A NAME

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A NAME

By Natalie Bright

Stuck. On a name.

Actually, I don’t know his name which is why I can’t write the story.

Drat!

All of the components are there: setting, beginning, middle, and in my opinion, a brilliant ending. The story plays out in my head in vivid color, but what is his name? I have no idea.

As writers, we understand the importance of a great name. Fictional character names can inspire countless generations (Superman, DC Comics) and generate millions in promotional material (Charles Schulz’s Snoopy). We love those serendipity moments when a character’s name arrives like a gift out of thin air. Author David Morrell spoke at a writer’s conference about being extremely frustrated and stuck on a name for his character. His wife encouraged him to take a break and handed him a locally grown apple. The name of the apple variety was “Rambo”.

My character is quiet, yet very strong, and determined for all of his twelve years of experience. He’s not shy, but he’s not the life of the party either. He works hard and he loves horses. I can see him clearly. What in the heck is his name?!!

CHARACTER NAME RESOURCES

  1. School Yearbooks. I start with my son’s Jr. High yearbook. This is a modern story and there’s no better way to know what kids are being named than to glance at names in today’s world.
  2. Google It. Next I go to the life-changing resource that is Google (how did we survive before?). I’ve searched baby name sites for several days and jot down a page of possibles.
  3. Consult your Names Notebook. Whenever I meet someone with an unusual name, I make a note on my phone or whatever scrap of paper I can find, and then add it to my Names Notebook. Sometimes in conversation someone will tell me that their family has unique names, and they’ll jot them down for me. Also in my notebook are names of family members gleaned from Ancestry.com. Thanks to my Uncle’s genealogy work, it’s become a great source for ideas.
  4. Pinterest has some interesting links for names lists, like most popular, most unusual, most underused, ancient names, etc. You can find some of these on my Board “I Write” under @natbright on pinterest.com
  5. Still writing with character named ‘boy’. The search continues…

Where do you turn for inspiration and ideas to name your characters?

 

 

Sunday Writings

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“You can make anything by writing.”

― C.S. Lewis

Freaky Friday

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POST CARDS FROM THE MUSE

Freaky Friday

By Nandy Ekle

 

 

I’m in a deep sleep, the first really good night sleep I’ve had in a while. I dreaming I’m sitting on the couch holding a kitten that purrs as I scratch it behind the ear. The kitten climbs up on my shoulder, then screeches in my ear. I jerk awake shaking from the shock of the alarm screeching next to my head. In my startled condition I reach for my cell phone to turn off the alarm before it wakes my husband. My hand brushes against something made of wire and it tumbles off the nightstand into the darkness of space. I hear it thump on the floor somewhere around my bed and realize it was my glasses, without which I am totally blind. Nothing else to do but turn on the light, as if that will help. Ever tried looking for glasses when you can’t see because you don’t have your glasses?

Very carefully I find my spectacles with my eyes moments before my I find them by stepping on them. I head into the bathroom sure that a hot bath and good book will improve the path my day seems to be on. Turning on the water I go to gather my clothes for the day. When I get back to the tub, I step in the water and discover I did not balance the hot and cold correctly and my lovely hot bath is actually a disappointing tepid bath, and my new book is not living up to the beautiful picture on the cover.

I suddenly realize what has happened to me. I have woken to another Freaky Friday.

Congratulations. You have just received a post card from the muse.

 

Writing in “Diamonds are Forever”

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Writing in “Diamonds are Forever”

by Adam Huddleston

 

The final James Bond film produced by Eon Productions to star Sean Connery, “Diamonds are Forever”, finds 007 investigating a diamond smuggling ring. His travels lead him to Amsterdam where he assumes the identity of a smuggler, then on to Nevada where he once again encounters Blofeld, the head of S.P.E.C.T.R.E. Blofeld’s plan is to create a satellite which would use the diamonds to focus a laser beam to destroy nuclear missiles. Bond discovers the antagonist’s headquarters is located on an offshore oil rig. In the film’s finale, he disables the satellite and destroys the rig.

As far as plot and dialogue go, neither was spectacular. The movie seemed to wander around at points, dragging in some places and speeding along at others. The acting was atrocious. I could tell that two of the smugglers were being used for comic relief but they ended up coming across as annoying.

