5 Tips For Not Screwing Up Your Character's Name by Suzanne Johnson

It's genre Monday and today Suzanne Johnson is going to cover a topic I seem to always have trouble with--naming characters in a way that isn't confusing, redundant, or just plain wrong.

For the record, these tips also apply to naming your children. :)

Take it away Suzanne...

Hello, my name is anonymous

Photo by quinn.anya

 5 Tips for Naming Your Character (aka I Screw Up So You Don’t Have To)

I’m in the throes of writing the third book in my upcoming urban fantasy series, and have spent the last hour looking at a key scene involving my heroine and a regent (think: big boss) vampire who might or might not be a murderous necromancer. So far, the vampire’s name is VAMPIRE. Catchy, eh?

Names are no different for paranormals than for romance—or any other kind of fiction. They have power. They resonate (we hope in a good or bad way, depending on the character) with readers. Sometimes we struggle to find them, and sometimes they come to us unbidden. They are important, in other words. And if we are writing series....we’re going to be stuck with them for what we hope is a very long time.

So here are a few lessons about character names I’ve learned the hard way. Think of it as “Suzanne screws up...so you don’t have to.”

The cardinal rule: LOVE the name because you never know how long you might be stuck with it.
I’m like most writers, I suspect, in using a hodgepodge of methods to come up with names. My heroine—technically the only character in my series who cannot be killed—is Drusilla Jane Jaco. What a horrific name for a young, cute blonde wizard, in retrospect. When I started the first book in the series in 2008, I thought naming her after my great-great grandmother would be fun. A little in-joke between me and, well, me. Three books later, I’m tired of finding new ways to explain how she goes by DJ and was named after great-aunt Dru and hates her name blah blah blah, because that has to be done in Every. Single. Book.

Just because Charlaine Harris got away with it doesn’t mean you should try.
Just as you don’t want names that are uber-pretentious (Lord Ar’guth’nirz) or unpronounceable (Cthulhu), you also don’t want names so plain they put your readers to sleep. In one of my manuscripts, Beth Harris was Beth Harris for 93,000 words...until I realized she was bland and vapid, and her name proved it (my apologies to any of you named Beth Harris). The exception to this rule is if your own name is Charlaine Harris. In her ridiculously popular Sookie series (technically, the Southern Vampire series, from which HBO made “True Blood”), Harris planted tongue firmly in cheek and gave the well-endowed Sookie the surname of Stackhouse. Her vampires were Bill and Eric (again tongue in cheek...Eric, who was a Viking when he was turned vampire, uses the last name Northman). But still, I wonder, now that the series has reached book number twelve or something like that, if Ms. Harris ever wishes Bill were named...Jackson, or something un-Bill-like.

Want a really cool name for your character? Use surnames. There are several good online databases of surnames, even broken down by country. One of my own favorite characters is named Mirren. And yes, he was named after Helen Mirren (but don’t tell him since he’s a big macho alpha male and would feel emasculated. I’ve managed to keep that secret from him so far).

Use a name that’s pronounced like it’s spelled.

Just for your own peace of mind. I love my merman twins Rene and Robert Delachaise and their daddy Toussaint, but I know people are going to pronounce their names wrong unless they’re from South Louisiana. It really doesn’t matter except that I like their names with the correct pronunciation: “Renny” and “Row-bear” and “Too-sont” “Della-shay.” So if I’m the only one who enjoys the way a name sounds tripping off the tongue, isn’t that kind of like a tree falling in the woods with no one to hear?
Check your history.

This is a lesson most applicable to writers of historicals or paranormals. Poor, dull Beth Harris’ love interest in my paranormal romance was a 400-year-old Irish vampire named Galen, born in 1570 in the area near Kinsale and turned vampire when he was in his early 30s. I loved Galen Murphy. He was Galen for months and months...until a savvy beta reader, damn her, did a little research and pointed out gleefully that the name Galen was not in use in Ireland in 1600—in fact, it didn’t make it there until the 1800s. So Galen bit the dust, replaced by Aodhan, a fine bit of Gaelic that today is Aidan. But he’ll always be Galen to me.

Variety is good.

