Blogflog - Choosing Character Names, part 1

[blogfloggery.livejournal.com]

Link: Choosing Character Names, part 1
Disclaimer: This blog entry is verbatim, as originally posted on LKH's blog. Copyright belongs to Ma Petite Enterprises.

One of the most common questions I’ve been asked is, “Where did I get the Celtic/Gaelic names for the Meredith (Merry) Gentry series? Especially the baby names for, A Shiver of Light?” Below find pictures of the primary books I used.

Another name question I’m getting is, “Why did I use Alastair for the baby boy, since that’s the name of the man who attacks Merry in the first book, A Kiss of Shadows?” Honestly, at first I forgot that I’d used the name before. I tend to have names that I like and I will reuse them, or variations of them multiple times if I’m not careful. Apparently, Bruce was a favorite for a bit male character in the Anita Blake novels for a few years. It seemed my answer to John Smith. I also seem inordinately fond of variations of the name Nicholas. When I realized Alastair was actually a villain name from earlier in the Merry Gentry series I changed the name for her baby boy, but she, and he, wouldn’t let me. Merry wasn’t traumatized by that long ago Alastair, or if she was she wanted to reclaim the name in a positive way. As for baby Alastair, he totally refused to be anything else. I originally spelled it, Alastar, as a double entendre for the star-shaped spot/birthmark on his back, but even that didn’t please this very opinionated new character. It had to be Alastair, and he wouldn’t let everyone call him, Star. That was my original idea that he’d actually go by his nickname to the point where you forgot Alastair/Alastar was his legal name, but Alastair doesn’t like nicknames. I’m a little worried about this brand new character as he seems determined to have his way. I think he’s going to eventually give me a run for my plot-money and totally take over a book, or series, someday. I can’t quite imagine writing books about Merry’s children all grown up, but there are hints that the babies already have ideas that I wasn’t aware of. *laughs*

Comments

[rodentfanatic.livejournal.com]

OH LKH

Like if it were James or something I'd understand but ALASTAIR IS A PRETTY SPECIFIC NAME

[cryptaknight.livejournal.com]

I find it so disturbing the way she talks about her characters as if she has no control over them. I can understand having a very strong vision of a character, and a very strong sense of who they are, but when they become so real that what 'they' want overrides what the author wants, that's where my understanding ends.

[firefox1490.livejournal.com]

God yes. Like come the fuck o lady you are their higher over do what you want!

[apep727.livejournal.com]

I've said this elsewhere - I kinda get the "my characters are real to me" thing. I've had characters say/do something that totally threw my plot off, but that I didn't change because it felt right for them to do that.

This is not what LKH does. She takes this thing way too far. Like, "are they in the room now?" far. "Maybe you should be on medication," far.

I could accept her point if she said "no other name felt right". But no, she went with "my characters wouldn't let me change the name." Which is disturbing in several ways.

[lliira (from livejournal.com)]

I was disturbed at first. But then I read some of her fiction, and more of her blogs, and now I think she's just bullshitting. She doesn't have the imagination for her characters to be "real" to her, and if they were real to her, she'd be able to remember things about them and they'd be more than hair and penis size. I think she's playing the role of what she thinks a Great Artiste should be, but it's all an act.

[guardians-song.livejournal.com]

In all fairness, this is LKH, who infamously had her main character declare she didn't need to learn anything about anyone she wasn't planning to "date" in Shutdown.

I wouldn't be surprised if all she remembers of some real-life people is hair and penis size.

[ravens-shadow.livejournal.com]

Here's what gets me: "Merry wasn’t traumatized by that long ago Alastair, or if she was she wanted to reclaim the name in a positive way." Not because either isn't a possibility, but because as the author, she should know. Make the decision. Which one is it? It isn't a recon if it doesn't negate an earlier canonized fact (as far as I understand reconning).

That's completely aside from the fact that she is the creator and if she wants to change the name, she should be able to find something else that "feels right." Or her incorrect usage of commas with book titles (there is a way to do it right--she does not do it). Or the fact that after she had a few books published (or after she noticed she favors particular names--which I don't find fault with, there are names I love and would like to reuse, but I make a point not to), she never created at least a character list of who's who, sorted alphabetically, and perhaps noting what book they appear in, if not a sentence or two about who their character is.

Lastly, I would actually be kind of interested in seeing the kids all grown up, and I can imagine her doing that in order to skip over the icky rearing years; but I can also see how she wouldn't want to do it if it meant less attention paid to Merry and her men.

[mystickiwi.livejournal.com]

Yeah this baby character is strong enough to DEMAND THE NAME ALASTAIR but she can't decide why Merry would chose the name. (Geez, I mean, has she even asked Merry?)

