How To Title The Characters For Your Story With This Simple Technique

How To Title The Characters For Your Story With This Simple Technique

For some writers it's a doddle to find names for their characters. For others it is a nightmare and a nail biting worry wondering if the villain they've simply named Arturas Wharfberger has a real life counterpart on the market hell bent on suing them for slander. So, how are you going to discover a source of names that won't end up giving offence and getting you a court docket look?
The answer lies, actually, in the common or backyard street map! Most homes have one, but if yours doesn't your local newsagents nearly actually will. And earlier than you say, "What is he blathering about? I am not naming MY hero Chorlton-cum-Hardy!" simply maintain hard one cotton selecting minute and let me clarify.
Centuries ago when somebody moved from their native city or village, say Nyewood in Sussex, and settled down elsewhere, they may be referred to as John of Nyewood with a purpose to differentiate them from all the other Johns. Finally they'd merely be known as John Nyewood. So there may be nothing incorrect with taking this precept and bending it to our personal creative purposes.
I have before me a road map of that effective county of Essex and I want a couple of names for my next best-selling novel they usually've bought to be plausible. OK, so I forged my eye over the page which is awash with essentially the most amazing and provoking towns and villages with names like Bishop's Stortford, Stansted Mountfitchet and Stondon Massey.
Of course you do not take these names fairly as they stand, however with just a little bit of tweaking a high quality bunch of characters can soon be standing in entrance of you bursting with life and veracity.
Take for example Bishop's Stortford. You is perhaps tempted to include a Bishop in your story and call him one thing like Bishop Gerald Stortford. I would advise in opposition to that. We don't want to make it too apparent, will we? But you could possibly use Gerald Stortford, or perhaps alter it slightly to Gerald Startford or Stertford.
Let's transfer on to the redoubtable Stansted Mountfitchet. What a name! It would virtually work because it stands. But no, we should refine it and make it plausible for a human being. The idea is to use these place names as inspiration and develop them. So, what if we drop the Stansted and in addition, I believe, the Mount and call our possible lad Fitchet? Higher nonetheless add an extra 't' to make him sound a bit posher and call him Fitchett. Good. You might even choose up on the Stansted and name him Stanley. Stanley Fitchett. I can nearly see him now ensconced in his solicitors' workplace peering doubtfully at me over his pince-nez whilst we communicate! Fitchett, Fitchett and Stanton. Hey, that is not dangerous!
Now I've given you the thought, what are you able to do with Stondon Massey? You would use Massey as is, but when it is a feminine character don't call her Anna! What about Stacey Massey? Or Stella Mansey? Or Sophie Mensie?
You should still be a little bit nervous that a few of these names could nonetheless be genuine individuals and what in the event that they write you a stinging letter of grievance? Properly, just write again calmly and politely mentioning precisely how you arrived at 'Fortescue Mancaster' or whatever it's, giving the Ordnance Survey grid reference or different technique of identifying where you bought it from. I recommend culling all your names for a selected story from the same area on the map. It simply makes it easier I feel.
Finally, let's drift again to that disparaging remark apropos Chorlton-cum-Hardy. If you happen to've been paying consideration it will current no problem at all. We can easily convert it to Charles Hardy, Chester Hardy and goodness knows what else.