What’s in a name? Sometimes, a lot of agonising. A lot of mind-changing. A name in a work of fiction is never random. It hits the reader with meaning. Overtones. The sound in the reader’s mind-ear, the shape it makes on a page. Sometimes a name has associations for the writer too, associations that help us envisage the character more vividly and truthfully. Or help us empathise. Or not. Sometimes, a name outstays its welcome and needs to be changed.
That’s what we’re talking about today. My co-host is independent bookseller Peter Snell.
Stream from the widget below or go to our Mixcloud page and binge the whole lot.
BTW, if you like this subject, you might like this post on naming your characters and settings.
If you’d like more concentrated writing advice, try my Nail Your Novel books. If you’re curious about my own creative writing, find novels here and my travel memoir here. If you’d like to support bricks-and-mortar bookstores (US only at present) use Bookshop.org. And if you’re curious about what’s going on at my own writing desk, including my own (difficult) third novel, find my latest newsletter here and subscribe to future updates here.
Nail Your Novel 
#1 by Bob J. on October 6, 2020 - 8:30 pm
Hey Roz,
How do I find these podcasts on Apple Podcast?
Thanks much.
#2 by Roz Morris @Roz_Morris on October 6, 2020 - 8:58 pm
Hi Bob! They’re currently only on Mixcloud at the moment, though I’m loading them up to YouTube as well. I don’t have the means to put them on Apple in any form, I’m afraid. But they should play direct from the widget here.
Thanks for listening!
#3 by Davida Chazan on October 7, 2020 - 4:33 am
I’m lucky that I have all the characters’ names for my WIP set for me.
#4 by Roz Morris @Roz_Morris on October 7, 2020 - 7:07 am
…. which suggests it’s a historical novel or based on a personal history! Full steam ahead, Davida!
#5 by Davida Chazan on October 7, 2020 - 8:32 am
Exactly!