Are You Writing Serious Fantasy? II

[Elennar Starfire]

Another fun way to come up with names is to spell things backwards and change a few letters so it's not obvious to those weirdos (like me) who often read names backwards to see if it's a word.

Remember Aksarben, Saphy?

I also think of a person I know that acts somewhat like the character, spell it backwards or twist it around and come up with a name. Like Deshaune...(my 7th/8th grade French teacher).

[Encaitare]

I found a million great ideas for names in my SAT prep book. They put some very curious words in there:

maudlin -- which could easily, and probably will be, converted into Maudelyn

scintilla -- an word which sounds like some sort of evil vegetation to me

legerdemain -- since many of my characters are court jesters, and this word means "sleight of hand," I may very well make it a last name, LeGerdemain.

I also came across the name Quigley in there, which I immediately loved, so much so that I had to create a character for it. He's a little juggler who's very mischievous.

I've only been published in science journals/magazines but I'm writing my 2nd novel (I'm waiting a good spell before trying shop my first one) that is a Sci-Fi with plenty of humor. Sometimes it takes inspiration to get through a block, but that can take time. Time is not on our side, usually, so I've found, by experience, that 'working through' is the best remedy. By which, I mean, just making myself work forward on the story (thank goodness for computers! ) and only saving the good bits. I will usually find a new thought or thread to carry on the story, or even just come up with new ideas to incorporate into the story at some later juncture.

Plus a real kicker is a timeline....nothing inspires like a deadline, eh!

[Kitanna]

I don't know who first suggested taking the first letters of various names and places to form new words, but that has been a most helpful hint!
I finished writing a fantasy story earlier this year and I had no problems coming up with the places for it, but as I started to write the second part I needed more names for it. And so I used that first letter method and it was such a huge help when I was drawing the map and trying to name the various landmarks. So thanks to the person (or people) who brought that up!

[Assasin]

Once, in a fantasy story I was typing on the computer I couldn't come up with a name, so I looked around for ideas, I actually found it on the back of a cerial box. So, when in doubt, look around. I also think Sirith's idea was cool.

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

So what type of scene comes most naturally to you guys? I must say that I particularly love writing about a diminishing mental state of a person. Whether this character has been weakened by some terrible news, or is descending into madness, that's what I really enjoy writing about.

[Encaitare]

Whether this character has been weakened by some terrible news, or is descending into madness, that's what I really enjoy writing about.

Ohhhhhh, yes. I absolutely love writing madness, and the more tragic it is, the better. That's why nearly all my fanfiction, poetry, and short works of original fiction are categorized as "angst." The great thing about mentally upset characters is that you can make them act in the most unpredictable and random ways to ordinary things. So that sort of angsty business comes very naturally to me, not sure why. Perhaps it's got something to do with my astrology...

Another idea I like that just popped out of nowhere is the idea of characters who personify different things. I've got these characters called the Virtues, and they have names like Faith, Hope, Mercy, Chastity, etc. The super-fun twist is that they are the exact opposite of their names. So Hope is always depressed; Mercy is a sadist, and so on. Very fun stuff.

And anything surreal. Surreal is good.