[ravens-shadow.livejournal.com]

Well, clearly the baby telepathically communicated his insistence on the name pre-birth. -_-'

[jessica collett (from livejournal.com)]

*UGH FACE*

My grandfather was called Alastair. UGH THANKS FOR RUINING MY FAVOURITE NAME WITH YOUR SPECIAL BRAND OF OFFENSIVE LAZINESS LKH YOU RUIN ALL THE THINGS.

On a more sensible note... no, offensive laziness + 'I'm so zany and weird, me' just makes me UGH face.

[rodentfanatic.livejournal.com]

I really like the name Micah for a character and/or mouse and am likewise trying not to let her Micah ruin it for me DX Hard since he's the only association I have with it though

[lliira (from livejournal.com)]

I think she used the name "Alastair" because of Dragon Age. I don't trust her to ever NOT swipe something from other works while pretending it's from her deep pool of whatever.

[graesea.livejournal.com]

If the characters "choose" then Hamilton doesn't have to take responsibility. Ever. For anything.

Really.

She's totally bugfuck.

[dreamstrifer.livejournal.com]

It reminds me of John Green's "That question doesn't interest me" and "I don't know anything that happens outside of what I wrote in the book" bullshit answers to questions he finds uncomfortable.

[apep727.livejournal.com]

I'll just add that to my list of reasons I wouldn't want anything I publish associated with John Green.

Seriously? "That question doesn't interest me"? You couldn't just say "I don't know" or "I never thought about it"? Methinks that whole "savior of YA" thing has gone a bit to his head.

[subtle-shades.livejournal.com]

I have follow up questions! (If you don't mind apep...) I also haven't paid much attention to John Green... other than that he exists, apparently, since that Fault in our Stars movie came out. (I didn't see it, but I heard a great deal about it.)

How did he "save YA"? And did it need saving? I thought that the genre was doing pretty well, what with apparently being the biggest seller and whatnot.

[apep727.livejournal.com]

No problem.

At a guess, I'd say people (i.e. book critics) claim he "saved YA" because a lot of the more popular YA books before he got big were also genre fiction - which doesn't count as "real" literature. Because it's not like genre works can explore important themes or convey a message.

[subtle-shades.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info!

Geez. I really hate that "valuing" of fiction. It's ridiculous. And seems to have quite a bit of personal preference involved in it. Honestly, I would've characterized his Stars book as a super depressing, super melodramatic (and trope-tastic!) romance, not literature.

[apep727.livejournal.com]

Admittedly, this is all just a guess on my part.

[subtle-shades.livejournal.com]

But it seems likely!

[apep727.livejournal.com]

I've got two big reasons.

First, there's his attitude toward research. In his acknowledgements in Fault in Our Stars, he lists several sources he consulted re: cancer, and then admitted he "gleefully ignored" them "when it suited [his] whims". Which offends me both as an aspiring writer and someone with several relatives who are trained medical professionals.

Second was his response to criticism. The Daily Mail mentioned his book in an article about books that supposedly glamorize things that shouldn't be glamorized (having cancer, cutting, etc.). And instead of actually addressing the claim, he posted a music video making fun of the Daily Mail (which I won't argue about).

I admit, he's not as bad as say Hamilton or Cassandra Clare, but stuff like that just rubs me the wrong way.

[subtle-shades.livejournal.com]

Hmmm... That's the second time I've heard that excuse in a very short time period. The other, who was also a NY Times bestselling author, immediately backtracked when he saw how unimpressed his audience was.

I understand that mistakes will be made. And yes, certain details aren't sexy - especially so in a romance with artistically ill characters - but there's more graceful ways to get around them (such as tweaking the premise.)

What could he possibly say? As I understand it, The Daily Mail (might be?) is a rag, but their charge seems basically true. In fact, he cheerfully admits to "gleefully ignor[ing]" facts where they contradicted his story. They're not wrong about him at any rate, any more than he seems to have been wrong about him. (Although that shouldn't have stopped him from trying to spin things to suit himself.)

He seems well-liked in writing circles (from the handful of things that I've glanced over involving him since the other day) but in the "he's funny/charming" and doesn't denigrate female authors way rather than BFF-ery. But (IMO) being funny/charming, moderately polite to women, and patient with wank-making teenagers on tumblr (and spoken well of by CC, I think?) doesn't necessarily preclude him being difficult to handle in larger doses or work with.

[apep727.livejournal.com]

He does seem like a nice guy from what I've seen.

