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Saturday, April 5, 2014

A to Z: E for Every?

The A to Z Challenge is underway this year, thanks to the awesome hosts and minions. Special thanks to Arlee Bird for starting this amazing blogging challenge!!! For more information about this challenge, go to the website!

Primary theme: World of Aramatir (Setting for The Champion Trilogy) Glossary
Secondary Theme: World-Building Questions and Thoughts

E

Edgar – an eagle owl in the care of Taylor, Perren’s nephew

Elar – the first Champion of Septily

Evalyn – wife of Captain Gursney, under a curse from the Dark Sisterhood
 
World Building Thought and Question: Should every character have a name, even the birds in the care of minor characters?
 
I'm not sure that they should, but yet I have to keep track of the minor characters and their charges somehow, so I stick them in the glossary. Edgar gets a mention in one chapter. He may or may not show up in book 3. If he does, it will be another minor mention. And yet, I don't want to forget his name. What if I need to remember it? So, there it is.
Even the birds have names . . . which might make be a bit of an over-world-builder.
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16 comments:

  1. Alex J. CavanaughApril 5, 2014 at 6:31 AM

    I heard that if a character only appears briefly once, he doesn't need a name.

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    1. Tyrean MartinsonApril 5, 2014 at 7:51 AM

      Alex, I've heard that too . . . and yet, I still named some of them. Agh!

      Delete
  2. TrishaApril 5, 2014 at 7:03 AM

    I have a slight addiction to introducing new characters, but I don't necessarily always give them a name, even if I'm writing a scene from their POV.

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    1. Tyrean MartinsonApril 5, 2014 at 7:52 AM

      Wow! I'm not sure I could write a scene from their POV without a name for them . . . I'll have to try it as a writing exercise challenge, and see if I can.

      Delete
    2. TrishaApril 7, 2014 at 6:02 AM

      Well, it's mainly in one particular type of book that I do this - the book I'm currently editing. It's a book about a mouse detective. There is one scene I edited recently that featured some bandit squirrels, and those guys didn't get names. :P

      Delete
  3. Rachna ChhabriaApril 5, 2014 at 9:22 AM

    I have heard that if a character appears more than once he/she/it should have a name.

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  4. SK AnthonyApril 5, 2014 at 10:16 AM

    I like the name Evalyn!
    ...and no! I don't think every character should have a name. I think giving them a name gives them importance to the reader and then they use their "book memory" remembering that person and what might happen to them instead of trying to remember more important details in the plot. That's my logic, anyway. *shrugs* lol

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    1. C.D. Gallant-KingApril 5, 2014 at 3:54 PM

      ^This. There are more important things to remember than the name of every minor character. The reader shouldn't have to be flipping back to the glossary constantly to find out who is who. If you think the character may turn up and become important several books later, give them the full name treatment then. My $0.02.

      Delete
    2. Tyrean MartinsonApril 5, 2014 at 5:04 PM

      It's definitely more important to know the details of the plot. At the same time, this glossary is for me. I'm not sure it's going in the book. I need to keep track of these people/birds/places. The minor characters probably aren't going to phase the reader much . . . at least I haven't had any complaints about them so far. :)

      Delete
    3. SK AnthonyApril 7, 2014 at 10:54 AM

      I agree with having a glossary for yourself, Tyrean! We all have our methods and we engage in what works for us. In your case and your fantasy world I think it makes sense! :D

      Delete
  5. MorganApril 5, 2014 at 9:01 PM

    Oh world building… sigh… such a challenge!!!

    I love your A-Z theme, Tyrean. Really fun. :)

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  6. randi leeApril 6, 2014 at 11:20 AM

    I'm an actress first, so every character, even the nameless bad-guy who's in three scenes and then gets killed by the Bond-like MC, has a name and a backstory. I don't use every name I come up with, but I am a little OCD with making sure every character has a reason for being where he is at the time he's there. I love this world-building stuff, Tyrean. You're making me think about my own world-building and, even five entries in, you've given me a lot to think about!

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  7. Heather R. HoldenApril 7, 2014 at 3:23 AM

    There's an owl in your series? Awesome! (I'm kind of obsessed with owls, haha.)

    And I agree, while it isn't exactly necessary to give every character a name, it's still fun to do, anyway! I can see how it'd help you keep track of everyone...

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  8. Brandon AxApril 7, 2014 at 1:13 PM

    For me when it comes to any decision of what I should work on in a story it comes down to one thing. Does it help me tell this story? Putting in an arbitrary name just to show you worked on it doesn't help you much.

    Brandon Ax: Writer's Storm

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  9. Maurice MitchellApril 7, 2014 at 1:25 PM

    I imagine every character should have a name in mind, but if you're telling a big story it might be pointless. A good world-building exercise though.

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