annethology
  • Home
    • About Annethology
    • About me >
      • A little more about me
    • About my books
    • Author talks
    • Contact me
    • Forthcoming events
    • World Mental Health Day
    • Privacy
    • Sign up for my newsletter
  • Sugar and Snails
    • Acknowledgements
    • Blog tour, Q&A's and feature articles >
      • Birthday blog tour
      • S&S on tour 2022
    • Early endorsements
    • Events >
      • Launch photos
      • Launch party videos
    • in pictures
    • Media
    • If you've read the book
    • Polari
    • Reading group questions
    • Reviews
    • In the media
  • Underneath
    • Endorsements and reviews
    • Launch party and events
    • Pictures
    • Questions for book groups
    • The stories underneath the novel
  • Matilda Windsor series
    • Matilda Windsor >
      • What readers say
      • For book groups
      • Interviews, articles and features
      • Matty on the move
      • Who were you in 1990?
      • Asylum lit
      • Matilda Windsor media
    • Stolen Summers >
      • Stolen Summers reviews
  • Short stories
    • Somebody’s Daughter
    • Becoming Someone (anthology) >
      • Becoming Someone (video readings)
      • Becoming Someone reviews
      • Becoming Someone online book chat
    • Print and downloads
    • Read it online
    • Quick reads
  • Free ebook
  • Annecdotal
    • Annecdotal blog
    • Annecdotal Press
    • Articles >
      • Print journalism
      • Where psychology meets fiction
    • Fictional therapists
    • Reading and reviews >
      • Reviews A to H
      • Reviews I to M
      • Reviews N to Z
      • Nonfiction
      • Themed quotes
      • Reading around the world
  • Shop
    • Inspired Quill (my publisher)
    • Bookshop.org (affiliate link)
    • Amazon UK
    • Amazon US
    • books2read

About the author and blogger ...

Anne Goodwin’s drive to understand what makes people tick led to a career in clinical psychology. That same curiosity now powers her fiction.
A prize-winning short-story writer, she has published three novels and a short story collection with small independent press, Inspired Quill. Her debut novel, Sugar and Snails, was shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize.
Away from her desk, Anne guides book-loving walkers through the Derbyshire landscape that inspired Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre.
Subscribers to her newsletter can download a free e-book of award-winning short stories.

TELL ME MORE

What’s in a name?

24/3/2018

10 Comments

 
Despite some concerns about how I prioritise my time, I recently allocated several hours to a task that is either brilliantly forward thinking or the biggest waste of time since ironing underwear (not guilty: I struggle even to assemble the ironing board). In the process of editing the short stories in my forthcoming collection, Becoming Someone, I altered the names of a few characters to avoid duplication. So far, so sensible. But I couldn’t leave it at that. I also trawled through my debut novel, Sugar and Snails, my second novel, Underneath, and my current WIP, with the aim of abolishing overlaps across my published work. Is this evidence of a professional approach to my writing or an overly obsessive and perfectionist personality?

Picture
Naming our main characters is almost as fraught as naming a baby – or perhaps a pet. Not only must the name feel right for the person as we perceive them, it should be appropriate to their age and culture (or if it doesn’t, we should have a good reason why). If a character develops in an unexpected direction, we might find ourselves renaming them partway through the writing, although this can be quite disorientating for the author (and for early readers too if we miss one). I made it particularly difficult for myself with both Sugar and Snails and my current WIP in wanting my main character to have two (or more) possible versions of their name.
 
I’m less fussy about naming the secondary characters, often plucking names from the ether. But in my novels I do try to avoid confusing readers by giving characters similar names. It’s particularly tricky with
my current WIP as three interweaving strands means more characters than my other novels. When I discovered I’d written a scene involving a Mervyn, Matty and Mavis, the latter, as the most peripheral of the three, had to become Hilda even though I preferred her original name. And pity the occupational therapist, currently on her third name (Heather) after Vanessa and then Ingrid were too easily confused with other characters.
 
