tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post2225873822126495116..comments2024-03-27T20:39:04.792-04:00Comments on KILLER HOBBIES: What's in a name?Betty Hechtmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14652848311122102223noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-41951616494073106822008-07-15T18:49:00.000-04:002008-07-15T18:49:00.000-04:00If you're using Word, you can do a Find and Replac...If you're using Word, you can do a Find and Replace (Edit menu, then Replace) that is cap-specific. Just click on the More button and select Match Case. Under Find what use "xenia" and under Replace with use "Xenia". Or you can set up an AutoCorrect (Tools menu, then AutoCorrect options) to replace "xenia" with "Xenia", then even delete it from the AutoCorrect when you're all done. Works for any name (or phrase) you want.The CilleyGirlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06655326831902251300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-72974035009308186132008-07-13T17:31:00.000-04:002008-07-13T17:31:00.000-04:00Becky is a great editor and critique partner, just...Becky is a great editor and critique partner, just in case you're wondering. She can't help it. Thank goodness!<BR/><BR/>I'm always being asked where the name Dewey came from and I realized having no good answer is not what the readers want to hear. I may have to make something up.<BR/><BR/>Xenia was a name on a name badge of a waitress, so no great meaning. I just thought it looked cool. That character is of Mexican heritage so I was sorta kinda headed that way.<BR/><BR/>Some things are just not believable in books even though they're true. Dewey's had a friend named Tiffany who's a lawyer, because I know a person with that name and occupation, but she's never made an appearance. <BR/><BR/>Thanks for all the comments. I think naming characters is great fun.Terri Thayerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09953154767532970027noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-49395788154374288682008-07-12T23:04:00.000-04:002008-07-12T23:04:00.000-04:00Interesting topic, Terri. I gave a talk today at...Interesting topic, Terri. I gave a talk today at the Kern County Library in Bakersfield, California, and one of the questions I got was where the name Kendra came from--my pet-sitter mystery protagonist. I really couldn't answer--I think she told me that was what her name was! Although I did have an interesting insight about her last name that I prefer not to mention.<BR/>--LindaLinda O. Johnstonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01512430135042480450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-59963074465242208612008-07-12T19:59:00.000-04:002008-07-12T19:59:00.000-04:00I love it when odd names just pop into my head, bu...I love it when odd names just pop into my head, but fit the bill. For my current WIP, I came up with the name "Heg Shrader." Don't know where it came from, but it fits the character perfectly!Kathryn Lilleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05701558750790059307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-39528620772746433912008-07-12T19:10:00.000-04:002008-07-12T19:10:00.000-04:00Oh, I HAVE to say it--I sure hope the macro said f...Oh, I HAVE to say it--I sure hope the macro said fourteenTH annual...not fourteen! :)<BR/><BR/>From what I know of the character, I'm trying to think whether you have to save Xenia as her name because there's some deep metaphorical/symoblic/allegorical/whatever meaning. Haven't come up with any so far, but I'll let you know. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-81772305497989113062008-07-12T18:29:00.000-04:002008-07-12T18:29:00.000-04:00I do have a Spike in my third book Death and Doili...I do have a Spike in my third book Death and Doilies, but he's a toy fox terrier.<BR/><BR/>Names are definitely important. I tried naming a cop Tiffany in a story I sold to Woman's World but they changed her name to Karen.<BR/><BR/>Yes, find and replace are great.Betty Hechtmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14652848311122102223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-76096566141995619872008-07-12T14:59:00.000-04:002008-07-12T14:59:00.000-04:00It wasn't so hard to come up with character names....It wasn't so hard to come up with <BR/>character names. My big name issue<BR/>was in getting prospective publishers to take me seriously because of my name. I mean...it's<BR/>hard to be taken seriously as a mystery author when you're Kenneth <BR/>Clarke from Overland Park! The first question they tend to ask is <BR/>'What is the name of the children's<BR/>book you wrote?'Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-82825396698730168342008-07-12T09:01:00.000-04:002008-07-12T09:01:00.000-04:00Does Xenia have some meaning to you (a long-lost f...Does Xenia have some meaning to you (a long-lost friend, a character from a book you read when you were twelve), or were you just trying to pick something unusual? Names that make you stop and try to sound them out in your head take you out of the plot. Odd names also make you stumble: what were his/her parents thinking? What's the story behind the name? Some names are particularly ethnic--is that what you intend? Do you want to give your character a pre-determined set of characteristics? And you also have to think about nicknames, either chosen by your character or dumped on her (what's a nickname for Xenia? Zen? Zee?)<BR/><BR/>And sometimes you pick a perfectly good name and the character just won't fit. Thank goodness for global replace.<BR/><BR/>Zenia? No, that sounds like Zinnia.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7731159552335760887.post-18403111088893922102008-07-12T02:21:00.000-04:002008-07-12T02:21:00.000-04:00It gets harder and harder to come up with new name...It gets harder and harder to come up with new names.<BR/>Here's one I haven't used that I'll donate to you:<BR/>Ksenia.<BR/>Unless you already have 3 K's. Don't you hate that!<BR/>CMCamille Minichinohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04701150885595400018noreply@blogger.com