And I get that the Daily Mail isn't exactly what you'd call a "reputable source", but his response still struck me as very unprofessional. If he had addressed their claims, or ignored them, or even gone, "hey, free publicity!" I wouldn't be bothered. But instead he made an ad hominem attack.

[apep727.livejournal.com]

Anyone else notice she spent more time discussing what her characters wanted than answering an actual writing craft question? Guess LKH would rather focus on how "amazing" and "zany" an author she is ("my characters talk to me!") than spend a few minutes helping aspiring authors.

Also, can't help but wonder if she "uses" the books to show how much better she is than people who use websites instead.

[rebootfromstart.livejournal.com]

I know it's a small thing compared to everything else, but STOP MISUSING COMMAS LIKE THAT. "Wouldn't let everyone call him, Star"? What the hell sort of writing is that?

[the-mome-wrath.livejournal.com]

His hair will be long enough to circle the earth twice

[plastraa.livejournal.com]

This amused me! :)

[quizzicalsphinx.livejournal.com]

It's a little early for me and I may have spent several seconds trying to "like" this comment.

[suzycat.livejournal.com]

"she, and he, wouldn’t let me. Merry wasn’t traumatized by that long ago Alastair...."

THEY'RE. NOT. REAL.

I can understand the feeling of a character name feeling right and no other name feeling good, but honestly.

[kisstheground.livejournal.com]

I don't believe for a second more than one (exceptionally stupid) person asked where she got those names. Back in the day, maybe, a specific book would be helpful, but this is the age of the internet, where there are a bajillion name sites, and more than a few specifically for Celtic/Gaelic/Irish names.

I swear, just as much as her characters "talk" to her, she has "fans" "ask" her "questions."

[rekallthegreat.livejournal.com]

LKH sounds crazy the way she explains it but I do get what it's like when sometimes a character's name just feels right and any new names you try just aren't working out so you eventually say fuck it and just go with the original name. I find the best thing is go with an alternate spelling or a similar name.

Using Alastair as an example, it only took a few seconds to find this:

Alastair has 26 variant forms: Al, Alasdair, Alasteir, Alaster, Alastor, Alaisdair, Alaistair, Alaister, Aleister, Alester, Alistair, Alistar, Alister, Allaistar, Allaster, Allastir, Allistair, Allister, Allistir, Allysdair, Allystair, Allyster, Alysdair, Alysdare, Alystair and Alyster.

Alastair is also pronounced similarly to Alistaire and Alistir. Another suggested similar baby name is Alisdair.

Surely out of almost 30 alternate names LKH could have found one that worked.

[plastraa.livejournal.com]

I think we can say a big thank you to the opinionated imaginary baby character who decided NOT to let everyone call him Star. That would have been even more twee than I imagine it's gonna be.

I hope she ages him up magically so we don't have to put up with omniscient children syndrome or the 'aren't I cute when I use double entendre even though I couldn't possibly know what that means', like in sitcoms. Kids in media can be very annoying and down right scary.

[suzycat.livejournal.com]

They can call him Al like every other person called Alastair/various spelling variations since the DAWN OF HUMANITY.

[plastraa.livejournal.com]

BUT where would be the super speshal snowwhite white snowflakyness in that?

[suzycat.livejournal.com]

I accept your argument is a good one, but must rebut it with the fearsome vampire master and ardueueuruer addict, AUGGIE.

[deadsong.livejournal.com]

So...bullshit excuses for forgetting her own continuity. With a nice dose of creepy-crazy thrown in. Gotcha.

Look, a name can be a big deal. Names do affect our first impressions of people whether we want them to or not, so the names we pick for characters can be influence a lot. I personally can't start a story until I have a name that feels right for my protagonist. But I know fucking well that it's just me searching for a name that sounds like it fits the personality of the character, not the character themselves demanding anything of me. I'll have a set idea for who that character should be and I'll know when a name feels wrong, but it's sure as not because they're fucking telling me so. It's because my brain has logical pathways capable of recognizing harmony or dissonance between two abstract concepts. Or, in short, I'm not crazy.***

[freyalorelei.livejournal.com]

I'm just gobsmacked that she chose the same rather uncommon name for Merry's rapist and her baby. Not just "a villain;" this is someone who sexually assaulted the lead character. And then said character turns around a year later and give it to her kid. That's...wow.

[apep727.livejournal.com]

I'd be surprised if she really thought Merry was sexually assaulted, given how rape-y some of her sex scenes are.

[lliira (from livejournal.com)]

"Some"?

[apep727.livejournal.com]

I was being generous.

[lliira (from livejournal.com)]

I don't think she's capable of writing a sex scene that's fully consensual.