Look at your cast of characters as a whole and make sure there aren’t similar names. Not starting with the same letter, certainly, but also not all hard consonant sounds or soft vowel sounds. Did I follow this advice? Of course not. It’s why, three books into my series, I still have major characters named Jean and Jake. Never mind that Jean is an undead French pirate and Jake is a honey-tongued devil from Picayune, Mississippi, who owns a Bourbon Street bar. Jean and Jake; Jake and Jean—and throw in DJ, just so we’ll have another J going. And remember Aidan, who replaced Galen? His brother’s name is Owen. Aidan and Owen. Owen and Aidan. Vowels. So confusing. Don’t do it.
So, there you have it. Now, I’m still looking at my new vampire, who has to compete on the playing field with DJ, Jake, Jean, and Alex (my only character with the good sense to take a unique, likeable, pronounceable name). Perhaps Adam? No....

In honor of names, my recommended read this month is Dead Witch Walking (The Hollows, Book 1)
, a funny, sexy urban fantasy by Kim Harrison and the first in her long-running Hollows series. In it, you’ll find Rachel, Ivy, Trent, Jenks, Kisten, and Al. (AL, you might ask? Well, yeah, he’s a demon and it’s short for Algaliarept.)
 

 





What’s been your most problematic character name?

 

Suzanne Johnson is an author of urban fantasy “with romantic elements.” Her first book, Royal Street, a magic-based fantasy set in New Orleans at the time of Hurricane Katrina, will be released by Tor Books on April 10, 2012. Two more in the series will be released in Fall 2012 and Spring 2013. Find Suzanne online at her Preternatura blog, or read about her books at her website.

*Look for more from Suzanne here every 3rd Monday of the month!

 

 

 


“...a sexy, sizzling tale that is sure to have readers begging for more!" –Jo Davis, author of I SPY A DARK OBSESSION

 

 

CRASH INTO YOU is now available for pre-order!

Read an excerpt here.



All content copyright of the author. Please ask permission before re-printing or re-posting. Fair use quotations and links do no require prior consent of the author. ©Roni Loren 2009-2011 |Copyright Statement|

 

Love Scenes in Fantasy by Paul Anthony Shortt

One thing I love about having guest bloggers is that I get to hear (and share) things from people with different perspectives and expertise. I'll admit that my experience with the fantasy genre is not extensive. Beyond my love for A Wrinkle In Time and The Never Ending Story as a kid and reading some urban fantasy as an adult, I'm woefully under-read in the genre.


So when I held an impromptu "pitch me a guest post idea" contest on Twitter a few weeks ago, I was so happy to see Paul Anthony Shortt throw out this topic. I selected him as the winner (though is it really winning if I make you work and write a guest post, lol.? Not sure.) and he generously put together this fab post for us. Hope you enjoy!

 

 


Love Scenes in Fantasy by Paul Anthony Shortt


Although I don’t write romance, I believe sexuality is an important part of defining a character. It is one of the most driving needs people have, to feel sexually fulfilled and compatible with another person. As writers, we should take the time to understand the significance of how we choose to, or choose not to, express this need.

 

Fantasy artwork is filled with images of well-endowed women wearing highly impractical clothing, all manner of bits exposed to swords and arrows and evil, leering wizards. It’s safe to say that the genre hasn’t been especially kind to women in the past. As such, popular fantasy, for all its innovation and imagination, can feature some very stereotypical depictions of sex. Men are often sex-obsessed, while women are either virginal things to be conquered, or temptresses placed there to seduce the male hero away from his goal. Not that all fantasy is like this, or that these stereotypes can’t still be used effectively, but with its roots in ancient myth, it is only natural for the Fantasy genre to incorporate such elements. These motifs harken back to traditional gender roles in storytelling, where women represented two extremes: Purity or temptation. Peacemaker or obstacle. The woman was representative of the rewards the hero would receive for staying true to his goals and serving the greater good, or of the ease with which he can succumb to base desires. 

More modern titles, particularly Urban Fantasy, where women tend to receive more important roles, introduce a new side to this. Newer heroes such as Laurell K Hamilton’s Anita Blake have experienced sex as a means to gain new power, to become more than the mere mortal they were before. Similar situations crop up in The Dresden Files, by Jim Butcher, where sexual energy can be used to fuel spells, or as part of ritual magic. This treatment of sex seems to draw again on ancient myth and occultism, where sex was part of spiritual practices, a way of connecting the mortal self with higher powers. Of course, the danger here is that the spirituality of the act can be forgotten, leaving the reader with the impression of sex becoming a path to power. That said, we can examine such decisions by a writer to determine whether they may be portraying the embracing of sex as being, in and of itself, empowering. By realising their sexual natures, the characters are freed from previous limitations. 

