Writing - The Importance Of Names

It's funny - well, strange - that I can't start writing a screenplay, story, novel, ANYTHING unless I have the title there. I have an idea of the plot but it doesn't crystallise until the title is there. I can't even operate with a working title. It has to be THE title. That's what makes the whole thing come into existence for me -  a reality, rather than an amorphous blob of random thoughts swimming around in the pond of my brain.

Then there's the naming of characters. I don't KNOW the name of a character until I see it somewhere. It might be on a website of baby names or practically anywhere, including a telephone directory. All I know is that when I see the name, THAT'S IT, and the character takes on a life of its own.

I was thinking of this today because of how some names just sing out to me as being so perfect.

Today, that name was Curiosity - NASA's rover that just landed on Mars!

Yesterday, was the title of a novel: Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Katherine Boo (now, SHE could do with a different name!)

I wasn't forgetting the screenplay update. I have visitors. No chance at all to write.

Day 5 Update
Half a page and incipient panic

 

What's in a name? Especially when it belongs to a woman.

 The other day I made an interesting discovery. Well, it MIGHT be interesting - that's if it's true. I was searching for information about charging realistic rates as a freelance writer (yes, I DO undercharge...) and came across an excellent article about this very subject on a website for a company called Men With Pens.

Men With Pens? "What a sexist name! Who in their right minds would want to avail themselves of the services of such a company?" I thought. A little research revealed that the CEO is someone called (actually NOT called, it transpired) James Chartrand. A little more research revealed that James Chartrand is in fact, the pseudonym of...


A WOMAN

She changed her name and then her business began to take off in a big way, in a way it never had when she was calling herself by her own woman's name. Go figure, as they say in the US of A and possibly elsewhere as well.


Perhaps I should change my name then?

I found a site which generates pen names...How does Claude Herkenratt sound to you? No, don't answer that. Or what about an anagram of Caroline Coxon? Colin Croonaxe?

Well, it worked for the Bronte sisters in the 1840s. It worked for whoever James Chartrand might be...


Hmmmmmmm. I'm caught in the horns of a dilemma now.

Read all about James Chartrand HERE (as long as you promise to come back)