming characters.**

Today’s post isn’t about coming up with a name for a character, but about how we actually use names within the writing. Whether you write in first or third person, characters’ names will pop up all the time. It’s important that the reader knows which character is speaking or doing the action. But what about within dialogue? How often should you use your characters’ names? And how easy is it to overuse them?

When you use a character’s name in the dialogue, it’s called direct address. This means that the speaker is directly addressing the other character by name. This is mostly used when you’re trying to get someone’s attention or starting a conversation. It’s something that’s very easy to overdo. We may want to use our characters’ names over and over again in the dialogue, whether it’s to keep things clear for the reader or just to provide emphasis.

So how do we know when to actually use a character’s name? Think about all of the times you actually say someone’s name throughout the day. Is it a casual part of conversation, or is it just when you’re trying to get their attention? I know I hardly ever call my fiancé out by name—

usually when he’s doing something like walking the wrong way or about to step off a sidewalk into oncoming traffic (yeah, that actually happened once). I’m sure parents use their children’s names a lot more often than anyone else, whether it’s to yell at them or just call them downstairs for dinner. But really, when do you use a person’s name? And more importantly, when should you use it in your writing?

FUN TIP: Pick a person you talk to regularly and make a mental note of how many times you actually say their name in one day. It’s probably lower than you think.

A character’s name really shouldn’t come up all that much within the dialogue. Take this little snippet of an argument, for example: 

“John, you really screwed up.”

“I know, Mary, but what do you want me to say?”

“You could just apologize, John.”

“All right. Fine. I’m sorry, Mary.”

“Now, really, John, was that so hard?”

Sounds silly, doesn’t it? You most likely would never use direct address so much, but do any of these sentences really need it? If you cut out all of the names from that conversation, wouldn’t it still get the same point across? If you already know who is speaking, using it within the dialogue probably isn't necessary. If you do need to point it out to the reader, it would probably be better to use it in a tag:

"You really screwed up," Mary said.
"I know," John replied, hanging his head.

From there on you wouldn't need to use the names again, unless someone else entered the conversation or if you insert some exposition between the lines of dialogue. This way, it's clear who is speaking, but the names aren't overused. The less you use your character's names, the more natural the dialogue will feel.

Do you try to avoid direct address in your own writing? When do you think names should be used in dialogue? 

Trusting Your (And Your Character’s) GUT!

**My theme for this year’s A to Z Challenge is THE NAME GAME. Everything you’d want to know about naming characters.**

There are several factors that could go in to naming a character. You may need to do a ton of research to find that one perfect name. But there is another technique, and it is probably the most basic when it comes to choosing a character’s name. That technique is to simply choose a name out of thin air.

Whenever this happens, I like to think of it as the character naming him/herself. You as the writer didn’t actually create the character; you’re merely telling his story and since he is a real person, he already has a name. Seems a little silly, but it really does feel that way. At a certain point during the early stages of plotting the story, the name will simply pop into your head as if the character whispered it in your ear. And for some strange, magical reason, whenever this happens the name is always right and always perfect.

Now this is probably easier said than done and it most likely won’t work for every character you ever create. But some characters are special. Sometimes the name is like an instinct. You just know when it feels right. Trying to change it feels like it would break your heart.

How exactly do you make the magical spontaneous name happen? Well, it’s really all about luck. It could happen, but it’s not guaranteed, no matter how passionate you are about this particular story or character. If you really want to make it happen, though, I have a few tips. Try to tune out everything around you—no noise, no computer, no phone. Close your eyes and think about your character. Don’t actually think about names. You don’t want a full list to flood your brain—you just want that perfect one. Think about what your character looks like, his mannerisms, the different things that will happen to him in your book. Think about someone calling his name. Then, hopefully it will come to you.

WHAT I’VE DONE: If you usually frequent my blog, I know what you may be wondering. Did Jordan name himself? OF COURSE HE DID. I have no say in anything else he does; why would I get to choose his name? I have no idea where his name came from. It just popped into my head and was instantly perfect.

Do your characters ever choose their own names? What do you do to get your character to speak to you? 

Freaky Name Coincidences, Part Four

Or better title, Attack of the Sequential Vowels!

If you missed out on the first three installments of my Freaky Name Coincidences posts (which you probably did if you’ve never been here before…), check them out here! These posts started when I realized that strange things tend to happen to me when I’m trying to name my characters. If I had 26 instead of 4 I would probably do an entire A to Z Challenge on them. Maybe someday. Since my theme is all about names, I thought it was a great time to share the fourth freaky name coincidence!

This one is tricky to describe because I’m not even sure how I figured out this was a thing in the first place. When you think about your characters’ names, you don’t usually think about the individual letters and how they relate to each other. Or how those letters relate to the letters in a different character’s name. But sometimes those names may have something in common, and you don’t even realize it.