If naming is so complex within books is it worth the effort of striving for uniqueness across published works? I say yes for our main characters (I don’t expect to ever again write a novel narrated by a Diana or a Steve or partnered by a Simon or Liesel) and a qualified no for bit-part tertiary characters (unless they’ve been given particularly unusual names). But for secondary characters, those who pop up now and again to help push the story along?


Picture
When we adopt the first (or second or third) name that pops into our minds for a minor character, our choice might be influenced by biases of which we are unaware. I don’t know why both my published novels reference a character called Max (Diana’s former boss in Sugar and Snails; Steve’s nephew in Underneath) – although admittedly they never show their faces, let alone speak, but one does snore. And, when several characters manage perfectly well without surnames, why have I created two Hetheringtons (a nurse who fortunately appears in only one scene in Sugar and Snails; the neighbour who looks after Steve occasionally as a child in Underneath)? I don’t think the name has any particular resonance for me.
 
Perhaps by now you’re wondering why I think that matters. It’s unlikely anyone will ever study my fiction so closely to notice such a gaffe. But a reader named Max or Hetherington might pick up on it. If I can avoid such duplication in the future, shouldn’t I try? Or am I better off spending my time ironing knickers? Let me know what you think!

Picture
I’d already chosen the image to accompany this post when Charli’s introduction to the latest flash fiction prompt featured an impressive array of badges. But the theme is “follow your dreams” and, in composing my response, it struck me that I hadn’t considered gender in my musings on character names. This might be why:

Personal pronouns

The girls talked shoes and shopping, so I ran with the boys. Till they obsessed on cricket and football, and I walked alone. Why did girls paint their faces and fuss with their hair? Why did boys get drunk on swagger, beer and playful punches? Neither camp suited me.

“I’m changing my name to Alex, Chris or Charlie.”

Sis clocks my breasts, my knee-high boots, my beard. “Looks like that’s not all you’re changing.”

“I’m following my dream to shake off the shackles of gender.” Gonna get me a badge: I’m Sam and my pronouns are they and their.

Thanks for reading. I'd love to know what you think. If you've enjoyed this post, you might like to sign up via the sidebar for regular email updates and/or my quarterly Newsletter.
10 Comments
Charli Mills
25/3/2018 06:03:01 am

It might feel like sorting character names is like organizing the sock drawer but it does matter. Take it as you are professionally polishing your writing. I tend to give characters default names until I can better think it through. Control F is great for hunting them down and a better exercise than ironing knickers.

I like your badge of pronouns and Sam's decision to gender blend. I think many people can relate because not everyone feels connected to gender identity at all.

Reply
Anne Goodwin
25/3/2018 07:35:33 am

Thanks, Charli,
I think it's great that young people are opting for non-binary identities, although I do come across parodies in some Twitter profiles.
I usually change names through find and replace but you need to take care:
if you've called a character a short name, like Tony, you need to watch it doesn't also change words where that letter sequence also appears, like betony because it doesn't respect that capital T

Reply
Irene Waters link
25/3/2018 09:20:38 am

I agree Anne that names are important in fiction. I struggled to name my characters at first because in my early flashes I usually had someone in mind and that name seemed to be the only one to fit. Then I realised what freedom it gave to name characters and the choice could add an additional layer to the narrative. Dickens was a master at making up names that suited the character of his character. I hadn't given much thought to making sure that repetition doesn't occur but I can see and agree with all you've said.
Your flash tells a powerful story.

Reply
Annecdotist
26/3/2018 01:31:10 pm

See, Irene, you’re coming around the idea that there’s much more freedom in fiction! One of my biggest writing fears is unconsciously naming a character after someone I know and all my prejudices being laid bare. That said, perhaps this is the time to tell you that there’s an Irene in my WIP but I don’t think she’s you!

Reply
Norah Colvin link
25/3/2018 11:49:25 am

Hi Anne, Yes, I agree with you. Naming your characters does matter and it is important to not repeat names of major characters in subsequent stories, be they short or long. Even minor characters may be better named differently, but I agree with you that it's not as important, unless you notice because it's your name (as I am noticing with cyclone Nora wreaking some havoc over here at the moment :)).
Your flash fits very well with your post, as does your badge with a place to insert the pronouns. All in all, an interesting contemplation.

