What's In A Name?
 

So, working on my fic, I've found the hardest thing in the world is naming. Be it some beast, some character, or even a chapter title, it's just.... hard.


How do some of you writers out there come up with names? 'Cause this is a rather serious problem for me Y-Y

I use the internet to help me brainstorm, there are a lot of web sites that have long lists of names that can help when your back is against a wall. There are even some fantasy name generators used for rpg players. Here is one of the sites I use http://www.20000-names.com/female_english_names.htm

other then that I just mix and match in head until something fits... not a lot of science involved sadly.

Oh, that's easy. I ask Ceru.

Ok, kidding. (Sorta)

Naming is also very difficult for me. I occasionally find it helpful to use name generators (there are tons of them - run a Google search and find one you like), but I usually just use those to get a sense of what a name should be before actually using it. I also find Google translate wonderful for generating ideas - for example, Ashe is prominent in my story, and when I need to name something/someone Freljordian, I look at Scandinavian roots.

As for chapters, I (almost) never name a chapter until I've had the whole thing written and completely edited. I've been known to declare, "It's done! I can post it!...No wait I forgot the title." And then release is delayed another 3 hours while I sit there staring at the blinking cursor on the screen. My best advice there is to try and capture the spirit of your chapter in a short phrase or single word. What did you ultimately accomplish or reveal in that chapter? What point do you want your readers to remember or focus on the most?

I think that list and a Census search one that I found are probably my two new favorites XD Thanks. Still begs the question: How did *those* people come up with the names?

Chapters are a little easier due to that, yeah.


What about the story title? What do you guys do about that if it's a work-in-progress?