I was plotting a book with every intention of writing it for the last NaNoWriMo. I got the first sentence down on November 1^st and never wrote another word, but that’s not the important part right now. What I did figure out were the two main characters’ names: Gabe and Jamie. I wish I could remember the exact moment, or what exactly triggered this thought in my mind (because that would probably make this story more interesting), but at some point I started thinking about Gabe’s full first name (see my D post!), which is Gabriel. And then I realized something. The vowels in my two main characters’ (and love interests) names lined up perfectly:

G A B R I E L

J A M I E

It was an interesting coincidence. It only worked if I used Gabe’s full name, of course, but it was still there. What exactly did this mean? I had no idea, actually. I just thought it was cool. So I decided to examine my other book ideas. I looked at the characters in Uneven Lines, Jordan and Tom. Doesn’t seem so at first. But wait! Like Gabe, Tom’s name is a diminutive one (I really like using that term now that I know it…). What happens if I spell out the whole thing?

J O R D A N

T H O M A S

The vowels strike again! I was even more freaked out, especially because in no way did I do this on purpose. But I had to check one more time, to the characters who’ve been in my head since I was 14, Drew and Amber. I’ll spare you the diminutive speech again…

A N D R E W

A M B E R

AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!! It happened again! Or more accurately, it’s been happening for years! Not only are all the vowels in these characters’ names the same, but they’re in the same order. And for all three sets, it requires the full first names, not the shortened ones that I actually use. Weird and cool? Yes. But I have no idea what it means. Maybe these love interests are supposed to be soulmates? Definitely with one, nope nope nope nope nope with another, and the verdict is still out on the third, but probably. So that can’t be it. Maybe it’s just one of those things that sneaks its way into a story and maybe the reader will notice, but it’s perfectly fine if they don’t. It just makes things a little more interesting.

What do you think the vowels mean? Have you ever noticed strange patterns in your characters’ names?  

Eras, Ethnicity, & Etymology

**My theme for this year's A to Z Challenge is THE NAME GAME. Everything you'd want to know about naming characters.**

Today's post is all about being accurate. When choosing names for your characters, it may not always be as easy as pulling a random name out of thin air. Sometimes you may have to do a little research to make sure your character's name fits in with the story you're writing, or even who he/she is as a person. Where or when a story takes place can have a huge impact on what your characters' names should be. And if these names aren't chosen correctly, then they may just seem silly.

First, lets talk about when and where your story takes place. If it's in modern day anywhere USA, for example, it may not really matter what you name your characters. Parents are often likely to choose names for their children just because they like them, and it may have nothing to do with culture or time period. But if you're writing historical fiction, maybe something that takes place hundreds of years ago, your options for names may not be as vast. You always want to make sure the name you're using would actually be used during that time period. Look up what names were popular during that time. And if your book takes place in a different country, see what names are popular there. It's always important that the name feels natural for whatever story you're writing. 

A character's ethnicity could also be a factor when deciding on a name. You wouldn't want to give a Chinese character a Japanese name, for instance. Depending on your story, this could only be important when figuring out the last name, but first names come from different places around the world as well. Think about who the character's parents are and whether or not culture would play a role when they are naming their child. A first name could be Spanish or Italian or Greek. You probably want the name to fit with who the character is. If you're thinking about a particular name, research where it came from and decide if it fits with how you see your character. 

What factors have you used when deciding on a character's name? Ever written a story that made you really think about what to name your characters? 

Diminutive Names

**My theme for this year's A to Z Challenge is THE NAME GAME. Everything you'd want to know about naming characters.**

The name you're given at birth isn't always the name you use throughout your life. A common practice is using a diminutive name. According to behindthename.com, "a diminutive of a given name is a short and/or affectionate form. Often they are only used by friends and relatives." Basically, if you use a shortened version of a name, then the result is a diminutive name. You probably hear them all the time. You might even have one!

A diminutive is really just a fancy word for a nickname, but one that is derived from the actual name itself. Sometimes a person's first name is just too long to use all the time. They or the people they know may prefer to use a different version of their name. Some common examples are Mike from Michael, Nick from Nicholas, or Jen from Jennifer.

So how does this factor in when you're naming your characters? Mostly it will just reflect real life. A person with a particularly long first name probably won't always be called by that name. It gives you more options for addressing your characters. It can be fun to mix up which names you use and who uses them, as long as you don't make it too confusing!

FUN TIP: Have your character use different versions of his/her name with different people. Maybe William is "Will" with his colleagues and "Billy" with his family.

Where you find the diminutive will be different from name to name. You can often take a nickname from the beginning or the end of the whole given name. Alexander could be Alex or Xander.
Some names can have seemingly endless possibilities for diminutives. Elizabeth could go by Liz, Lizzie, Eliza, or even Beth. Robert could be Rob, Bob, or Bobby. Some shortened names can work for both girls and boys: Sam could be Samuel or Samantha, Pat could be Patrick or Patricia. Some diminutives are made by just adding on a -y or -ie suffix to a name, like Johnny, Charlie, or Debbie.

