How did I Name my Characters?

Book Talk and News

Every writer has their own process. Some writers create characters, name them, and then put together a story for them to live. Others just hit upon a name they really love and create a character around it. My process is backwards.

I start with the plot and a list of themes or ideas I want to work out during the plot, and then I design characters to place into the story to see how they react and what role in the story they will take. Then, when I know who they are and what they do, I give them a name.

Here’s some of the characters in The Space Between Breaths and how they got their names.

Dr. Lylarose Gentry: Lylarose is one of the most beautiful names I have ever heard. It’s actually my dentist’s first name. Back in 2007, when I saw it on the dentist’s website I instantly put it in my book of names (most writers have a list somewhere of names and ideas they want to use someday). It took over 10 years before I created a character who I thought lived up to that name but the moment I started creating Dr. Gentry, I knew she was worthy.

It also works as a name a southern woman like Peggy would give her child (although the actual person with this name is not southern). It's got that beautiful two-name southern style and can be collapsed by how close people are to you.

Her parents call her Lylarose—her friends, Lyla; her lover, Ly. Any time you name a character remember it's really their parents who name them - so pick something their parents would pick.

Gentry was chosen as Lyla’s family name to correspond with the “gentry class” - land-rich, title-light class who believed their social standing set them apart, even if their wealth or influence didn’t quite match the aristocracy. Lyla’s parents use and flex the power and money they have, even though they aren’t as rich or powerful as they believe.

Penelope Fine: This was the first name chosen for the book because I had written a short story as a writing exercise on irony about a suicidal self-help guru. Even if we are collapsing, when the public asks we say we are fine. That’s everything you need to know about Penelope.

Marian Fitzwater: I took a few cues from my own wife, so I wanted her to be an American with Irish descent - My wife is part Irish and her name is Catherine Mary. I had also written the “Robin Hood” argument between Lyla and her mother so Marian just seemed perfect.

Keith Allen: I picked Allen because there’s a law firm with billboards all over Richmond named Allen, Allen, Allen, and Allen. I always joke with my partner “What if one of them went bad and broke the law? Then they would be Allen, Allen, Allen and Not That Allen.” When I was looking at the character I decided he was “Not That Allen.” Keith came up high on a list of popular names for white men of a certain age. I wanted a common name that showed he wasn’t some evil genius or cartoon bad guy - he was a normal looking man with messed up wiring. His wife Pat came from the list of common names (Patricia - but Pat sounded more like her).

Topaz: I play a MMORPG and one of the other players in my game who organizes and keeps our team running goes by the name Topaz, and this character reminded me of her, so it’s a bit of a homage.

Hurricane Peggy: I’ve always been intrigued by the fact the name Margaret tends to bring the nickname Peggy. In looking at how terribly unhappy Peggy is, it made sense to me that she wasn’t born a Margaret, her parents just named her Peggy. So she is unhappy her name isn’t what everything it should be, just like her life. I had a section about that in the book, but it was cut in editing.

Lawrence Gentry: Lawrence also comes up on a list of common names, and it seemed like a great name to show how seriously Lyla’s dad takes himself. He’s never a Larry, always a Lawrence.

Shawna: I had a college roommate named Shawn who was very much the same as Lyla’s - a supportive friend but in a blunt, real, and productive way.

Luka: Inspired by Suzanne Vega’s “Luka” from 1987. At its release, that song (and the Vega album it came from) meant the world to me. The song is about child abuse and reflects the kind of haunted trauma Luka as lived through.

Denise Markel: I know a female law enforcement professional (now retired) who inspired this character so I altered the name slightly. A definite homage.

All the rest of the names that came up in searches or random stabs. In a novel with this many characters and deep themes, names definitely matter - but at some point you have to give them a name and get on with the work.

BOOK NEWS THIS WEEK:

I am excited to be doing an Author talk Tuesday (4/8) with Susan Piver for her sangha, The Open Heart Project.

I will be a guest on the podcast “Everything and Anything and a Little Bit Gay” by Zach Randles-Freeman, which is taping this Friday (4/11).

I have a private book signing at Thai Tara in Williamsburg, VA this Sunday (4/13) sponsored by my great friend Rebecca Hill.

Have any ideas about character names and great ways to find them? Thoughts about how character names reflect their role or anything else? Feel free to post here or write me on my website: KellieSchorr.com