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Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/newsletters/action/archives/id/1499-.html
Romance/Love: January 17, 2007 Issue [#1499]

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Romance/Love


 This week:
  Edited by: darkin
                             More Newsletters By This Editor  

Table of Contents

1. About this Newsletter
2. A Word from our Sponsor
3. Letter from the Editor
4. Editor's Picks
5. A Word from Writing.Com
6. Ask & Answer
7. Removal instructions

About This Newsletter


Welcome to the Romance/Love Newsletter. My name is darkin and I'll be your guest editor for this week.


Word from our sponsor

ASIN: B083RZJVJ8
Amazon's Price: $ 19.99
Not currently available.


Letter from the editor


What is your Character's Name?


Writers want to create memorable stories, with characters readers will relate to and care about. One of the things you can do as a writer to make your characters stand out is to give them a name that will stick in your reader's mind. But how do you do that?

When you are thinking about your character's name, take into consideration what message you want to convey to your reader about them. Don't name your strong, silent hero Gilligan*Laugh* Pick a name that shows your character's personality the way you want them to be remembered.

Avoid overly ironic or amusing names. Remember the cartoon Dudley Do-Right. All of the characters in that show had pretty funny names, very descriptive of their personalities and perfect for a cartoon. But would the same kind of names work for a historical romance novel? Probably not. When choosing your characters name, try to pick names that do not telegraphic your character's deep, dark secrets. Leave a little mystery for the reader to solve.

What time period do your characters live in? Taking that into account when choosing the character's names will help your readers identify with them more. While Tameeka may be a wonderful name for a modern character, but it would not work if you are writing a historical romance. To be sure you choose a correct name, a little research will be necessary. There are many web sites devoted to names, and searching one of them will help you find the kinds of names that were popular in the period you are writing about.

Take your characters location into account when choosing their names. Where and when was your character born? Parents tend to name their children based on their culture and neighborhood. What a child would be named in Chicago is different than a child born in Texas. People in the United States use different spellings of names than people in England or Italy. Location plays a big role in people's names, and it should in your character's names as well.

Unless you are trying to be funny, do not name your characters amusing names. Naming a criminal Snidely Whiplash is funny, but not if you are trying to make him someone to fear. If you want your hero to be loved, your heroine to be respected and your villain to be feared, give them names that will do just that.

Do not name all your characters alike in your story. Naming your heroine Tammy and your hero Sammy might sound like a match made in heaven to you, but not to your reader who will have to try to keep your characters straight while reading. If they have trouble following the story because of the character's names are confusing, they are not going to keep reading.

The most important thing is to pick a name that feels right to you, one that makes you think of your character as a real person. That is the key to making your characters real to your readers.

Characters are one of the keys to writing a wonderful story. Naming your characters with realistic and appropriate names will go a long way to helping your readers care about them, and your story.

Thank you for taking the time to read. Happy Writing!

darkin


Editor's Picks


Here are some items I found while traveling the highways and byways of Writing.Com!

 Cowboy, Take Me Away  (13+)
A story of a young woman who falls for a cowboy who takes her for the greatest ride: love.
#1153857 by Amy Davidson


Crooked Creek  (13+)
A love that can't be explained, bullfrogs, gunfights and a dog named Fracture.
#1110064 by Jack Goldman


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This item number is not valid.
#1203179 by Not Available.


 Blind To Love  (ASR)
Is it love that's blind? Or those who love? An original myth.
#410708 by Tehuti, Lord Of The Eight


 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1202730 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1075645 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1195437 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1070289 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1177154 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1203783 by Not Available.


The Roadmap on Your Face  (ASR)
Living leaves a trail waitiing to be discovered ~ Triolet ~ Second in Picky Poetry Contest
#1203739 by Kate - Writing & Reading


 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1162658 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#701412 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1150723 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#1195115 by Not Available.


 Invalid Item 
This item number is not valid.
#863390 by Not Available.


 
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Word from Writing.Com

Have an opinion on what you've read here today? Then send the Editor feedback! Find an item that you think would be perfect for showcasing here? Submit it for consideration in the newsletter!
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Don't forget to support our sponsor!

ASIN: B01IEVJVAG
Amazon's Price: $ 9.99


Ask & Answer


Thank you for allowing me into your e-mail boxes for this week's issue. Since I am a guest editor this week, I don't have feedback to display, but I had a wonderful time writing this issue and would love to hear what you think about it.

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Word from our sponsor
ASIN: B07YXBT9JT
Amazon's Price: $ 4.99

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