Naming Fiction Characters
Based on a simple description of the character
Anne Bernays and Pamela Painter — What if? Writing Exercises for Fiction Writers prompts —
The Exercise:
Name the following characters, keeping in mind that you can plant, within a name, a clue to their role in your fiction.
* A petty, white-collar thief who robs his boss over several years.
* An envious, bitter woman who makes her sister miserable by systematically trying to undercut her pleasure and self-confidence.
* A sweet young man too shy to speak to an attractive woman he sees every day at work.
* The owner of a fast-food restaurant who comes on to his young female employees.
* A grandmother who just won the lottery.
The Objective:
To recognize that the names you give your characters should not be drawn out of a hat but carefully tested to see if they "work". Sometimes you may want to choose an "appropriate" name (Victoria for a member of the British aristocracy) and once in a while it's a good idea to choose a name that seems "inappropriate" (Bruce for the child of migrant farm workers). In each case, you are sending a message to the reader about who the character is, where he came from and where he is headed. A name can send a message as powerful as a title.
Petty thief: Robin Bourbon
Bitter woman: Saddie Sakitts
Shy young man: Tim Mask
Lecherous boss: Hoss Steel
Lottery winner: Lottie Moore
About the Creator
Denise E Lindquist
Retired, working part-time as a Native American culture consultant. I have an MSE, and an ABD. I write on Vocal, and Facebook. Poetry, non-fiction mostly, and working on fiction. Wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.
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