Reply
Annecdotist
26/3/2018 01:26:54 pm

I hope you remember that you’re not responsible for Cyclone Nora. I have a much more common name but still notice characters who differ from how I think I am. But I do sometimes think I suit being called after an indefinite article without much substance at all :-)

Reply
Norah Colvin link
29/8/2018 12:29:43 pm

Hohoho "indefinite article without much substance at all" - Not! I hadn't thought of that one, but love all your Annecdotal terms.

Annecdotist
29/8/2018 06:34:31 pm

;-)

Anurag Bakhshi link
26/3/2018 04:07:13 am

That's a very topical theme Anne, though it might seem too generic or too esoteric/niche at first glance. The refusal of the next generation to get constricted by gender-based boundaries is making its presence felt, slowly but steadily. The second season of Billions had a key character answering to only they, their and them. And just yesterday, I came across this story: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/24/world/europe/sweden-gender-neutral-preschools.html

Reply
Annecdotist
26/3/2018 01:21:57 pm

Thanks for sharing that link. I do think it’s sad that such efforts are necessary when biological gender differences are actually so small. And the pink/blue thing is so ridiculous when historically it was the other way around!
Cordelia Fine, whose most recent book I reviewed last year, has done sterling work in exposing the science, or lack of it, behind the myth.
http://annegoodwin.weebly.com/annecdotal/-debunking-the-gendered-myths-testosterone-rex-by-cordelia-fine
I’m excited to see young people refusing to be constrained.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Free ebook: click the image to claim yours.
    Picture
    OUT NOW: The poignant prequel to Matilda Windsor Is Coming Home
    Picture
    Find a review
    Picture
    Fictional therapists
    Picture
    Picture
    About Anne Goodwin
    Picture
    My published books
    entertaining fiction about identity, mental health and social justice
    Picture
    My latest novel, published May 2021
    Picture
    My debut novel shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize
    Picture
    Picture
    My second novel published May 2017.
    Picture
    Short stories on the theme of identity published 2018
    Anne Goodwin's books on Goodreads
    Sugar and Snails Sugar and Snails
    reviews: 32
    ratings: 52 (avg rating 4.21)

    Underneath Underneath
    reviews: 24
    ratings: 60 (avg rating 3.17)

    Becoming Someone Becoming Someone
    reviews: 8
    ratings: 9 (avg rating 4.56)

    GUD: Greatest Uncommon Denominator, Issue 4 GUD: Greatest Uncommon Denominator, Issue 4
    reviews: 4
    ratings: 9 (avg rating 4.44)

    The Best of Fiction on the Web The Best of Fiction on the Web
    reviews: 3
    ratings: 3 (avg rating 4.67)

    2022 Reading Challenge

    2022 Reading Challenge
    Anne has read 2 books toward their goal of 100 books.
    hide
    2 of 100 (2%)
    view books
    Picture
    Annecdotal is where real life brushes up against the fictional.  
    Picture
    Annecdotist is the blogging persona of Anne Goodwin: 
    reader, writer,

    slug-slayer, tramper of moors, 
    recovering psychologist, 
    struggling soprano, 
    author of three fiction books.

    LATEST POSTS HERE
    I don't post to a schedule, but average  around ten reviews a month (see here for an alphabetical list), 
    some linked to a weekly flash fiction, plus posts on my WIPs and published books.  

    Your comments are welcome any time any where.

    Get new posts direct to your inbox ...

    Enter your email address:

    or click here …

    RSS Feed


    Picture

    Tweets by @Annecdotist
    Picture
    New short story, “My Dirty Weekend”
    Picture
    Let’s keep in touch – subscribe to my newsletter
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Popular posts

    • Compassion: something we all need
    • Do spoilers spoil?
    • How to create a convincing fictional therapist
    • Instructions for a novel
    • Looking at difference, embracing diversity
    • Never let me go: the dilemma of lending books
    • On loving, hating and writers’ block
      On Pop, Pirates and Plagiarism
    • READIN' for HER reviews
    • Relishing the cuts
    • The fast first draft
    • The tragedy of obedience
    • Writers and therapy: a love-hate relationship?

