Oooh, I thought you were golden

3. How do you come up with names, for characters (and for places if you're writing about fictional places)?

Most often, I end up bouncing names with beanside until something sticks. Example: I had a SPN OFC who was first Maggie, until I realized that Maggie is my aunt's name and there would be SEX and so, ew. Then it was a process of "okay, we need an old fashioned anti-Sue name, quick!" and so we went back and forth until we came up with Nora.

If T's not home or I just need a name for a background character that won't be pivotal, I look on my bookshelf until I find an author's first name that strikes me at that moment.

For places, I have a bad habit of just inverting words I see right in front of me.