In some cases, there is a more disturbing side shown in characters. In The Baker’s Boy, by J.V. Jones, we see many sex-focused men and just as many women who treat sex as something to be given to a man, simply as a matter of course. As a reader I found this unsettling, and spent a long time wondering exactly what the author was trying to say. These are traits often given to characters with whom we are not meant to sympathise, or who are portrayed as misguided or forced to behave a certain way. Representations of sexual servitude go back to the Gor series and beyond, but can we consider them love scenes, even when they are consensual? Is there any emotional connection between the characters, or is this as mundane to them as being served a cup of coffee?  

The risks inherent in writing love scenes are as present in Fantasy as they are in Romance, if not more so. With Romance, readers expect that relationships and emotion are the focus of the story. Characters grow through experiencing emotional upheaval, rather than by facing physical dangers. In Fantasy, there is no inherent expectation of romantic encounters. Readers may not be used to finding them, and authors may not be used to writing them. If a love scene feels added in just to titillate the reader, it loses its power, and any sense of purpose. Just as in Romance, a love scene should represent something deep and meaningful, for the good or for the ill of the characters involved. It may be the culmination of a love story, where two characters are finally united and become stronger for their new bond. It may be a sign that a character’s innocence is now over, and they must stand as an adult against the threats that come. It may even be a last desperate act to cast aside inhibition, embrace a darker part of the self, and hopefully become stronger for it. 

Then, of course, there’s no reason why it can’t just be a simple act between two lovers. An expression of their feelings as they come together at the height of the story’s tension. For all the different ways a love scene can be included in Fantasy, and all the different themes it can represent, the emotions of those involved, how they react, whether they are at first reluctant or have sought this out, should be as they are in Romance. Human. Stories are about people, and so long as the simple human responses to love and sex are held to with consistency and integrity, an author should be able to give us a scene that is engaging and satisfying to read on an emotional level.

In this way, Fantasy authors can learn an awful lot from Romance authors. Both genres deal with heightened emotions, larger than life stakes, whether internal or external, and the expectation that, in the end, all will be well. So with these similarities in mind, it stands to reason that the attention paid to personal relationships, and their highest form of expression in love scenes, in Romance should guide Fantasy authors to better understand the power that their choices can have in how the readers responds to the story they tell.


 Paul Anthony Shortt is an avid reader and lover of music and film. He lives in Ireland with his wife, who is expecting their first child in a few weeks, and their dog, Pepper. His first novel, which is still undergoing title edits, is due to be released by WiDo Publishing in 2012.


Blog: http://paulanthonyshortt.blogspot.com/

What differences do you see genre to genre with regards to love scenes and the romantic thread? 

 

All content copyright of the author. Please ask permission before re-printing or re-posting. Fair use quotations and links do no require prior consent of the author. ©Roni Loren |Copyright Statement|

That First Sale - Suzanne'e Journey Toward Publication

 

 

Today, I have another special treat for you.  My crit partner and about-to-be-published author, Suzanne Johnson is sharing the story of "THE CALL" and her journey toward publication.  I always find authors first sale stories inspiring, I hope you all do as well!