WHAT I'VE DONE: Diminutive names are some of my favorites! I'm not even kidding when I say that I've put at least one in each of my major novel ideas. Which I will now list for you, of course (in chronological order of when I created them).

·         Camilla - - > Cami

·         Andrew - - > Drew

·         Alexander - - > Alex

·         Benjamin - - > Ben/Benny

·         Thomas - - > Tom

·         Cameron - - > Cam

·         Abigail - - > Abby

·         Gabriel - - > Gabe

For some characters, I’ve just used the diminutive name throughout the story, for others I’ve used both. Every character will be different and you just have to do what feels natural for them and for your story.

Have you ever used a diminutive name for a character (of course you have!)? Do you just use the shortened name or do you switch back and forth? 

Cats, Chameleons, & Other Critters

**My theme for this year's A to Z Challenge is THE NAME GAME. Everything you'd want to know about naming characters.**

Not all characters are human. Sometimes your main character may have a furry little friend who pops up in your story, whether it’s in a big or a small role. Maybe your MC’s pet just cuddles up with her at night, or maybe it helps solve crimes. And unless you want your fictional pet to be a no-name slob, then he needs a name!

The great thing about pet names is that they don’t have to be your normal, average everyday names. You can name your pet something crazy and no one would think twice about it. In fact, naming your cat or dog something like Meghan, Paul, or Greg might get a raised eyebrow (although this is definitely an option, as well). You don’t have to limit yourself to the typical Spot or Fluffy, either. Think outside the box. You can name your pet after a TV or book character, your favorite food, or even an inanimate object. And while you probably wouldn’t name a human character based on their hair color, you can certainly name a cat or dog after their fur color(s).

SOME PET NAMES BASED ON FOOD: Butterscotch, Pickles, Oreo, Marshmallow, Pumpkin, Snickers, Nacho, Waffles, Biscuit, Meatball, Peanut, Cheddar, Ginger, Muffin, Peppermint. 

The name of your fictional pet can reflect the personality of the pet itself or of the character who owns it. If your dog is sweet, you could name it Sweetie. An intelligent pet could be named Einstein. If you have a sneaky cat, name it Sneakers. Or think about how this pet is reflective of its owner. How can you show your character’s personality through their pet’s name? A pet name is another great place to sneak in some symbolism. What is this pet representing? Why is it in the story at all? The name you choose for it could be representative of that.

WHAT I'VE DONE: We named our cat Gizmo because he reminded us of a Gremlin…but a cute one.

Think of a fictional pet’s name the way you would if you were actually naming your own pet. Remember this is a name that your character is going to have to use and possibly call out in public. What kind of attention will the name get from other people? Will it be a conversation starter that completely gets your plot going? Who knows? Remember that a pet can be an important character, too! It should have a name that fits. 

Have you ever put a pet in one of your stories? How have you come up with names for your own pets? Share your pets' names in the comments!

Books, Movies, & Other Places to Steal Names From

**My theme for this year's A to Z Challenge is THE NAME GAME. Everything you'd want to know about naming characters. Not all of my post titles will be this long, I swear.**

When you’re faced with having to name a character, you may wonder where you should start looking in order to figure it out. While there are certainly several options, it could be as simple as reaching for your bookshelf or turning on your TV. Names are everywhere—in the books we read, the shows and movies we watch, even the celebrities and news stories we read about. You probably come across a variety of names every day and don’t even realize it.

So how can this help you choose a name for your character? Just pay attention and use the names you like. The possibilities are endless. You could pick a name from a favorite character in a book, or you could pick the author’s name. You can choose a movie character’s name or the actor who plays him/her. If you hear or read a name and you love it, then you can probably find a way to use it.

First names are pretty fair game. That being said, you probably don’t want to name your main character Katniss or Buffy or Lestat. Anything that’s unique and very recognizable as coming from somewhere else is going to be a giant red flag (and there’s probably a good chance you’ll get sued). But you could name a character Harry without anyone immediately thinking of Harry Potter. Just be wary of what genre you’re writing (your Harry should have nothing to do with magic), as well as the names of other characters. If Harry’s best friend is named Ron, then you’ve got a problem.  

You can even mention a book or movie in your story if it’s popular enough for people to get the reference. Maybe you have a character named Holden whose father’s favorite book is The Catcher in the Rye. Or maybe Eliza’s mom is really into My Fair Lady. Or you could not tell the reader where the name comes from and let them figure it out on their own. It’s a great opportunity to throw in some symbolism.

FUN TIP: After you watch a movie or TV show, watch the credits and read some of the names. Maybe something will strike you.

Have you ever named a character after another character? How about someone famous? 

