Names
I tend to give my characters names that I don't have a lot of association with. If I know someone named Andrea, and I give a character the name Andrea, I start to see the traits of the real person pop up into that character's personality.
I've been tempted to develop a character with the name of the lady I once worked with that I didn't like so much and then let them suffer the plague or something. I haven't yet, because the name was kind of unique, and if in some odd way she ever stumbled upon my book...well, I don't want to make enemies, even if there's a 99.9% chance I'll never see her again (here's to hoping and just letting it go).
While it might not be all that bad, I just like to keep my stories as separated from reality as I can.
Case in point: several years ago, Xander Minot was actually Xavier Minot, evil traitor. Until an acquaintance of mine gave birth to a little boy she named Xavier. I couldn't bear to let the character that I developed influence the way that I saw this sweet newborn. So, it's so much easier just to change the name and let it work it's magic from there.
I've seen a few Gabriels, but none I know well enough to influence the character, or how I perceive the kids. I know a Luke, but he's far from the alcoholic father I worked so hard on. I haven't met a James in forever (the last one, I recall, was James Phelps, of the famous Harry Potter duo, the Weasley Twins).
Jovie. I've only heard of the name twice, in ELF, and the rock icon, Jon Bon Jovi. So, I got this one in the bag, right? No chance to actually meet someone named Jovie, much less let the kid or the character influence either direction.
Ha!
Imagine the shock I experienced a couple of months ago when a little girl named Jovie was introduced to my bible classroom. Okay, I'll describe it for you.
My jaw dropped. I stuttered her name a few times. I checked to see if I had been mistaken in hearing it while looking over her shoulder to see what she wrote on the envelope all of the kids have. Yep. Jovie.
I watched her, side-eyed for that entire morning, just in a odd form of shock. I wondered if she was anything like my character. She's similar, but my daughter, character Jovie's muse, is still the most like her.
Maybe, just maybe, I'm more talented than I give myself credit for, and I can separate my two worlds without compromise. Or, maybe my character have just become so well developed in my head that there actually may be a way to avoid this whole cross-contamination thing.
I've been tempted to develop a character with the name of the lady I once worked with that I didn't like so much and then let them suffer the plague or something. I haven't yet, because the name was kind of unique, and if in some odd way she ever stumbled upon my book...well, I don't want to make enemies, even if there's a 99.9% chance I'll never see her again (here's to hoping and just letting it go).
While it might not be all that bad, I just like to keep my stories as separated from reality as I can.
Case in point: several years ago, Xander Minot was actually Xavier Minot, evil traitor. Until an acquaintance of mine gave birth to a little boy she named Xavier. I couldn't bear to let the character that I developed influence the way that I saw this sweet newborn. So, it's so much easier just to change the name and let it work it's magic from there.
I've seen a few Gabriels, but none I know well enough to influence the character, or how I perceive the kids. I know a Luke, but he's far from the alcoholic father I worked so hard on. I haven't met a James in forever (the last one, I recall, was James Phelps, of the famous Harry Potter duo, the Weasley Twins).
Jovie. I've only heard of the name twice, in ELF, and the rock icon, Jon Bon Jovi. So, I got this one in the bag, right? No chance to actually meet someone named Jovie, much less let the kid or the character influence either direction.
Ha!
Imagine the shock I experienced a couple of months ago when a little girl named Jovie was introduced to my bible classroom. Okay, I'll describe it for you.
My jaw dropped. I stuttered her name a few times. I checked to see if I had been mistaken in hearing it while looking over her shoulder to see what she wrote on the envelope all of the kids have. Yep. Jovie.
I watched her, side-eyed for that entire morning, just in a odd form of shock. I wondered if she was anything like my character. She's similar, but my daughter, character Jovie's muse, is still the most like her.
Maybe, just maybe, I'm more talented than I give myself credit for, and I can separate my two worlds without compromise. Or, maybe my character have just become so well developed in my head that there actually may be a way to avoid this whole cross-contamination thing.
I guess only time will tell.
To all those that know me personally: good luck.
To all those that know me personally: good luck.
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