Mining names

Posted on March 8th, 2008 by Eliza

I have trouble with names–especially for minor characters that only show up for a few scenes, but who still need to be named. I’ve used many resources to come up with these generic names, but today I found one that I’ve long ignored:

My spam folder.

Here are some of the gems in the “sender” column:

  • Herschel Duarte
  • Wentzlaff Daughtry
  • Jorg Knickerbacker (my personal favorite)
  • Althea Cameron
  • Brabazon Matar
  • Efren Welch
  • Gregorio Ferris
  • Golabek Shimsky
  • Parag Juchinsky
  • Zsolt Haseltine
  • Terheggen Ruzbasan
  • Fabiano Uziel

Obviously, I need to look in there more. And those are just names culled from the first three pages (I usually let the spam folder auto-clean itself. Now I have a use for those messages!).

Filed under: Technique by Eliza | 1 Comment »

Keeping time

Posted on March 6th, 2008 by Eliza

Time to check in.

Well, my (personally) bad news is that I didn’t hit 20k words for February. I’m using my “I blame the injury” card. Not that that wins me a free pass, but I’m using the excuse now. Which means no using it for March.

My good news is that I am now the owner of a shiny new pink laptop, with which I can write while NOT sitting at my desk, which I am tired of sitting at due to the whole pretty much having to sit there for two months (to the day!) and counting. I’ve already been very productive.

I realized the other day when I put the finishing touches on a chapter of Circle of Many Faces that I think I’m officially done with the “beginning” of the book. When I think about it, that’s the place where I struggle the most–having to set up all the characters, events, and making sure foreshadowing is in place. That, and I want the reader (and me, the writer) to spend a little bit of time with all the characters before all the secrets come out, because what fun is a secret if you don’t let it stew a little?

Even though page count is relative, I’m also really happy because I think I’m going to hit page 100 today or tomorrow. :)

Latest “opinion poll” below the fold. (more…)

Filed under: Technique, The Circle of Many Faces, WIPs by Eliza | No Comments »