I am a big fan of Sean Connery’s work, especially as Bond, but I’m saddened that his final (authorized) 007 film was so lackluster. The next film in the series is Roger Moore’s debut, “Live and Let Die.”

I wonder how they used to do it?

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I wonder how they used to do it?

Rory C. Keel

I thought I would write a few observations. We are surrounded by such a diverse assortment of super technology. For example, we have smart phones that are so powerful they can interrupt a personal, face-to-face conversation with an individual, and allow us to talk, text and send pictures simultaneously around the globe to multiple unseen individuals.

Computers are now a way of life. They check our spelling and grammar and make learning the many beautiful loops of cursive penmanship once taught in schools obsolete. And what is a pen anyway?

We sit in dark rooms like hermits, wearing our pajamas,  tangled hair and unshaven, and faces with no makeup, and with the push of a button circle the globe. We gather information on places we would love to go, and things we want to do–if we ever got dressed and left our home.

The sun is no longer needed to determine which direction is north, south, east or west. Grown men who stubbornly refuse to listen to their zealous wives give them directions will react, without hesitation, to the soft and sultry female voice of a GPS system, accepting every command without question.

With vehicles that can automatically parallel park, the useful skills needed in backing automobiles are forgotten, and the rearview mirror that automatically adjusts to the lighting, is relegated to review our hair, lipstick, or to check for pimples.

The aeronautics industry is also awe-inspiring. The kid down the block that used to chase the other children, dive-bombing them with his remote control airplane, is still in his backyard chasing the Taliban on the other side of the world with remote war drones.

Speed has not always been a friend to avionics. The world’s fastest commercial passenger jet, the Concord, is now retired. The expense of chasing itself around the world was too high. Crossing the International Date Line, it could arrive at its destination tomorrow, and come back yesterday.

The truly amazing thing about all the technology that we experience today is that it causes us to ask questions. But the most frequent question I hear today is not, “How will we do things in the future?” but, “I wonder how they used to do it?”

As an exercise, write about a few things in your past that have changed.

Roryckeel.com

Fill In the Blank

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POST CARD FROM THE MUSE

Fill In the Blank

By Nandy Ekle

 

The last couple of weeks I talked about my need for organization in my every day life, but the total lack of structure in my writing life. And I’ve studied and been told and shown what an important tool outlining, planning, and plotting can be for a writer.

Let me just say, whatever your writing habits are, I will never tell you you’re doing it wrong, especially if you can successfully write “The End.” I very firmly believe each writer’s methods are right for them. But I also feel it’s important to have an open mind and trying something new to be sure you have the most effective way for your writing.

Last Friday I ended in the middle of telling about one story I wrote in a completely different way from my normal seat-of-the-pants method. This particular story, I did the plotting and planning, the story boarding and characterization, and the theme and each event. Even though this story is one I love very deeply, I didn’t have as much fun writing it as I normally have. The spontaneity was gone. The surprise was gone. I felt as though I was filling in blanks to a story already written.

But as I mentioned last week, something very interesting happened. The story was successful. I entered it in a contest, and it won second place and it earned the second spot in an anthology (available on Amazon). The other thing that happened was that the main character became one of my all-time favorite characters. And I think the reason that happened is that in my characterization of her, I realized she represents both of my grandmothers rolled into one.

Now, there’s another story I wrote in my normal way. This story, I had a theme and a situation. My character had a paranormal ability, but she didn’t want to reveal her talent, so she made up a story when caught using her gift. This was where I started. As I wrote, events of the story came to life as if I were a reader reading it. For me, this is the “funnest” part of writing. The tale unfolds in my head as if I’m watching a movie. In fact, as I headed into the final scene, I still was not sure who my villain was. As one of my “movie” scenes played, the secret bad guy turned his face to me and winked. This was when I saw the end of my story. To this day, I get cold chills when I remember the scene.

This story has not found a home yet, but that’s one of my resolutions for this year.

Congratulations. You have just received a post card from the muse.

