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
I
Icewynne Mountains – A
mountain range that runs down the center of the continent, separating Wylandria
and Aerland from old Carpthia
Ioway – one of
the governors of Septily
Isobel – a noble
pranked by Clara and Salene in their training days
Ivailo (wolf) –
Commander of the 10th Wing of Aerland, gray brown hair, beard
World Building Question: Are interesting names distracting - especially if they have a meaning attached to them?
Ivailo is a name I found through a name search engine. I really liked it, and when I discovered that it meant wolf, I instantly had a better picture for this character. However, he's a minor character and although he interacts with a few of the secondary characters in book 2, I wonder if he's too distracting. I mean, I have a backstory for this guy . . . and he doesn't really need a backstory (so, of course, I don't mention it much in the book).
I don't think a name is distracting. Unless it's difficult to pronounce!
ReplyDeleteHi Tyrean, I love thinking up suitable names and enjoy learning the meanings behind them. A name is a really important aspect of a character so it is always worth the thought that goes into it.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your input, Suzanne!
DeleteHi Tyrean, I love thinking up names for my stories, but easy to pronounce names.
ReplyDeleteGood thought!
DeleteThe name can be unless it evokes a mental image. Lucas is really good at making character names that create an image. Except for Death Sticks. That was just lazy.
ReplyDeleteLucas has done an overall great job of naming his characters and places - I mean, will I ever think of Mos Eisley without hearing Obi Wan's words? Probably not. Lucas knows how to incorporate rhythm and alliteration in his names . . . except for Death Sticks. :)
DeleteThe only distracting things about names I find are the ones that are hard to pronounce :)
ReplyDeleteJamie Dement (LadyJai)
My A to Z
Caring for My Veteran
True.
DeleteWhat Alex said. In fact, I liked the use of names in the Harry Potter series....you knew Slugworth was no good, just by his name :)
ReplyDeleteYes! J.K. Rowling did an amazing job with her character names. :)
DeleteI love cool and interesting names! Maybe Ivailo needs his own story? You know since he's got a back story and all. :)
ReplyDeleteMaybe a short story. :)
DeleteI think names are better when they mean something - not distracting at all.
ReplyDeleteGreat to know! Thanks!
DeleteI like coming across interesting names when reading but if they're too hard to pronounce, I get stuck and it takes me out of the story's flow.
ReplyDeleteMadeline @ The Shellshank Redemption
Minion, Capt. Alex's Ninja Minion Army
The 2014 Blogging from A-Z Challenge
Yes, it's a tricky business choosing which ones work and which ones don't.
DeleteThese are interesting names! As interesting as some names can be - or perhaps a variation on the spelling of a more common name - I think sometimes they can cause issues. I remember certain school friends that always had to explain how to pronounce or spell their name. But then, if we were all named Mary or Bob, that would get pretty boring! :)
ReplyDeleteMary, Bob, and Ivailo all work for me . . . I think it's fun to have a few interesting names with a few current day names.
DeleteP.S. And not there is anything wrong with unusual names or Mary or Bob either! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm with Alex--so long as the name doesn't beg for too much attention, it won't be distracting. I like the name Ivailo--it's just different enough to be unique but not so different that I stop and say, "Huh? How in the world do I pronounce that!?" I'm a little OCD so all of my characters have a backstory--but the ones that don't need them mentioned in the book I just keep in a journal to remind myself of his/her motives (because I'm quite the forgetful Francine!!)
ReplyDeleteI'm forgetful too. That's why I have the glossary - it isn't much, but it helps me remember who everyone is. :)
DeleteI don't think it can be distracting if it's really interesting, and that is an interesting name.
ReplyDeleteI'm a world-builder, too. I'm careful with exotic-sounding names. I never use them for terrain features or ships, for example. Mostly, they are for cities, countries, and (a few) people.
Cheers! and good luck with the challenge.
Maybe it's just because I read a lot of mythology, but Ivailo doesn't seem distracting at all to me, haha. In all seriousness, though, I don't think there's anything wrong with having a name that's more "interesting." It's like, you could change it to something more generic, but then you risk readers finding it forgettable. So...just go with your gut instinct! If you feel he's an Ivailo, then he's an Ivailo... ;)
ReplyDeleteI think interesting names make the characters real. I'm attracted more to the sound of the name than the meaning. I like the sound of Ivailo.
ReplyDelete