The Anxiety of Naming a Character

**My theme for this year’s A to Z Challenge is THE NAME GAME. Everything you’d want to know about naming characters. I’m also going to attempt (miserably) to tie in today’s post with my post for the Insecure Writer’s Support Group. Click the link to find out more!**

So you have a character. You’ve got the beginnings of a story planned out—things that will happen to him, people he’ll come across, decisions he’ll have to make. Maybe you already know what he looks like, who his friends and family are, his hobbies, hopes and dreams. But there is one very basic thing that you need to figure out in order to convey this character to your readers. Your character needs a name.

But what if you don’t have a name for him yet? The first thing I would say is: DON’T PANIC. Oh, you’re not panicking? Well, I had to tie this post in with insecurity somehow, so pretend you’re panicking!

Ok, so first, calm down. There are going to be several things that you’ll need to figure out while writing this particular story. Some can be easy, others can be difficult. Figuring out a name for your character could be either of these. Sometimes a name will just pop into your head like the actual character told you himself. Other times it could take weeks or longer to figure out. You could go through lists and websites and every resource you can find of names, never seeming to find the one that feels just right.

But seriously, don’t panic. Think about all the factors that could help you make a decision. What kind of character is he? When does the story take place? What are his parents like? You have to think of your character as a living, breathing person, and not just a figment of your imagination. What sort of influences from his family and culture would be used when he was given a name?

Perhaps the most important thing is to listen to your character. You’ll know when a name feels right, and when it doesn’t. Maybe the first name you come up with won’t be quite right and it will have to change. Maybe you’ll need to start writing the story before the name comes to you. But eventually you will figure it out and your character will have a name.

Do you ever panic when naming a character? Stay tuned for more in depth posts on the different aspects of naming characters!

Writing About Music

I can't believe this is my last blog post before the A to Z Challenge! Still haven't decided if I'm also doing IWSG on Wednesday. It will probably depend on how much I get done for the challenge. Although not getting enough done is certainly something to be insecure about! Now I'm thinking I could totally turn my first post, basically an intro on naming characters, into an IWSG post as well. Because if you can't figure out your character's name, you'd be insecure, right?

Anyway, before I keep rambling for this entire post, I wanted to talk about something that's a part of my writing but I have the hardest time figuring out. And that thing is music. A lot of my characters are musicians, but I find it's a hard thing to pull off when all you're only working with words.

At this point I don't even remember when I decided that Jordan would be a singer, but now it's such an important part of how I see him as a character, I don't think I could take it out. And if I do end up writing (ok, publishing. I'm definitely going to write them) these two sequels, it becomes even more important. So I do kind of need to plant those first seeds in the first book, even though it obviously isn't the most important thing that happens.

I've really overanalyzed it and figured it out from a symbolic standpoint, and I think it does work. My problem is that I don't think I executed it properly. I can't exactly go to every reader and explain why it's symbolic. If they don't get it, then it at least needs to work enough within the story so that it doesn't throw them off. I don't want them to be asking, "why is this even here?"

It's a difficult thing to do. How do you even describe a singing voice? If my characters write a song, should I actually put the lyrics in the book? Not to mention the fact that I have pretty much zero musical talent. I could probably write a poem and try to make it sound more like a song, but that would take quite some time. But if the reader can't actually hear the song, is there a point to reading the lyrics? What is actually important to include?

I'm still trying to figure it out. I want it to make sense to the reader but not seem pointless and stupid. And I still need to come up with a name for Jordan's band, which is so hard to do! Luckily I don't need it for the first book, so I don't have to figure it out anytime soon. But it's just another thing to add to the list!

Have you ever written about music in one of your stories? How would you decide on a band name?

A Week in Tweets

I had several different ideas for what to blog about today. Too many, actually. I could probably talk for days about this third book idea, or the characters in it who I'm obsessing over. And then I realized I've been tweeting a lot this week. Much more than usual. And I figured I've already mentioned every topic I'd like to bring up over there, so maybe I'll bring the tweets to the blog!

Lazy, you say? Pfft. I had to take screenshots of all of these! Which is kinda why I limited it to ten. But here's pretty much all that's been going on since Monday...

1. A seemingly insignificant character decides to do a seemingly insignificant thing, and then suddenly you have a whole freaking novel.

2. Tweeting under the influence.

3. You guys are silly. First of all, Jordan. Duh. And then as I came to realize (and rant for several tweets more), half of my family, people I know, favorite celebrities and authors have J names. Also, I was still a little tipsy. 

4. Gizmo has a milestone! And I'm slightly concerned!

5. Oh, Adam, I love you. I should probably give you a last name. Or a flaw...

6. THE WORST THING EVER. 

7. My 3000th tweet! Also the (maybe) first line for this third book! 

8. Kind of my favorite line of dialogue from the 5 pages I've already written (because I'm crazy). 

9. My iPhone is stalking me...

10. A very important question from a very important person. 

Well, that's about it. Hopefully it was interesting! Anyone have any good tweets this week? 

