Molly Jo Realy @MollyJoRealy
About two months ago, I saw a coworker who had been offsite for a few months. I said hey, but purposely called him by a different name. Every time he walked by. Hi, Fred. Sam. Obadiah. Jackson.
By the third day, he was shouting his name at me through the halls.
By the second week, he caught on and started calling me different names. Elizabeth. Sarah. Bethany. Rachel. Our coworkers who don’t know the game wonder whether they heard correctly. The ones who know stick around to find out who we are in the moment.
I started a list. Names to call him. Names he calls me. Curating writerly ideas. A great reminder that creative muses can come in many forms, and from many sources. Inspiration doesn’t wait until we’re at the keyboard. Sometimes, it happens in the hallways.
What's in a Name? How Writers Find Character Inspiration by @MollyJoRealy on @BRMCWC #Writing #Writingtips #BRMCWC Share on XWhat started as a game between two coworkers has turned into a little file of potential characters for future stories. It’s great fuel for creating characters as I subtly adopt personalities to go along with the monikers he gives me. Who is this person? What does she sound like? Is she serious or playful? Just a few revealing questions a good character bio should answer.
As I embrace becoming someone else for a fleeting moment, my thoughts immediately capture her essence. I shift my weight, cock my head, speak with an accent, use phrases evocative of her history. Each action and intention is important. Character development comes from not only observing others, but also understanding inner motivations. Is she proper? Let’s offer him a spot of tea. Small town? A little shyness creates a hiccup in the conversation.
Another coworker frequently calls me Miss Moneypenny, and I happily speak in covert whispers when discussing the status of a work project with him.
Today Hallway Man is Earl and I’m Sophie, and I’m envisioning a Roaring ’20s/Great Gatsby vibe complete with flapper dress and fascinator in my hair.
Does he think about the characters the way I do? Probably not. Do our names match up? Almost never. And yet, it’s a fun word dance.
Earl could be anyone from a hammer-holding construction guy to Head of Marketing for a Fortune 500 company. Sophie is a free-spirited gypsy … or a runaway princess.
Sometimes I develop characters around names. Sometimes characteristics dictate the name. There’s a sparkle when I discover a name represents a feeling or motive, and it all comes together in an ethereal gathering of creative content. To paraphrase the age-old question, which came first: the persona or the name?
Bus Dev Guy always asks, “Staying out of trouble?” I usually give one of three answers: “Wouldn’t you like to know?” or “It’s a coin toss.” But my favorite response is, “Why do you even ask me that?” Of course, now I’m imagining all the different ways Sophie could cause trouble alongside Earl as they drive their Tin Lizzie from town to town.
Maybe they stumble into a small-town mystery that only they can solve.
Could be they’re investigative reporters chasing a bank robber.
Or they’re asked to deliver a package … and find out what’s inside.
These might just be stories worth writing.
And names worth keeping.
How do you get your character names, and what do you do with them?
Molly Jo
Molly Jo Realy is an author, editor, creative, and encouragement coach who empowers people to embrace their unique sparkle and share their stories as only they can.
She is the author of the romantic location mystery novel NOLA: Undeaux, creator of the Book Builder Workbook, and has successfully crowdfunded several publications.
Addicted to God, cats, tea, journals, planners, and pens, in no particular order. Follow her on social media for more fun!
Come alive, stay wild, and, always, savor the journey,
