Are You Writing Serious Fantasy? II - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Eowyn Skywalker · 06-01-2004, 10:55 PM

(Ms. Skywalker is an ok nickname, do not worry)

Okay, about names... well, it depends on the character. With 'Earthling' characters, I usually give them real names, such as Ann-Marie... but, with fantasy characters, they usually just come to me. There's no trick to finding names, just pull out a name generator, or a name book, or something. For future type names, use the BD name gererator, and the Dwarven last names sometimes work... sometimes. For first names, something short, and zippy sounding works... like Zoe, or Luke... or a plant, or bird sometimes, as in Willow, or Raven... those also work nice for past names. With say Elf names, come up with something that sounds cool, as in Arawyn Telessa, and make up a meaning. Names have always been easy for me, I just make something up, and give it some cool meaning.

That's the best I can give on that idea, is those for tips. Hope I made sense, though I'd rather make dollars...

-Eowyn Skywalker

Maeggaladiel · 06-02-2004, 09:44 AM

Wow, I wish I could come up with character names as easy as you guys. It takes me forever to think up a good name, and even after I find a name I have to make sure that I really DID make it up. I've had problems with making up character names, only to find that they already exist.

However, I have a list of about thirty five names for pirate ships scribbled on a paper. I was writing a story about pirates, and I needed some ship names. Suddenly, ship names were flying out of my head. I would be doing something completely different, and BAM! A new ship name! If only I needed thirty five ship names. I ended up only using "The Tempest" and "Warhammer" out of the entire list. I'm trying to create new characters so I can use some other names. I've got some cool ones.

Lathriel · 06-02-2004, 01:08 PM

I usually don't have troubles of making up names however I always have a back-up for when I do get stuck. I printed out about 50 names of the internet and then I pick out ones I like. I change the ones that I like and then it becomes an original name without me having to spend hours to think of the right name.

Imladris · 06-02-2004, 01:22 PM

I do a few things to discover names.

A. Take a word from a foreign language (Latin and Greek for me normally), and "transform" it into a name.

B. For fantastical names, I try to find odd names -- names that aren't too common, and then spell them differently. Sometimes, I'll scramble letters as well.

As for deciding names: I believe that this is an off shoot of letting the story write itself. Sometimes you just *know* the name of your characters and all's well and dandy. Sometimes, as some of you have expressed, you don't. My recomendation would be to just pick a name you are somewhat satisfied and continue to write using that name. When you finally decide the name of your character, you can go to your word processor and replace the name, etc. However, if you don't like writing a character with an unsatisfactory name (like me), I would recommend to hold off writing the story. I've found that when I force a story, it doesn't work at all.

Lhundulinwen · 06-02-2004, 08:12 PM

Well, I guess I'm lazy. I finally bought a baby names book. It has foreign names, out of date names, and variations of names. I can take any of the names in the book, and twist them, or put them with regular fiction characters or fantasy characters. I know some writers who use web databases to find names also.

Enorëiel · 06-02-2004, 10:21 PM

I like to think of myself as a serious fantasy writer but sometimes I wonder...

My biggest problem is the fact that I'm a hard critic on myself. Others look at my work and think it's great but the whole time I'm comparing my work to others and thinking that mine is really pathetic and immature.

Anyone else have that problem?

I find my characters' names in a really odd way... I type random letters on the computer until they look authentic, unique, or at least somewhat plausible

.

Eowyn Skywalker · 06-02-2004, 11:31 PM

Oh, do I ever have that problem. I write... and most people think it's good... everyone but me, that is. What I'd like to do is actually find someone else who writes, and is about as good as I am, and then we could send each other's stories back and forth, and actually give advice, and correct, and all that. I am one of my worst cridics (sp?).

Back to names for a moment though, I know what you all mean... tha characters can usually find their own names. One of my characters was origanally called Tiffany, after a friend of mine, and she was meant to be the 'girl' of the group. But, as her character went on, she proved herself unworthy of the name, and so I gave her a new name, an 'elvish' name that suited her better... and so the character just found her new name. My first experience with this 'finding' of names was with a halfy character. He had a name in my first scribbled drafts by hand... he was meant to be evil, and all... I called him Yanindil, or something else like that... but, when I started writing the story on my computer, suddenly the character changed, and he had a new name. It was odd. Names just come to me, and come to the character... like Arawyn Telessa... I made that up on the spot, and yet, I already know what her character will be like. She's a human, one of a seafaring race, and her people are slowly dying out... as the lands are growing, and the seas were she was born are receeding. She is not royal, but has some bloodline leading her to the throne, so, if the persent royals were to die, she would have to take leadership. But she is not that type... she is a free spirit. And that just comes from the sound of her name. (PS: This character just came to me, I won't be using her anywhere, anyhow... anyone can borrow her)

Yeah, that's that. I hope I made some sense... I know I didn't make dollars... sigh.

-Eowyn Skywalker

06-01-2004, 10:55 PM	#1
Eowyn Skywalker Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Somewhere far, far away. Eh. Posts: 402	(Ms. Skywalker is an ok nickname, do not worry) Okay, about names... well, it depends on the character. With 'Earthling' characters, I usually give them real names, such as Ann-Marie... but, with fantasy characters, they usually just come to me. There's no trick to finding names, just pull out a name generator, or a name book, or something. For future type names, use the BD name gererator, and the Dwarven last names sometimes work... sometimes. For first names, something short, and zippy sounding works... like Zoe, or Luke... or a plant, or bird sometimes, as in Willow, or Raven... those also work nice for past names. With say Elf names, come up with something that sounds cool, as in Arawyn Telessa, and make up a meaning. Names have always been easy for me, I just make something up, and give it some cool meaning. That's the best I can give on that idea, is those for tips. Hope I made sense, though I'd rather make dollars... -Eowyn Skywalker __________________ Sometimes worlds collide. This time, they got their own webpage. Join Middle-earth: Insanity forums today.