Should I Make My Book a Series?

I have completely lost my mind. Not only that, but I've also gotten so ahead of myself that it's a bit ridiculous.

Ok, so usually when you come up with an idea for a book, all of your focus is on that book. You write it once, twice, maybe three times, trying to figure everything out and get it right. It could take a long time, but you know how important this one book is to you. But what happens once the story is done? Is that it? Do you just move on to the next idea, new characters, new everything? Or does the MC from your first book attach himself to your brain like a leech and you just have to keep going and figure out what happens to him next?

I have been on the fence for well, forever, when it comes to the idea of writing a sequel (or sequels) to Uneven Lines. The book can certainly stand on its own. But on the other hand, the thought of just giving up on Jordan drives me a little nuts. I don't really want to. I want to keep going with his story. I've had an idea for a sequel in my head for a while, but I've always worried if it was going to be good enough to stand up to the first book. The biggest problem, though, was that I had no idea where this story would end. Would I just keep writing sequels for the rest of my life? There had to be some way to wrap it up, but I had no idea how.

So then the complete insanity happened. I was hoping that being in New York City would inspire me somehow (since it's where the book takes place), but like the little bastard that he is, Jordan decided to take the inspiration in an entirely different direction. No, I did not figure out how to fix the last third of UL, but I did completely plot out a third and final book for a potential series. My first thought was, "THIS IS ALL WRONG." And the more I thought about it, the more I was thinking, "No wait, IT'S PERFECT." So I spent most of the time feeling very inspired and yet very confused.

The obvious cons of this story: it involves a love triangle (because that's never been done before), lots and lots and lots of characters for me to keep track of, and a cheesy five years later "oh my God, look how successful everyone is" epilogue (I'm gonna go ahead and blame the Glee finale for putting that idea in my head). But I'm still figuring it out, so I can change all the stupid parts. And when I first started figuring this story out, I spent half the day with absolutely no idea who Jordan would end up with in the end, but then it dawned on me and it completely goes against everything I ever thought would happen if I took the story in this direction. But it just felt so right. I felt like I had finally figured it out. And I realized that Jordan does in fact become a rock star, which I couldn't figure out before but he wouldn't have it any other way. And I've also kinda started writing it already. Mostly just dialogue, but I keep actually hearing the words in my head and I just have to get them down.

So I'm kinda sorta completely in love with this third book idea, but I still don't know if I should do it. Should I just leave UL alone? Probably. Do I want to? Hell no. I guess I should just write it because I want to and it's in my head, and then maybe someday I'll figure out if anyone else gets to read it.

A to Z Theme Reveal

I wanted to get this done earlier, I swear, but I also had to sleep forever after coming back from our New York trip yesterday (which was fun! But no time to talk about that!). So I'm gonna try to bust this out real quick. It's finally the day for the A to Z Challenge Theme Reveal!!!

This was especially exciting for me because this is my second year doing the Challenge and last year I didn't have a theme. I was happy to actually come up with one, which will hopefully be entertaining as well as provide some writing tips.

Ok, drum roll please...the name for my theme this year is.......

The Name Game! 

Basically everything you could ever want or need to know (and some you didn't) about naming characters in your stories. This will include different types of names, different kinds of characters who need names, how you actually use a character's name within the story. I'll be including examples from books and other media, some ways I've used names in my own writing, and hopefully just some cool tips. And also the fourth installment in my Freaky Name Coincidences posts (because these things keep happening to me for some reason). 

I still need post ideas for the letters J and O but at least those aren't too early in the alphabet so I still have time to figure it out. I was thinking of having a post on naming characters after people you know and/or pop culture references, but I can't for the life of me get that idea to work for one of those letters. So thoughts are welcome. 

I should probably get back to actually working on my posts! Or unpacking my suitcase. But I'll be back on Wednesday to tell you all how I've lost my damn mind with a new book idea...

Blog Hop Help!

I know, I know, I said I probably wouldn't blog today. And if you're reading this, I'm most likely still on a bus right now. But I actually wrote this yesterday when I was struck with an idea and decided I really wanted some input.

So my 4th blogging anniversary (or blogiversary, or however you're supposed to spell it) is coming up at the end of May. I've thought for a while now that I'd want to do something to celebrate, probably some sort of blog hop or fest, but I felt my initial idea was a bit too complicated.

But anyway, I came up with another idea which I thought was simpler and could be a lot of fun! But I would really like to see what people think before I start really developing the idea.

I was initially going to call it "Have You Been Paying Attention?" but then I thought of a much better name: "The Great Blog Scavenger Hunt." (Or something along those lines). Basically the idea would be that anyone participating would ask a certain number of questions (maybe around 10?) to their blog followers, asking certain questions that they have at some point answered on their blog. Since I'm sure no one wants to spend their entire day hunting through old blog posts, I figured there could be levels of difficulty. Like, the easiest ones could be found on the first page or in your bio. Next hardest could be things you've mentioned several times. Hardest could be one time things. And the people guessing can answer however many of the questions they want.

