This month's Insecure Writers Support Group question asks, "Which is more difficult, picking a book's title or naming its characters?" Hmmmm. For me, it's a two prong answer. Naming the main characters is a must before I start writing. What's in a name? Everything the reader needs to know about the character. The name should complement (or contrast!) that individual's personality and status and aid in helping the reader visualize who he or she is. First and last should mesh to strengthen that purpose. It shouldn't jar the reader either by being impossible to pronounce or remember (Hello, Game of Thrones/Lord of the Rings!), too cutesy/trendy, or too similar to those of other characters in the book. A hero should wear his name like his favorite tailored suit jacket - effortlessly. A heroine should flaunt a nickname like a funky or pricey piece of jewelry. When naming a character, should it matter? Frankly, my dear, you need to give a damn. Because the hero of the book was named Rhett for a reason, and not Ashley.
Titles . . . don't get me started. After decades of being published by the Big Six and not having any choice in what was slapped by the marketing team on your cover (even if four books named MIDNIGHT KISS came out on the same release date!), having someone ASK what you preferred, not just for the title of one book, but for the series concept, blew me away! Man, that's hard work! Something that hasn't been done before, something reflecting the tone and concept and genre of the work, something eye-catching, thought provoking . . . memorable! I recall sitting for hours with my critique group thinking up appropriate (and sometimes Inappropriate!) words to go with ". . . by Moonlight" (after ten books, it gets harder, believe me!) or "Prince of . . ." And for goodness sake, nothing with "C*cky" in it!!!
After 60+ books, I still appreciate the freedom of choice for my book's names and titles, but it never gets any easier. And it never should.
Enjoy playing the name game, fellow IWSGers!!
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Thanks, Nancy. Titles and character names are things I struggle to create.
ReplyDeleteAll th best, Annette
Thanks, Annette!! We struggle together. Glad you stopped by.
DeleteOh, buy Cocky by Moonlight sounds good. :P (And, no, I won't replace the "o" with an asterisk. lol)
ReplyDeleteI love that meme of Rhett!
Oh, I think I've found my next title!! LOL! Thanks, Chrys.
DeleteI second Chrys's by Moonlight suggestion! haha Needless to say, Nancy, you knocked it out of the park with your By Moonlight titles and names! Love them all!
ReplyDeleteI think my bacon was saved by the "of Shadows" books in the series. I didn't have another "by Moonlight" in me at that point. But now I'm all refreshed and eager to go back into the title fray!
DeleteI loved your By Moonlight series. Clever. I, too, like Chrys' title. LOL With my Alex O'Hara mystery series, I started out with "The Case of ..." then something alliterative (Bygone Brother, Fabulous Fiance, Meddling Mama). Now I'm stuck for the 4th book. Oh, well. I love the freedom of naming my own books, but it can also be a pain. Loved your Rhett Butler meme.
ReplyDeleteThe creative corners we back ourselves into! Frankly, my dear, coming up with Blog post titles is harder than books!
DeleteThat's a really good point. I always have my main character's name before I start writing. The other names tend to change as I go, but the main character's never has. Happy IWSG day! http://www.raimeygallant.com
ReplyDeleteI only change in progress when I forget what I called a secondary . . . and sometimes I like the new name better. Hey, it's our world and we can change if we want to!
DeleteFunny, someone else mentioned Gone with the Wind in their IWSG post this month. Rhett and Scarlett - can't imagine those two characters named anything else.
ReplyDeleteAs hard as it can be to come up with book titles, I think I'd rather do that than have someone else foist a name on it, especially if I didn't like that name.
They overturned the trademark - you can use cocky now!
ReplyDeleteNo say in your title? Granted my publisher had to come up with two titles for me, but it wasn't without my approval. (Because yeah, I suck at titles.)