Character Names Revisited

The fall issue of SCBWI Illinois' Prairie Wind is online, with the fourth installment of author Carmela Martino's series on naming characters, "What's in a Name?"

I'm all aglow because she cites a couple of my blog posts from a few months back about character-naming issues—and, amazingly, I don't sound like a complete idiot. Yes, sounding like a complete idiot is one of my big fears. For as often as I sound like a complete idiot, I'm still not quite used to it.

But read the article because, truly, it's not just about me. It's about how names' sound and connotation (etymological or personal) affect characterization. Carmela points out that depending on connotation can be an iffy thing because names may evoke different meanings for different readers. (Thinking of naming a character Rudolf? Are your readers going to think "red-nosed reindeer" or "Nazi war criminal"?)

While reading, I thought of the four March sisters in Little Women. Perhaps it's just because they are so familiar to me, but could the girls' names be more perfect? Meg, starting with that warm "mmm" like "mommy." Meg reminds me of nutmeg, the warm, sweet smells of baking, very domestic—and Meg, of course, often must act as mother to her sisters. Then there's Jo, an abrupt name, gender-ambiguous, evoking the brash, tomboyish character. Beth, a name that no matter how loudly you say it ends with a sigh, a whisper; sure enough, sweet, gentle Beth fades away. Finally, Amy, a stalwart, no-nonsense name with a bit of a whine from the long "a"; again, it suits Amy, spoiled baby of the family, to a tee.

I never could get over the name Laurie for the boy next door, though. That's a nickname that hasn't withstood the test of time.

Thanks to Carmela's article, I've also got a new blog to read now: author Darcy Pattison's Revision Notes. She posts frequently with ideas about how to approach different children's book genres, plus tips and information about the children's book industry—for example, What Kids Think Is Funny and 12 Picture Book Topics to Avoid. Looks like meaty reading!

(Regarding the post title: it's literal, of course, but tonight I also began watching the BBC's Brideshead Revisited. I'm enjoying it so far but am afraid it will all end in tears. No, I have not read the book. No spoilers, please!)