Here's where I'm having some difficulty figuring it out, or maybe it's just becoming too complicated in my head. I don't really know what the end result will be. I had a thought that maybe I could go through all of the posts, find the person who answered the most correct questions, and that person gets an Amazon gift card from me or something. Also I wasn't sure about what should happen when someone gets the correct answer. Should the blogger update their post to say so? Or maybe that could be recommended but not required. If I do the prize thing, I would still be able to see who got the answer first. But at some point the blogger *would* have to list the correct answers, and I'm not sure if that's too much to ask of people. I also thought that if people weren't getting them all, you could put up hints.

Ok, I'm obviously putting way too much thought into this right now and I think I just have to step away from the idea for a bit. But what do you guys think? Would it be something you'd be interested in doing? How much would you be willing to do or how can I make it less complicated?

Or, my original idea was a sort of "muse party." I "host" a party on my blog where you can bring your muse or a character from one of your books. I'll provide a series of questions that you can answer on your blog (like, what are you guys wearing? Did you bring food or a gift? etc). Would that be easier? I thought I was leaning toward the new idea more, but the more I explained it, the simpler my original idea seems, and it kinda fits in with my blog more.

AGH. I don't know. I'm sorry I'm so awkward. But I would love any and all opinions on this!

Still Busy!

I had a good idea for a blog post, I swear. Actually, I had two! I thought I would write one of them for today and the other for Friday. But I'm kinda just not feeling it, and I'd rather save the good ideas for next week when I can actually pay attention to blogging. I still haven't even started packing for this weekend's trip. Yeah, so I should probably get on that.

The good news! I'm down to only needing posts for the letters J and O for the A to Z Challenge. I have a few ideas I'd like to use, but I'm not sure if I can make them work for these particular letters. Maybe I can talk about this more on Monday for the theme reveal and get some input.

The even better news! I have two 4+ hour bus rides this weekend and I'm hoping to get a lot of work done on my posts during this time. Or at least lots of reading. Or maybe both. I need to charge my Kindle before we leave. I have so many blogger buddies' books on there it's a bit ridiculous. I need to catch up. But hey, I'm a slow reader.

So I have a hunch that I won't be blogging on Friday. Or maybe I could write something on the bus on my phone. Right now I still have so much to get done but I just want to take a nap. Perhaps it's coffee time...

Busy, Busy, Busy!

I'll keep this short because I'm probably about to start running around like a crazy person...

This past weekend was busier than my usual stay-at-home-and-hide-from-the-world ones. On Saturday we went to see my fiance's best friend in a dinner theater show, and then last night my fiance had a stand-up comedy show. So I had to actually dress up and go do things and also ignore everyone around me having alcohol because I'm trying to lose weight...

This upcoming Friday, my fiance and I are going to New York City (I have no idea how many times this will be. I've lost count). He's turning 30 next Tuesday so it's kind of an early celebration. He's doing an open mic there on Friday and I got him tickets to see Larry David's play Fish in the Dark, so it should be fun. I'm not quite sure what else we're doing. Figuring that out is just one of the many things we have to get done this week.

So at some point I have to pack, plan this trip, do laundry, clean the apartment, and probably some other things I've forgotten. I'd like to still have a blog post on Friday but if I don't get it done ahead of time it's definitely not going to happen that morning. But I also haven't missed a blogging day at all this year, so hopefully that will be motivation to get it done.

So if I have time for anything else before Friday, then I really really need to work on my A to Z posts. I have most of them planned out, but none of them written. I'm worried that I picked a theme that's too hard to come up with 26 posts for. But I'm going to keep trying. I've come way too far to try to start over now. I still need a post idea for B, E, J, K, O, W, & Y. I have no idea why certain letters like Q, X, & Z were easier to come up with, but anyway, that's where I am now. I don't know if I can get all of the posts done before April begins, but if I can at least get the first week done, that will help out a lot.

Here's what I know so far: my very first post is going to be an overview of the theme. I'm pretty sure my last post is going to be satire. And I'm trying very hard to come up with pictures to put in with the posts, but it's a hard theme to find pictures for. So I may just put in various reaction shot gifs from my favorite movies & TV shows. I've already started collecting them...

Ok, I've rambled enough. Gotta go be productive.

Questionable Google Searches

I thought I'd do a quick little fun post today (and make a list! I love lists!). As writers, we have to do a lot of research when we're writing our books. No matter how familiar we are with our subject, there is always going to be something that we don't know. So chances are you're gonna have to do a little research. And maybe sometimes you have to Google some questionable stuff. Stuff that makes you think whoever is monitoring this sort of thing probably thinks you're some kind of weirdo.

