A month or two ago, I was watching a TV documentary about a small town that had been through hard times. They interviewed a real person named Cat Monster. I don't remember anything else about the documentary except her name. So if I end up with a character named Gerbil Demon in some future book, you'll know why.
1) I'll share this post with my friend, Betsy Zajko. (She married into it, but her first name is so American, the combination is quite evocative. She's an actress, too.)
2) I was blessed on this point by writing a non-fiction prison memoir populated by the best moniker-makers on the planet. So: Jack Hammer, Thumper, Chainsaw, to name a few. Not a last name needed (or known), so didn't have to worry about getting sued.
3) While writing a screenplay, I visited a friend at his office in the 80s and saw a nameplate on a desk, and immediately stole it for the character of "Arlene Strax," a cougarish HR manager with a bitchy streak. Another actual co-worker of mine, at a temp job, was "Madonna Dymczynski" and I still have plans to somehow use her name. (Very unblessed of face, but very blessed of bosom, she volunteered at a Bayside police precinct and I think most of her service ended up being horizontal.)
4) My very favorite hobby is coming up with drag queen names. Some favorites: Cher Nobyl, May Hemline, Whitney Dallas-Fort Worth. Patsy DeCline was actually used by a close friend for a cabaret character she created in Denver, who had a very successful spin-off career with her own entire shows.
A month or two ago, I was watching a TV documentary about a small town that had been through hard times. They interviewed a real person named Cat Monster. I don't remember anything else about the documentary except her name. So if I end up with a character named Gerbil Demon in some future book, you'll know why.
😂😂😂 As someone who hates naming characters and I constantly on baby name websites, I appreciated this greatly.
This was a great read! Thanks.
I have one I got for my first child, used for first book...so well-thumbed
1) I'll share this post with my friend, Betsy Zajko. (She married into it, but her first name is so American, the combination is quite evocative. She's an actress, too.)
2) I was blessed on this point by writing a non-fiction prison memoir populated by the best moniker-makers on the planet. So: Jack Hammer, Thumper, Chainsaw, to name a few. Not a last name needed (or known), so didn't have to worry about getting sued.
3) While writing a screenplay, I visited a friend at his office in the 80s and saw a nameplate on a desk, and immediately stole it for the character of "Arlene Strax," a cougarish HR manager with a bitchy streak. Another actual co-worker of mine, at a temp job, was "Madonna Dymczynski" and I still have plans to somehow use her name. (Very unblessed of face, but very blessed of bosom, she volunteered at a Bayside police precinct and I think most of her service ended up being horizontal.)
4) My very favorite hobby is coming up with drag queen names. Some favorites: Cher Nobyl, May Hemline, Whitney Dallas-Fort Worth. Patsy DeCline was actually used by a close friend for a cabaret character she created in Denver, who had a very successful spin-off career with her own entire shows.