Oooh, I thought you were golden

[nilchance]

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.

Comments

[tygermama.livejournal.com]

I used to keep a baby name dictionary on hand. Some of the name definitions were hilarious.

[nilchance.livejournal.com]

Yeah, in one of those books my RL name came to something like "rich bitter winemaker," which when I found out lead to me going to Dad all "who the hell thought THIS combo was a good idea?"

And Mom wanted me to be Brandy, so I could be DRUNK bitter winemaker. Thanks, Mom!

[bkm5191.livejournal.com]

I just use the last name I heard on television :)

[trishabooms.livejournal.com]

Snap with the whole scouring the book shelves for character names thing.

I also have a very battered copy of names for boys and girls that is worth its weight in gold.