But hey, books can be complicated. Maybe one of your characters commits a crime, or one gets hurt and you have to search for what happens during blood loss (it was a vampire story, ok??). Not every story is happy and fluffy and requires zero sinister or questionable activity.

I've had a particular story on my mind for the past few days and I was thinking about all of the research I'm going to have to do for it. And when you put all of those things together, it seems like a very screwed up kind of story. So that's what I did. Put all of the things I have already searched for or will eventually have to search for in order to write this book into one weird list. Some of the things are more tame, others are not.

So here are all of the potential Google searches for this particular novel, whose title is most likely going to be Truth or Dare, and I may or may not ever write it. It could just stay in the back of my brain forever.

• Colleges in New York City
• Wedding announcements
• Private investigators (although I'm more than likely going to have a character find another one through Facebook instead)
• Paternity testing 
• Candy Land
• Do open bars ask for ID? 
• Characteristics of an abusive relationship
• Types of recreational drugs 
• Effects of rohypnol
• Several legal questions, including:
• Third degree assault
• Attempted sexual assault
• What the victim has to go through to report these things
• How likely it would be prosecuted & what happens when the defendant pleads guilty
• Also, statute of limitations on a past crime
• How long does a black eye take to heal? 
• Bunk beds 

I figured I'd end on a light note there with the bunk beds. And maybe at some point I should write just a normal, happy, fluffy story. Yeah, at some point...

Happy Friday!

Question: What's the weirdest thing you've ever had to Google while writing a story? 

Too Tired to Do Anything

I'm having the hardest time being productive this week. Like, I was supposed to write today's blog post two days ago, for example. Remember my crazy color-coded schedule from last week? I made another one for this week but I haven't followed it at all. So like most of my ideas to stay organized, I feel like this one is already going out the window.

I'm sure it's some combination of Daylight Savings Time and just not feeling well (*cough* PMS *cough*). I want to get up early every morning but when the time actually comes I just can't make myself get up. And then when I sleep in, it makes it so much harder for me to be productive. My brain just doesn't feel like functioning lately.

And I had so many things I wanted/needed to get done this week! I really need to get my A to Z posts done, look for pictures for them, finish my editing list, write these new scenes that are buzzing around in my head, write a guest post, finish my resume and cover letter and apply to some jobs, look into submitting some poems and short stories to magazines, start trying to figure out freelance writing. Not to mention several trips to the gym, keeping up with my diet and daily exercising, some deep cleaning of the apartment, grocery shopping, and all of the other daily chores I have to do.

Oh, wait. Maybe my brain was way ahead of me. Maybe it looked at all of the things I planned on doing and was just like, "Hahaha nope. Sleep." I know I should focus on one thing at a time, but I really want to get all of this stuff done. But maybe having all of these things to choose from makes it impossible to choose one at all.

So I don't really know. Maybe the whole schedule thing was a bad idea. Or maybe this was just a bad week to try to do it. I'll probably try it again next week and see what happens. For now I'm just going to make some coffee and try to get at least one thing done today.

Getting the Setting Right

Setting is one of those elements that every story has. Whether your characters travel across the globe or stay in the same room for the entire story, a setting still exists. It is the place or places where all of the events in the story happen. Depending on your story, setting can play a large role or a small one. It can be a new place your characters adventure to or the same place they've lived all their lives. Once you've chosen your setting, how do you get it across to the reader? How do you make it feel natural and believable?

A lot can go in to choosing the setting for your story. You may know right away where you want it to take place, or it could take you a while to figure out. It can be a real place or somewhere you've made up. Every story requires its own unique setting. But conveying that setting can be another issue entirely. How do you make the reader see what you see when you envision your story? How do you make that place feel real?

Sometimes choosing the setting can seem a lot easier than executing it. For instance, I knew right away where I wanted my book to take place. The hard thing is actually making it feel like it takes place there. Do my characters actually sound like they've lived there all their lives? What information is necessary to get across to the reader?

First, I should probably say that about 90% of my book takes place indoors, where the setting is irrelevant. Well, the outside world is irrelevant, I should say. Every room your character inhabits within a scene still counts as a setting. It may not be necessary to provide every single detail, every piece of furniture or speck of dust, but there should be a general idea of what things look like or how it feels to be in that room. My characters have to deal with a lot of isolation, which works for the story. My problem is that when they actually go out into the real world, am I getting it right?

Sometimes I worry that whatever reference I make to the setting feels forced. Like, if I have my narrator reference a particular landmark, does it feel like I'm just doing it for the reader's sake? Because he's lived in this city all his life and is used to everything (and doesn't care), what actually needs to be said? Maybe I'm just paranoid that every subway ride or walk through Central Park makes it look like I'm trying too hard. But these are things that my characters do. So how do you make these sort of actions feel natural?

