Writing update

[pameladean]

Despite the lures of the weather, Chapter 5 has about 1200 words in it. I am presently stumped by not having the name for a major character. This was starting to get to my kindly beta reader, so I had somebody ask the character what his name was, and he was perfectly willing to provide it, only it's not there.

That's the problem with Liavek, you have to make names up.

Pamela

Comments

[oracne.livejournal.com]

That's the problem with Liavek, you have to make names up.

Heh. So true.

[papersky.livejournal.com]

Except that it won't work on your computer, what you need is my Random Alien Language Generator, a program I wrote in Basic a long time ago. You input phonemes -- for Liavek it could be the syllables of all the names anyone has used -- and you further input the relevant alphabet, and then it outputs screen after screen of names, 90% of which fulfil Sturgeon's Law, but the other 10% of which can be useful.

[marykaykare.livejournal.com]

I've been reading AGE OF THE PICTS which has a list of Pictish kings in the appendix. My first thought on looking at the list was that they'd be a great source of alien names for sf or fantasy. Want me to send a few on?

MKK

[pameladean]

Absolutely. I'm not sure the sound will be right, but even if it's not for this character it might be for some other nameless souls later on. Or it might spark something. Thank you.

Pamela

[pameladean]

Yeah, that's kind of what I do in my head, only my grasp of things like consonant shifts at any given time is incomplete.

What computer does your program run on?

Pamela

[pameladean]

Or any invented-world fantasy, really. I am having flashbacks to The Dubious Hills. Those names drove me crazy. At least there is a real-world connection there, which is really all that saved my sanity. Eeeeep.

Pamela

Liavek name

[(Anonymous)]

Jakarion Ril.

Or not.

Will

Re: Liavek name

[pameladean]

Oh, oh, do it again, do it again, Uncle Will!

That is not this character's name, but it does belong to one of the previously nameless junior librarians.

I wanted a first name beginning with K, or R, for this other guy.

Pamela

Re: Liavek name

[penmage.livejournal.com]

Kyrean. Keladon. Keman. Kor. Kastil. Kastilian Rousse. Kevandiel.

Redash. Redalion. Rion. Regadash. Ra'kar. Robelard. Roendil Kay.

...Just spewing names, as they came into my head, beginning the R or K. Feel free to use any that appeal to you.

-Navah

[(Anonymous)]

Kisandrion Dorlianash. "Dri" or "Dree" for short, maybe.

Or pluck your least favorite syllables from that.

(It's very odd trying to come up with a name for a character whose nature and function I do not know!)

(And I really won't be hurt if that doesn't work either.)

Will

[(Anonymous)]

I like Navah's suggestions, too. Mixing and matching is fine. If you go with mine, the nickname could be "Kisan" or "Rion" to get your K or R.

And everyone should get their K or R, I'd like to think.

Will

[oracne.livejournal.com]

It's too bad one can't just open little windows to alternate universes on one's desktop, and then use alternate-world browsers to find baby name sites...

[pameladean]

He's a baker (a really good one), he's interested in childhood games and reminiscences, he's a flirt, and there's something about him nobody knows yet.

If that helps. I will con over the names later.

I don't really match names to people much, unless it's part of the plot, so that part wouldn't bother me.

Pamela

[pameladean]

I wonder why it's no fun for me to think up names. It obviously is for some of you guys, and I thank you for playing in my sandbox. Will advise when or if (the former seeming more likely) I pick one of yours.

Pamela

Naming characters

[(Anonymous)]

Rarlin Kefial.

For what it's worth, I now think it's easier to try to name someone else's character if you know nothing about 'em. I do have my doubts about the one above, but that's the best I can do right now. Actually, when I'm trying to come up with fantasy names, I try to invoke Jack Vance, so that's the best Jack can do right now.

Will