    Categories/Tags

    All
    Animals
    Annecdotist Hosts
    Annecdotist On Tour
    Articles
    Attachment Theory
    Author Interviews
    Becoming Someone
    Being A Writer
    Blogging
    Bodies
    Body
    Bookbirthday
    Books For Writers
    Bookshops
    CB Book Group
    Character
    Childhood
    Christmas
    Classics
    Climate Crisis
    Coming Of Age
    Counsellors Cafe
    Creative Writing Industry
    Creativity
    Cumbria
    Debut Novels
    Disability
    Editing
    Emotion
    Ethics
    Ethis
    Family
    Feedback And Critiques
    Fictional Psychologists & Therapists
    Food
    Friendship
    Futuristic
    Gender
    Genre
    Getting Published
    Giveaways
    Good Enough
    Grammar
    Gratitude
    Group/organisational Dynamics
    Hero’s Journey
    History
    Humour
    Identity
    Illness
    Independent Presses
    Institutions
    International Commemorative Day
    Jane Eyre
    Kidney Disease
    Language
    LGBTQ
    Libraries
    Live Events
    Lyrics For The Loved Ones
    Marketing
    Matilda Windsor
    Memoir
    Memory
    Mental Health
    Microfiction
    Motivation
    Music
    MW Prequel
    Names
    Narrative Voice
    Nature / Gardening
    Networking
    Newcastle
    Nonfiction
    Nottingham
    Novels
    Pandemic
    Peak District
    Perfect Match
    Poetry
    Point Of View
    Politics
    Politics Current Affairs
    Presentation
    Privacy
    Prizes
    Psychoanalytic Theory
    Psychology
    Psycholoists Write
    Psychotherapy
    Race
    Racism
    Rants
    Reading
    Real Vs Imaginary
    Religion
    Repetitive Strain Injury
    Research
    Reviewing
    Romance
    Satire
    Second Novels
    Settings
    Sex
    Shakespeare
    Short Stories General
    Short Stories My Published
    Short Stories Others'
    Siblings
    Snowflake
    Somebody's Daughter
    Stolen Summers
    Storytelling
    Structure
    Sugar And Snails
    Technology
    The
    The Guestlist
    Therapy
    TikTok
    TNTB
    Toiletday
    Tourism
    Toxic Positivity
    Transfiction
    Translation
    Trauma
    Unconscious
    Unconscious, The
    Underneath
    Voice Recognition Software
    War
    WaSBihC
    Weather
    Work
    Writing Process
    Writing Technique

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    Picture
    BLOGGING COMMUNITIES
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from havens.michael34, romana klee, mrsdkrebs, Kyle Taylor, Dream It. Do It., adam & lucy, dluders, Joybot, Hammer51012, jorgempf, Sherif Salama, eyspahn, raniel diaz, E. E. Piphanies, scaredofbabies, Nomadic Lass, paulternate, Tony Fischer Photography, archer10 (Dennis), slightly everything, impbox, jonwick04, country_boy_shane, dok1, Out.of.Focus, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region, Elvert Barnes, guillenperez, Richard Perry, jamesnaruke, Juan Carlos Arniz Sanz, El Tuerto, kona99, maveric2003, !anaughty!, Patrick Denker, David Davies, hamilcar_south, idleformat, Dave Goodman, Sharon Mollerus, photosteve101, La Citta Vita, A Girl With Tea, striatic, carlosfpardo, Damork, Elvert Barnes, UNE Photos, jurvetson, quinn.anya, BChristensen93, Joelk75, ashesmonroe, albertogp123, >littleyiye<, mudgalbharat, Swami Stream, Dicemanic, lovelihood, anyjazz65, Tjeerd, albastrica mititica, jimmiehomeschoolmom