Welcome back to another blog hop, with #OpenBook. Here’s this week’s prompt.
Don’t forget to click the link to see what everyone else has to say on this week’s subject. It’s at the end of my post.
There is an unwritten rule in fiction about not using characters’ names that begin with the same letter. Do you have rules for naming your characters?
I’m in a very fortunate position when it comes to character naming. It’s all done for me. When I see the story in my head, a helpful narrator introduces me to the main players as the story unfolds. The best thing is that all of them already have names.
This is a bonus, especially in the Steampunk world, where names that fit in with the period might be slightly more difficult to come up with.
Despite that, I have had this problem. A while ago, a reviewer noticed that there were a lot of people in my novel Jungle Green who had names beginning with “M.”
To be honest, I hadn’t spotted it, largely because I wasn’t paying particular attention and deciding on the names myself. Those were the names the character turned up with. I just went with them, as I had got used to doing.
After all, when someone is telling you their life story, it seems rude to question why they’re called what they are.
An interesting thing is that, in my class of 30 at school, 6 of us were named Richard.
So, perhaps I should have been more aware of it?
What do you think about this week’s subject?
Let me know by leaving me a comment.
While you’re here, please click the InLinkz link to check out what my fellow writers have to say about this week’s topic.
I’ll be back with another post on Thursday. See you then. Meanwhile, have a great week.
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Stevie Turner
It appears I’m still learning, as I’ve never come across this unwritten rule before. I suppose it makes sense though.
Richard Dee
It never ceases to amaze me, the amount of “rules” everywhere.
P.J. MacLayne
I once worked in a office with 10 women, three of who were named with some version of Pat. Two were Jeans, one Jan. Made life interesting!
Richard Dee
It’s hilarious when someone comes in and shouts out. To see everyone look up and say “yes?”
Kelly Williams
I honestly don’t believe it is a rule. Sounds more like preference. I can understand similarly sounding names, but the first letter is a bit dramatic to me. You know we will carry on as we want to! Haha!
Richard Dee
At the end of the day, I just write what I’m told. IYKYK