The Journey Toward Publication: Suzanne's Story
I’ve been writing about fictional character development at my blog this week, but at Roni’s suggestion I’m talking today about my own journey toward publication. And in a way, it fits the theme, because the publishing process certain helps develop character!
I feel like a poser in some ways because I haven’t spent years as a starving, struggling novelist. I had written a couple of horrific short stories as a teenager, gotten a degree in journalism, and set off on a career as a magazine writer and editor. It’s been a good career. I had no plans to do anything else. People would say, “You should write a book,” and I’d think, “Why?”
But a convergence of events in August 2008 set me to try my hand at fiction. I had an idea for a novel, using my own experiences as a Hurricane Katrina survivor from New Orleans. I set a daily word limit, got hooked on writing along the way, and plowed through it, finishing (heh) in time to enter the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest in February 2009. The book, ROYAL STREET,  made the first couple of cuts and I was feeling pretty sassy by the time it got axed in mid-April as a semifinalist. That also happened to be the first time it got read all the way through, beyond the spit-polished first chapter.
Because, frankly, after the first chapter it sucked, which I realized when I finally picked up some books on fiction writing, took a local class, and accepted that I was clueless. Plot? Pacing? Goals? Motivation? Conflict? Huh?
The idea for the book was sound, though, so I began a series of overhauls. By June 2009, I had it finished (again. Heh.)
While I wrote and polished my query letter (which I’ll be happy to share with anyone who’s interested—just e-mail me), I looked at the acknowledgment pages of books I loved in my genre and joined the QueryTracker website. I made a list of agents, excluding those who didn’t take electronic submissions. Because I am not patient enough for snail-mail, and I wanted quick responses. (Heh.)
I ranked them, and shot off my first ten queries (plus whatever else the agents specified on their websites) in mid-June. Within a week, I’d gotten three form rejections and three requests for full manuscripts. Every time I’d get a rejection, I’d query to a new agent off my list. By mid-July, I had seven full manuscripts out. Meanwhile, since I thought the book had series potential, I began plotting a sequel (but hadn’t started writing).
In late July 2009, “the call” came. Actually, it was an e-mail. It said (and I know, because I saved it): “I've read ROYAL STREET, loved it, and would like to speak with you regarding your writing. If we suit, we can discuss representation. Please let me know a time during business hours that works for you.”
I was at work, and had to jump up and down and scream quietly in my office. I talked to the agent over my lunch hour, and the first question she asked was not “Who do you see as your audience,” or “What are you looking for in an agent or publisher.” She asked: “Tell me what you’re working on now.” I hesitantly told her my idea for the sequel. She wanted to know I was serious about a career, that this was a long-term interest for me. We hit it off, and she offered representation. We exchanged a written agreement spelling out her commission (standard 15 percent for English-language rights plus 20 percent on foreign-language), and the deal was done.
While she began submitting ROYAL STREET to publishers, I started writing the sequel. By this point, I realized the first book had some problems, and I’d learned a whole lot about how to put together a novel. I wrote RIVER ROAD, book two in the series, between August and late October. In the meantime, ROYAL STREET had been passed on by a couple of publishers (not enough romance, said one. Feels too dated since it was set in 2005, said another).
But Tor Books, an imprint of Macmillan, had had the book three months and was in “second reads.” My agent decided to go ahead and send them the second completed book in October.
On November 11 I got this e-mail from my agent: “Suzanne. Are you near a phone?” ARRRGH. And yes, it was an offer from Tor for both books, plus an option for a third. There would be advances! There would be contracts! Some books go straight into mass-market paperback, but mine would come out first in trade paperback, followed by mass-market. The second book would follow the first by six months.
There was more jumping up and down and screaming quietly in my office.
I guess it’s bad form to talk money, but I can tell you author Jim Hines did a recent survey on first-book sales of science fiction and fantasy books to one of the Big Six publishers and found the average advance is in the $10,000-$15,000 range per book. Authors receive a third of the advance on signing the contract, another third on acceptance of the manuscript (after all revisions are completed to the editor’s satisfaction), and the final third when the book hits the shelves.
All of you probably know this, but I didn’t. The author starts earning royalties only after the book “sells through” and earns the publisher back the advance money. Most authors who aren’t named Stephen King or JK Rowling or Stephanie Meyer or Nora Roberts or Charlaine Harris don’t make much beyond their advance.
It took two months for the contracts to arrive, and three months for the first revision letter to arrive. This is NOT a process for the impatient. And did I mention I am not a patient person? The revisions, as I expected (since I had no idea what I was doing when I wrote the book), were pretty extensive. They were followed by two more rounds of revisions over the course of the next months. I just completed revisions on the first book and am getting ready to begin them on the second. I’m told they will be much less extensive. Meanwhile, I’m working on the proposal for the third in the series, plus an unrelated novel that’s about 90 percent done.
And that’s where I am. Next come galleys on the first book, at which point a release date will be set (all I know right now is…sometime in the next year). I don’t have any real decision-making power on the cover, but the folks at Tor have asked if there was anything in particular I would absolutely hate. I still don’t know what the process for marketing will be, or how it will feel to hold an ARC of my actual book in my hand. But stay tuned…it is a process! And did I mention I am not a patient person?

So, did anything about Suzanne's journey so far surprise you?  Do you have any questions for her?  Ask away!  And thanks again to Suzanne for sharing with us. :)
In her “daylighting” job, Suzanne works in university magazine publishing and currently is at Auburn University after stints at Tulane University, Rice University, and the University of Illinois. Visit her daily writing blog at http://suzanne-johnson.blogspot.com, or her website at http://suzanne-johnson.com. If you’d like a copy of her query letter, you can reach her at author.suzanne.johnson@gmail.com.
 **Today's Theme Song (Guest's Choice)**
"Acadian Two-Step" - Beausoleil
(player in sidebar, take a listen to a little Cajun music--good for the soul)

 

She's a B*tch, She's a Lover: Writing a Kickass Heroine

 

 
IMG_6283
Photo by Karen Ho

This week I have a special treat for you guys.  Guest bloggers!!!  

