tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959261.post4086438187487646919..comments2023-11-03T07:57:36.350+00:00Comments on Sarah's writing journal: Writing names...Sarah Salwayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08254413682817411906noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959261.post-34699798361989874622008-06-22T13:41:00.000+01:002008-06-22T13:41:00.000+01:00The name is all. I can't imagine God going, oh wel...The name is all. I can't imagine God going, oh well Adam sounds like something in a movie, better call him something else:) That teacher brought their own ideas/ bias to your character, I would never have made a Fargo reference/connection. The naming of a character has so much power, I always think of The Crucible...'but it's my name' sort of thing. There is power in the right name ( bit obsessed by this with my characters changing their own names all the time)....Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959261.post-2490950789106022812008-06-17T15:45:00.000+01:002008-06-17T15:45:00.000+01:00"the characters don't have names at all, barely ev..."the characters don't have names at all, barely even genders."<BR/>Interesting, Tania, because I'm the same too. Of course Ali Smith doesn't specify gender in her short stories - I'm wondering now if there's anyone else.<BR/>We had a discussion in my writing class yesterday about how it was easier sometimes to write from a male perspective - more freeing. I wonder if this is something to do with this too.Sarah Salwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08254413682817411906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959261.post-32138130215376521582008-06-17T15:42:00.000+01:002008-06-17T15:42:00.000+01:00Wow, thanks Tania. And also for reassuring us re M...Wow, thanks Tania. And also for reassuring us re Mags! <BR/><BR/>Jem, your comment: "I think names are very powerful and should be given and given up with care." has made me think. It used to be a craze at our school to call ourselves different - more exotic - names. I wonder if we ever thought what we'd be giving up. It was more a case of trying on new clothes.Sarah Salwayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08254413682817411906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959261.post-46857591241808612622008-06-17T12:57:00.000+01:002008-06-17T12:57:00.000+01:00Ah the shed! I've promised my daughter we'll have ...Ah the shed! I've promised my daughter we'll have two, in our next house. One for her and one for me. We'll visit one another at intervals for tea and biscuits but mostly we'll be busy writing/reading/planning world domination (that last one I shall leave to her).Sarah Hilaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03379986260169703599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959261.post-83032128910747708932008-06-17T12:56:00.000+01:002008-06-17T12:56:00.000+01:00I should mention that Mary Margaret won't be in Th...I should mention that Mary Margaret won't be in The White Road collection. She's newer and I have a feeling she might just be getting a book/collection of her own, when I get my writing shed set up (everything, of course, will change once I have the shed!)Tania Hershmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15781460794034586895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959261.post-82250039831915668112008-06-17T12:46:00.000+01:002008-06-17T12:46:00.000+01:00I loved reading this. Thanks, Tania and Sarah. Wha...I loved reading this. Thanks, Tania and Sarah. What a wonderful cast of characters you have living in your head, Tania! I can't wait to meet them.Sarah Hilaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03379986260169703599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959261.post-37313455770864577122008-06-17T12:40:00.000+01:002008-06-17T12:40:00.000+01:00Actually, in quite a few of my more recent stories...Actually, in quite a few of my more recent stories, the characters don't have names at all, barely even genders. I sometimes find that incredibly liberating - and every now and then I like to make my reader work a little harder!Tania Hershmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15781460794034586895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959261.post-32145561402345688282008-06-17T12:37:00.000+01:002008-06-17T12:37:00.000+01:00Great stuff. Most of the characters in my writing...Great stuff. Most of the characters in my writing don't have names, or defined faces - probably because they are not living in storyland as such. If I think of them with any kind of name its usually something descriptive about them, but I could pick a name that meant that I guess (along the lines of your explanations about Sarahs and Clares etc). <BR/><BR/>I think names are very powerful and should be given and given up with care. I've always thought I could never change my name if I married as I wouldnt be me any more.jemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08181038873568527264noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959261.post-6343356083725608862008-06-16T21:52:00.000+01:002008-06-16T21:52:00.000+01:00The right name is so important, and I agree it can...The right name is so important, and I agree it can just conjure up a character immediately.<BR/><BR/>I have a few set characters I write about from time to time. So if I think of a plot that requires a mother and rebellious teenage daughter, for example, I have those characters (Claire and Kirsty) already built, and as long as I keep to those same names I can keep them clear in my mind. Saves a lot of time when writing!Kath McGurlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02526923882402757423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959261.post-8288501279703878642008-06-16T20:30:00.000+01:002008-06-16T20:30:00.000+01:00Looking forward even more to reading your book, Ta...Looking forward even more to reading your book, Tania, after this taster. Good topic, Sarah!Group 8https://www.blogger.com/profile/07924947352624027079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959261.post-78476108373402700902008-06-16T19:13:00.000+01:002008-06-16T19:13:00.000+01:00I'm glad all ended up being well with Mags. The th...I'm glad all ended up being well with Mags. The thing with characters and their names is they are what they are, I think.Nik Perringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07426321804560400335noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959261.post-23779672544475817812008-06-16T19:11:00.000+01:002008-06-16T19:11:00.000+01:00Ooh, that's an awfully big photo of me! I scare my...Ooh, that's an awfully big photo of me! I scare myself :). Glad you liked it Nik, thank you Sarah for asking me to think about names and naming, it was very enlightening. I am so glad Mags didn't stay "Maggie", urgh. She is actually the main character in the title story of my collection, so she's extremely important!Tania Hershmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15781460794034586895noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5959261.post-39182535468041626412008-06-16T18:06:00.000+01:002008-06-16T18:06:00.000+01:00Really enjoyed reading that Tania/Sarah.NikReally enjoyed reading that Tania/Sarah.<BR/><BR/>NikNik Perringhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07426321804560400335noreply@blogger.com