06-02-2004, 09:44 AM	#2
Maeggaladiel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: The end of the world as we know it. I feel fine, incidentally. Posts: 500	Wow, I wish I could come up with character names as easy as you guys. It takes me forever to think up a good name, and even after I find a name I have to make sure that I really DID make it up. I've had problems with making up character names, only to find that they already exist. However, I have a list of about thirty five names for pirate ships scribbled on a paper. I was writing a story about pirates, and I needed some ship names. Suddenly, ship names were flying out of my head. I would be doing something completely different, and BAM! A new ship name! If only I needed thirty five ship names. I ended up only using "The Tempest" and "Warhammer" out of the entire list. I'm trying to create new characters so I can use some other names. I've got some cool ones. __________________ "Wide ne bith wel," cwaeth se the geheirde on helle hriman.

06-02-2004, 01:08 PM	#3
Lathriel Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Wandering through Middle-Earth (Sadly in Alberta and not ME) Posts: 612	I usually don't have troubles of making up names however I always have a back-up for when I do get stuck. I printed out about 50 names of the internet and then I pick out ones I like. I change the ones that I like and then it becomes an original name without me having to spend hours to think of the right name. __________________ Back again

06-02-2004, 01:22 PM	#4
Imladris Tears of the Phoenix Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Putting dimes in the jukebox baby. Posts: 1,453	I do a few things to discover names. A. Take a word from a foreign language (Latin and Greek for me normally), and "transform" it into a name. B. For fantastical names, I try to find odd names -- names that aren't too common, and then spell them differently. Sometimes, I'll scramble letters as well. As for deciding names: I believe that this is an off shoot of letting the story write itself. Sometimes you just know the name of your characters and all's well and dandy. Sometimes, as some of you have expressed, you don't. My recomendation would be to just pick a name you are somewhat satisfied and continue to write using that name. When you finally decide the name of your character, you can go to your word processor and replace the name, etc. However, if you don't like writing a character with an unsatisfactory name (like me), I would recommend to hold off writing the story. I've found that when I force a story, it doesn't work at all. __________________ I'm sorry it wasn't a unicorn. It would have been nice to have unicorns. I'm your huckleberry.

06-02-2004, 08:12 PM	#5
Lhundulinwen Wight Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Wishin' and hopin' in the Shire Posts: 139	Well, I guess I'm lazy. I finally bought a baby names book. It has foreign names, out of date names, and variations of names. I can take any of the names in the book, and twist them, or put them with regular fiction characters or fantasy characters. I know some writers who use web databases to find names also. __________________ ~Just call on me, and I'm there. I'll always be your Sam~

06-02-2004, 10:21 PM	#6
Enorëiel Wight Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Hobbiton, U.S.A. Posts: 165	I like to think of myself as a serious fantasy writer but sometimes I wonder... My biggest problem is the fact that I'm a hard critic on myself. Others look at my work and think it's great but the whole time I'm comparing my work to others and thinking that mine is really pathetic and immature. Anyone else have that problem? I find my characters' names in a really odd way... I type random letters on the computer until they look authentic, unique, or at least somewhat plausible . __________________ You can take a hobbit out of the Shire but you can't take the Shire out of a hobbit. Whoever said "Nothing is impossible" never tried to slam a revolving door.

06-02-2004, 11:31 PM	#7
Eowyn Skywalker Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Somewhere far, far away. Eh. Posts: 402	Oh, do I ever have that problem. I write... and most people think it's good... everyone but me, that is. What I'd like to do is actually find someone else who writes, and is about as good as I am, and then we could send each other's stories back and forth, and actually give advice, and correct, and all that. I am one of my worst cridics (sp?). Back to names for a moment though, I know what you all mean... tha characters can usually find their own names. One of my characters was origanally called Tiffany, after a friend of mine, and she was meant to be the 'girl' of the group. But, as her character went on, she proved herself unworthy of the name, and so I gave her a new name, an 'elvish' name that suited her better... and so the character just found her new name. My first experience with this 'finding' of names was with a halfy character. He had a name in my first scribbled drafts by hand... he was meant to be evil, and all... I called him Yanindil, or something else like that... but, when I started writing the story on my computer, suddenly the character changed, and he had a new name. It was odd. Names just come to me, and come to the character... like Arawyn Telessa... I made that up on the spot, and yet, I already know what her character will be like. She's a human, one of a seafaring race, and her people are slowly dying out... as the lands are growing, and the seas were she was born are receeding. She is not royal, but has some bloodline leading her to the throne, so, if the persent royals were to die, she would have to take leadership. But she is not that type... she is a free spirit. And that just comes from the sound of her name. (PS: This character just came to me, I won't be using her anywhere, anyhow... anyone can borrow her) Yeah, that's that. I hope I made some sense... I know I didn't make dollars... sigh. -Eowyn Skywalker __________________ Sometimes worlds collide. This time, they got their own webpage. Join Middle-earth: Insanity forums today.