What’s in a name?

rose.jpgShakespeare said “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.”

Would Ryder be as wickedly sexy if he had been named . . . Ralph?
Would Diana be as strong if she had been named . . . Dweezil?

One of the hardest things to do as a writer is to find the right name for a character. Something that matches their personality or creates an immediate impression in a reader’s mind.

How do you go about hitting on the right name? Research sometimes. There’s lots of great sites with the meanings of names. Here’s just a few of them:

20,000 Names — site with origins and meanings
American Names from the 18th and 19th Century
Hispanic Names from About.com

Sometimes you just hear a name and know it’s right. I oftentimes use names from mythology, like Diana. Many people have read Greek and Roman mythology and therefore have an immediate impression connecting one of those names with a certain type of character.

There is a Random Name Generator that some friends pointed me to for inspiration. You can click here for this in case you want to try it out.

And in case you’re working on a paranormal and are totally at a loss, here’s a fun way to maybe figure out some vampire names!


Your Vampire Name Is…


Athene of the Devil’s Spawn

Worldbuilding

The World of THE CALLINGAs an author, you do hold the world in the palm of your hands when creating your novel. This is particularly true if you are writing science fiction, fantasy or paranormals (the SFP from now on to save some time).

What’s the first thing to do on your way to building a world for your novel? The first thing to do is to decide what kind of world it is, namely:

Tech for free!

pc.jpgWhenever I buy a new computer for the office or home, I’m always astounded at how the biggest part of the price is for the software! Now, I understand that there’s development costs and the like, but it’s still a big chunk of money to put down for something that you will have to buy again in a few years.

So because of that, I am always on the lookout for freeware or shareware that’s inexpensive and keeping my eye open for new ways of doing things that will make my life easier.

Here’s a few of the things I’ve discovered! Continue reading “Tech for free!”

Writing Great Blurbs with Mayra Calvani

Today’s Tuesday Tip is from my friend and fellow author, Mayra Calvani. Mayra’s latest release is DARK LULLABY from Whiskey Creek Press. So without further ado, here’s Mayra!

Writing Great Blurbs

A great blurb can make the difference between a customer taking out his/her wallet to buy your book or putting the book back on the shelf. Great blurbs sell books. Continue reading “Writing Great Blurbs with Mayra Calvani”

Writing Without a Net

I have a very special Guest Blogger today — Lynn Voedisch — a Chicago journalist and fiction writer with many years of experience working for newspapers and magazines.

Lynn’s latest release is Excited Light, “a story of magic and second chances.”

Thank you for providing this Tuesday’s Tip, Lynn!

Without a Net

There are writers who like things tidy, all neatly arranged and indexed. They probably have neat and organized houses, too. Then there are those of us who are called seat-of-the-pants writers, who work without a net and let our subconscious be our guide. I’m one of those writers who doesn’t use an outline. (My house is a mess, too.) It’s officially Not Recommended, but please understand that those of us who prefer this sort of free-form writing aren’t just flailing in the dark; we, too, have methods. Continue reading “Writing Without a Net”