nilchance: original art from a vintage print; art of a woman being struck by lightning (bikini kill)
Laughing Lady ([personal profile] nilchance) wrote2010-06-27 09:55 am

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 [livejournal.com profile] 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.
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[identity profile] tygermama.livejournal.com 2010-06-27 05:17 pm (UTC)(link)
I used to keep a baby name dictionary on hand. Some of the name definitions were hilarious.

[identity profile] nilchance.livejournal.com 2010-06-27 08:06 pm (UTC)(link)
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!