For those who missed Monday's post, my mom is spending this week with me, so my amazing crit group members have graciously offered to cover some topics that are near and dear to them while I'm "out".  All of these ladies are wonderful writers and offer unique perspectives on writing, so I hope you will give them as warm a welcome as you give me every day.  I also encourage you to follow their blogs--you won't regret it.  :)

So without further ado, I'll turn it over to Gwen...

 

She's a B*tch, She's a Lover
In a recent discussion on one of my loops, a group of paranormal authors began a discussion on what separates paranormal romance from urban fantasy.  As you can guess, what constitutes a sub-genre varies immensely depending on who you ask.  However, one thing that came up repeatedly was that urban fantasies usually feature a “kick-ass” heroine.  Granted, there are plenty of urban fantasies on the shelves nowadays where the main character is not female at all, but on the whole, I agree with this correlation.  Urban fantasy = kick-ass heroine. 
A similar, if not as severe trend emerged across all genres of romance around the turn of the century (wow, it sounds weird to say that!).  Most especially in thrillers, romantic suspense, and the emerging paranormal market, the helpless waif was out and the self-confident, self-reliant woman was in.  Many would call it a reflection of our times, where women have finally attained a position as equals in both the boardroom and the bedroom.  It’s empowering for us to see the G.I. Janes, Dana Skullys, and Sarah Conners go toe-to-toe with their male counterparts and in some cases save the day all on their own. 
A kick-ass heroine can come in many forms and her strength does not always manifest in the physical realm.  She can be on a crusade for her cause, fiercely protective of those she loves, enduring some immense emotional burden, surviving a cold harsh world that has turned its back on her, or simply aware of her own feminine power.  I, for one, fully support a world where the simpering Bella Swans are a minority.  But if you’re considering writing a strong female protagonist, keep a lookout for these common pitfalls.
Leave Room to Grow
One of the worst things you can do is paint your heroine as a Mary Sue.  No one wants to read about an all-powerful character who fights her way out of every sticky spot with hardly a scratch, and whom everyone else worships.  Give your heroine flaws.  Give her weaknesses.  Stack the odds against her and make sure she’s fighting an uphill battle, that way it will be that much more satisfying when she finally reaches her goal.  Don’t be afraid to knock her down a few times and teach her some lessons too – she’ll be that much more beloved by readers for overcoming those shortcomings.
Give Her A True Counterpart
Don’t surround your strong heroine with a bunch of swooning suitors jumping at the opportunity to do her bidding.  Keep it real.  In the real world, a tough woman is not all that adored by men, especially those she’s surpassed is skill or accomplishment.  It takes a strong man to stand beside a strong woman, so make sure your love interest is up to the task.  Another thing to look out for is painting a hero who loves your heroine in spite of her strength rather than for her strength – a very important distinction.
Don’t Cross the Line
There’s a difference between confidence and cockiness.  It can be as much of a turn-off for a woman to be full of herself as it can be for a man.  Snark comes with the territory when you’re writing a woman in a man’s world, but be careful you don’t cross that razor-thin line between sarcasm and sadism.  Don’t make your heroine too much of a b*tch, or even your readers won’t like her. 
Remember She’s a Woman
No matter if we’re talking about female charity workers, doctors, or fighter pilots, at the end of the day, they’re all women.  Remember to give your readers something to connect with.  Don’t write your strong alpha female like a man.  Make her girly.  Give her a chocolate fetish, or a stuffed animal, or a compulsion to buy shoes (okay, not something that cliché, but you get the picture).  It’s okay for her to have a soft, mushy, girly side, and it’s definitely necessary that you show it.  

Do you find it challenging to write the balance between tough chick and b*tch?  Who's your favorite kickass heroine?  Have you ever stopped reading a book because the heroine was too brash/mean/unlikeable or on the flipside, too weak/do-nothing?

 

When not studying science and philosophy at the UW or otherwise cavorting through the Emerald City, Gwen can be found at her favorite Starbucks drawing off of the shifting grey skies of the Pacific Northwest to pen (okay, type) dark paranormal stories, which don't always end happily but leave her characters satisfied none the less. Visit her at Gwen Mitchell Fiction.

**Today's Theme Song**
"Just a Girl" - No Doubt
(player in sidebar, take a listen)