 

Writing in “You Only Live Twice”

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Writing in “You Only Live Twice”

by Adam Huddleston

 

The fifth film in the James Bond franchise, “You Only Live Twice” finds 007 travelling throughout Japan. Sean Connery, in his role as Bond, is tasked with discovering why two spacecrafts (one Soviet and one American) disappear in orbit. Each superpower believe that the other is to blame. Bond finds that S.P.E.C.T.R.E. is behind the disappearances and eventually runs into Ernst Blofeld, the evil organization’s leader. In the climax, 007 thwarts Blofeld’s plan to capture another American spaceship (which would lead to war between the two nations) and Blofeld’s secret base is destroyed.

I found “You Only Live Twice” to be quite a bit more enjoyable than the previous film “Thunderball”. There is a lot more action and the story line is more interesting. For example, Bond is seemingly shot to death in the opening minutes of the film. I won’t spoil the rest of the movie but it is definitely worth a watch.

Sleepless Nights

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Outtakes 231

Sleepless Nights

by Cait Collins

Have you ever had one of those nights when you just couldn’t fall asleep? Or do you wake up at odd hours and can’t go back to sleep? Instead of tossing and turning, try writing. It’s strange how easily details appear when you’re in that state between sleep and fully awake.

This morning I finally met the older brother, one of the secondary characters in my new novel Three x Three. I knew Ben had to make at least an appearance, but was he a good guy or a resentful jerk? I discovered his true nature in the scene where he is reunited with his younger brother Sean. A part of me thought he would be a jerk, but instead he’s really a nice guy, He’s the kind of man you’d want your sister to meet and love.

At times we tend to force our characters into the rolls we think they should have. Unfortunately, we put them into the wrong role. Instead, we should let the role develop on its own. By allowing the character to evolve in to his own person, we build a better character and a better story.

Now if I can only keep my antagonist in line.

Stay Inspired

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Stay Inspired 

Rory C. Keel

 

When I began my journey as a writer, I jumped in head first with an attitude of seeking to learn. I started reading how-to books and any instruction manual I could find. I set out to follow all of the rules to the letter and hope for success. I made a considerable effort to attend and get involved in local writing groups and conferences. Over the years, I picked up valuable lessons from other authors and publishers.

Thinking back on my involvement in these things, it felt that writing came a little easier then than now.

What’s different?

Attitude is the difference. When I surrounded myself with writer-ly people and places, my mind stayed focused on writing.

While it may have felt like it took time away from putting words on the page, I actually wrote more.

I challenge you to write more by continuing to learn from others and stay inspired.

TRUE GRIT TIMES TWO

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TRUE GRIT TIMES TWO

By Natalie Bright

 

Writing Exercise #1.

Develop a new twist on the characterization of an iconic character.

On a cold, foggy Saturday this past weekend, my husband popped in True Grit (TG#2) starring Jeff Bridges. Later that afternoon John Wayne’s True Grit, from 1969, (TG#1) happened to be on television. Over dinner we talked about the differences between the two movies.

My husband made a good point in that Bridges played a meaner, darker version of a crusty, old Marshall, which is why he likes TG#2 better. Directed by the Coen brothers and released in 2010, I agree that TG#2 is more realistic to the old west. It never made sense to me that the Marshall would have walked that far in TG#1. In TG#2 they rode Little Blacky to death first and then Mattie was carried by the Marshall on foot to save her life.

On Sunday afternoon, we introduced my son’s girlfriend to The Cowboys (1972) with John Wayne. If you don’t own the blue-ray version of this movie, you must find it. Filmed on locations in Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico the scenery stands out as a character on its own. TV reruns don’t do these ranches and sweeping landscapes justice. Roscoe Lee Browne is my favorite character as the chuck wagon cookie, and I’ve had a crush on A. Martinez as Cimarron from the moment he defiantly proclaims, “I’m a mistake of nature.” This movie is so good. Tommy Lee Jones is reportedly writing a new screenplay for The Cowboys. I’m happy/sad about that news.

To sum up our weekend, my 18yo likes TG#1 and TG#2 equally as well. His girlfriend loved The Cowboys. Our 14yo tells me he’s not really into John Wayne, but he really likes that new Netflix show Lonesome Dove (What? I thought he only watched Walking Dead). I’m so glad new generations are discovering these “new” western type shows! When’s the last time you watched a good ole’ family western?

Writing Exercise #2.

Using one of your own characters, rework the description into something more… more dark, more funny, more brave. Dig deep into their personality and motives, and see what you can find hiding there.

Thanks for following WordsmithSix!

nat