The Writer's Trojan Horse

Admittedly not a Trojan Horse, but...

On the last day before the big “Lion & Steed” Book Two push begins, I have enjoyed a fine dabble into 18^th century English names.  There were certainly some beauties, such as…

A little boy given the first name of Shakespeare-Bell.

A little girl tagged with the given name of Ro-Herring.

Of course naming twin sons Wholesome and Amorous seems a little oxymoronic.

But it’s certainly better than the twin girls of Love and Dove. Just too cutesy to be forgiven.

But no name outdoes a poor child named Experience Tingle.

Names have always fascinated me. (Could you tell?)

As an author I like to think of a character’s name as a sort of Trojan Horse I gift the reader right from the start.

A name can be terribly misleading. “Butch Ballbreaker” could be a terrible wimp, but the reader won’t know it until they’ve already invited Butch into their world.

Even if his wimpiness is confessed to on page two, this “reveal” will still garnish a reaction from the audience. Either a laugh, a roll of the eyes or a surprised snort. Any such reaction is gold to a writer. Gobble it up greedily, my friends.

Of course, the giant statue of a horse might in fact just be a horse. If this is the case where your “Butch Ballbreaker” truly is a bastardly bully, congratulations are still in order. You’ve set the stage for your character in simply two words – two words they’ll be repeating over and over again in their heads for the entire length of your grand tale. Bravo!

Names.

Build your horse well and whole empires will fall at your feet!

(SIDE NOTE: Apparently since Frank is halfway out the front door, I’ve developed a bit of a Caesar complex. Pardon any tyrannical overtones in this blog. I am merely feeling my oats… This too, like Frank, will pass.)

Until tomorrow…

Chloe