Just read the story you posted a few months ago and it was great.
Just of out of curiosity, how many pages is the 120,000 word story? It seems like it would be a lot, but I am probably way overestimating it.
Also, how do you determine the names of your character? I have heard all different ways from people.
Thanks for the nice words.
I don't know how many pages that would be. With writing it is counted as words because type font and size, as well as the paper size changes it all. Typical novels are about 100,000 give or take. 78,000 is a bit small. I want overage because I really do hope it can be published and will be chopped, which is usual.
Now that is a great question. Some people have a really hard time with it. I seem to be lucky and can make them up well. I really don't know how I do it. I have the character in mind and I just make a name that fits it. Sometimes I make a name and it defines a character beyond what I thought, or a new direction for it.
A main protagonist I made was one I had in mind. I had a set character and made a name. I called him Lord Von, which it evolved into a shortening of his real name from Erich Von Straumhurst. No one but the reader knows the full name and it changed the character for the better, and added a cool subplot. His name is what changed him from a written with words protagonist to a living breathing bad guy.
Sometimes lending a kind of ethnicity to a name can have an effect. Having a name that sounds middle eastern gives an automatic flavor and is similar with other names.
As I said I am adding a subplot, and a new major supporting character has emerged. I haven't named him yet, but will likely have a far eastern flavor to the name. I don't know what that will be yet, but when I get a block of time and begin to write it, a name will just drop in place. Then I will see if it adds to the character.
A long time ago I was writing a short story and made a main character's name Justin Joe King, but everyone called him Joe. I know the name was a play on words for "just in joking," but a character emerged that was exciting. I took that and made it about 80,000 words. The main story was good, and the opening chapter is still big time killer good, but the writing is really lacking. I have learned a lot since then. (I wrote that original on a Commodore 64)
On creating characters: Sometimes they evolve from the name and the context. Sometimes I know what the character must do, and develop a character that can do it. But, then there is my personal favorite when a character becomes so alive that it determines what it does. When that happens it is the biggest rush one can experience. Even Fuzzy couldn't catch up to my rush when it goes like that... That is absolutely the best part about writing. It doesn't balance the bad, but alas. All the rewrites, editing... uggg. You might have to live with the characters for years.
I can do many things at once and often posting here is mostly afterthought. When I write I need a good amount of time and solitude. It takes time to immerse in the world of the characters and be able to interact with them. Any interruption makes you leave that world and the process has to be repeated.
Oh, an good music helps. I use headphones to block out noises around me some. Choice of music always effects the tone of writing. An action packed story would probably be hard rock. For the one I am working on my main song is Great White "Rock Me". Sometimes I listen to Boston which works well, and Trans Siberian Orchestra, or even classical. It depends on the tone of writing at a given time.
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Topic: Writing (Read 15126 times)