There really is no one answer because every story will require something different from its setting. For me, at least, it means making those brief moments where the real world sneaks in feel like a real place. Don't scream the setting at the reader, but hint at it. Make it feel like any place you would go where you live. It can be difficult writing a book that takes place where you don't personally live, but if we restricted ourselves to the setting we know, then we'd miss out on a lot of great story ideas. The important thing is to do your research, and don't worry about it so much. If you try too hard, then it will show. Just let the setting work for you.

How do you make your settings feel natural? Do you typically choose a setting you're familiar with? 

Listen to Your Playlist!

Anyone ever have an epiphany on a treadmill? Just me? Ok...

I know a lot of writers make playlists, whether it's for your book, a character, or just to get in the mood to write. You may seek out songs to put on these lists, or you may just be listening to a song and realize that it fits your book. The main motivation for a playlist is to inspire, obviously, but have you ever considered that it could also help you figure things out?

Ever since I started rethinking the last third of my book, I knew a lot of things had to change. I've come up with at least one scene that makes things completely different from the last draft I wrote. What I've really been struggling with is what scenes from the old draft get to stay. One in particular is a scene in which my characters have a huge fight. I've gone back and forth about whether or not to keep any of this scene, wondering if it's necessary with the new way I've been imagining things. I was pretty much settled on completely cutting the scene, even though there were quite a few moments in it that I was heartbroken about parting with.

That is, until I went to the gym the other day. I decided to listen to my book playlist while on the treadmill to see if I could get some inspiration. I hadn't actually listened to the whole thing in quite some time, so I thought it was a good idea. Until one particular song started to play, and I realized that song was only on there because of the scene I was most likely going to cut.

My first thought was "oh noooooooooo!" Did I have to change my playlist? Or was I wrong to cut this scene? I didn't think that one song should really influence what needs to happen in a story, but it did make me stop and think. What did I really want to do with this scene? I've known since I first thought about it that I still wanted to keep it, and the song just seemed to reinforce that idea.

I'm still not 100% sure on what to do. I know if I keep it, it has to drastically change. Mostly I just want to find a way to keep all of the good lines. What actually starts the fight will probably change. I don't know where in the sequence of events this fight will go anymore. I'm considering changing the end of the scene just because I'm not sure if I should have used a particular word (let's just call it the "p-word") even though having one character use it was the sort of brutal effect I was going for. I don't know what I could replace it with the get the same effect. So like the scene itself, I'm on the fence about it. It's a lot to figure out, but I'm taking it one step at a time.

When it comes to your playlist, let it influence you in whatever way ends up working for the story. Maybe you'll get a new idea, maybe it'll reinforce an old one. Really think about why you chose these songs and how that reflects the way you see your story. But most importantly, don't ignore it like I did. You made it for a reason, so listen to it!

How do you use your playlist to inspire you? Have you ever been unsure whether to cut a scene? What helped you make the decision? 

A Very Detailed (And Color Coded!) Schedule

It's the first Wednesday of the month, which means it's the posting day for the Insecure Writer's Support Group. Click the link to learn more and sign up!

Like most months, I'm plenty insecure. Still trying to figure out the third (and hopefully final) draft of Uneven Lines, and also trying to figure out life. My fiance and I really want get out of where we live and hopefully move to New York within the next few months. It's one of those things that I really want but at the same time find terrifying. Of course, I know I'm afraid of change but it really needs to happen. 

What I'm really trying to do is get more organized. There are so many things I have to do, whether it's working on the book, exercising and eating right, reading more, trying to find a job or figure out how to branch out into freelance writing. It's a lot and I think I get easily overwhelmed so that's probably why I don't get a lot done. 

So my new strategy is a schedule. A very detailed and planned ahead schedule. I couldn't find any templates I liked online, so I made my own in Excel, breaking each day down by the half hour from 7 AM to 11 PM. Then I figured I absolutely needed colored pens in order to mark things in by category. Who wants to look at entire schedule in boring black ink? These categories seemed to cover pretty much everything I would need or want to do in a given week. 

And here is the actual schedule for this week. It's still a work in progress. 

And the second page. Yes, we watch Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy every night like an old couple. And I'm trying to make sure I brush & floss my teeth and wash my face every night before bed, since I'm really inconsistent with it. 

I'm still filling in some of the blanks but all of the major stuff is there. I'm not too worried about the weekends since my fiance doesn't work and we usually just figure out what we're doing as we go, anyway. And I really only get things done when I'm by myself. One of my biggest downfalls is just watching pointless TV all day, so with this schedule I can actually work in when I'm watching all of my shows, whether it's when they air or on demand the next day. And I won't watch TV at any other time (I hope!). 

I don't know if this extremely structured schedule will help me or get very tedious right away, but we'll see. I've never tried being this organized before so I think it's worth a shot. 

Do you stick to a schedule? What are your tips for being productive?