tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post3067381619395229697..comments2024-03-28T06:28:49.282+00:00Comments on Picture Book Den: It's tricky, finding the right name, by Paeony LewisUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-55433647837602491612012-02-16T12:47:19.002+00:002012-02-16T12:47:19.002+00:00Thanks, Odette. Good point: I hadn't thought a...Thanks, Odette. Good point: I hadn't thought about initials, and you're right, they're often used (especially by older children).Paeony Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13129555451791248798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-44136021779007742282012-02-15T11:17:05.841+00:002012-02-15T11:17:05.841+00:00I've come rather late to these picture book bl...I've come rather late to these picture book blogs. They are great. <br />ABOUT NAMES: I wrote my story "My Big Brother JJ" based on my son's school friend. He was called Darren, but the publishers thought "JJ" was a more up-to-date name. I was glad to change it. I have spoken in schools and met real-life "JJ"s and they have always beamed with satisfaction that a story is named after them!Odettehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03813842558807589339noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-29157224943562170432012-02-11T13:20:32.846+00:002012-02-11T13:20:32.846+00:00What an excellent way to collect names, Malachy. W...What an excellent way to collect names, Malachy. Whenever I sign a book I jot down the name to check I have the correct spelling (even very simple names can have weird personal spellings that catch me out if I don't check!), and then I study the names afterwards as they intrigue me.<br />Abie, I love that. And is everyone happy with their book character?!Paeony Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13129555451791248798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-57937280880908477412012-02-10T14:37:32.366+00:002012-02-10T14:37:32.366+00:00I agree - the main characters names are so importa...I agree - the main characters names are so important. But I do like to sneak in character names for friends who have helped my stories, or people I love; so some of my bit part characters share the names of those close to me. It's my fun little secret!Abie Longstaffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14682225221860351795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-75839486949686632882012-02-09T18:45:49.955+00:002012-02-09T18:45:49.955+00:00I have a list of (hundreds) of names I like and am...I have a list of (hundreds) of names I like and am slowly working through them in my stories. When I'm in schools I often ask if anyone has a first name they think I might not have heard before (of course all the Deans and Jasons put their hands up, too, but I jot down any that appeal and tell them they might end up in one of my stories. It always goes down well.malachy doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14428551785118345251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-59947454551274307172012-02-09T18:14:02.908+00:002012-02-09T18:14:02.908+00:00Ha ha, Rosalind, of course the children couldn'...Ha ha, Rosalind, of course the children couldn't possibly write until they understood their character's inner psyche ;-) When I'm writing first notes I'll often just use X and Y.Paeony Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13129555451791248798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-73441943570012626532012-02-09T17:35:58.233+00:002012-02-09T17:35:58.233+00:00When I used to teach in primary school I remember ...When I used to teach in primary school I remember the frustration in English lessons of having at least one table of children not writing a thing because they couldn't decide on the character's name. All I wanted was some writing from them but maybe they were authors in training! Personally I find that it's often useful to give the characters temporary names until I get to know them better.Rosalind Adamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05363027308436257933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-76114594886915035932012-02-09T17:18:30.216+00:002012-02-09T17:18:30.216+00:00I did, but I could see him in my mind's eye as...I did, but I could see him in my mind's eye as an Antonio. It was the only other name in the whole wide world that worked for him, so Antonio he was and is, in perpetuity.malachy doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14428551785118345251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-66924398121902555882012-02-09T16:21:51.729+00:002012-02-09T16:21:51.729+00:00So interesting, Malachy. When reading aloud, did y...So interesting, Malachy. When reading aloud, did you stumble over Antonio for a while as it has more syllables?Paeony Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13129555451791248798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-16124222578889411592012-02-09T16:12:16.004+00:002012-02-09T16:12:16.004+00:00Yes, names are SO important, Paeony. I wrote a pic...Yes, names are SO important, Paeony. I wrote a picture book called 'Oliver on the Other Side of the World Getting Smaller' Unfortunately Walker had another book with Oliver in the title just about to come out, so asked me to come up with a new name. Once a character's named that's who they are, and it's AGONY to have to change it! Eventually I found just one other name that seemed to work - Antonio.malachy doylehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14428551785118345251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-5958808093092103012012-02-09T14:47:28.187+00:002012-02-09T14:47:28.187+00:00Many thanks, Lynne. I was also intrigued by Jane&#...Many thanks, Lynne. I was also intrigued by Jane's method. Liked your idea too about the hedgerow - so that's where Bramble originated! Yes, it's strange isn't how sometimes a name like Dog is the right name. Still can't figure why...Paeony Lewishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13129555451791248798noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3758609568631190155.post-17822002397713406052012-02-09T14:34:20.041+00:002012-02-09T14:34:20.041+00:00What a great blog - I love the idea of using a the...What a great blog - I love the idea of using a thesaurus for deciding a name. For my first two books the characters were mice and I saw them living in the hedgerow, so decided to use names linked to this. So I grabbed my book of native English plant names. For my third book 'Dog Did It' I knew the character was a troll so had to have a Nordic feel to it. And Dog stayed as Dog - the name just seemed to fit.Lynne Garnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05697330164705623835noreply@blogger.com