What's His Name?? by Dora Hiers

Last month we discussed the first step in birthing great characters~ Give Them A Face. If you missed that post, you can read it here.

So, what do I do after my characters reveal their faces?

Give them a name.

Let’s say you’re writing a romance and you’re casting your hero. He has muscles, courage, confidence…

Sylvester Stallone
Image Courtesy of Bing.com

What’s his name?

Elmer Smith 

Yikes! Listen, I don’t mean to offend anybody (especially Elmer Smith), but do you see how that might create a problem for your hero? There's a reason celebrities change their name.

A July 2012 post from Psychology Today “What’s In a Name?” states, “Names matter. Whenever we hear one, we draw a wide range of assumptions about the individual person or item in question.”

So, don’t just slap any name on your character.

The name should match the period. If you’re writing historicals, you should not saddle a character with a contemporary name. And, as a contemporary writer, unless I had a really good reason and included that reason as part of the story line, I wouldn't name one of my contemporary characters Evelyn or Elmer. Online sites like MomsWhoThink.com list popular boy/girl names by year. Check them out and choose an appropriate name for the period in which you're writing.

Keep a list and mix and match. During football games, movie credits, online research or whenever you hear a name you like, jot down first and last names. When you're ready to introduce a character, pull out your list and mix and match the names. Keep in mind that just because you recorded a name as a surname, it doesn't have to stay that way. I enjoy creating given names from surnames such as my hero in Journey's Edge: Renner Crossman. Don't limit yourself.

Sound out the name. Does it flow? Does your male name sound masculine and your female’s feminine? Any other Castle lovers out there? What if Richard Castle had been named Richard Mouse? Or Kate Beckett, Kate Bungle? That same “What’s In a Name?” post confirms this. “When a name rolls off the tongue, at an implicit level we associate more positive sentiment with it.”

Google the name to make sure it doesn’t have a negative history attached to it. Moms and dads agonize over picking out names for their children. If someone influenced their life in a negative way, they generally steer clear of those names. Shouldn't we do the same for our characters? How do you feel about this? 

OK. It’s your turn. What are some of your favorite character names? Least favorite? What's your process for naming characters?

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After a humiliating breakup, best-selling romance author Teal Benning flees to Promise Lake to complete her current novel, minus paparazzi and flashing cameras. Suffering from writer's block and a broken heart, Teal accepts the offer of help from neighbor, Hunter Miciver.

Hunter longs to be more than the friend who picks up the shattered pieces of Teal's heart, but when Teal finds out his secret, will she see him for the man he is—a man of faith and devotion, a man who would cherish her for the rest of her days—or will she lump him into the same category as all the other men in her life, including her father? Will Teal recognize when truth whispers her name?

Me~Dora Hiers

Dora Hiers is a multi-published author of Heart Racing, God-Gracing romances. She’s a member of RWA, ACFW, and the Treasurer for ACFW-Charlotte Chapter. Connect with her on Seriously Write, her personal blog, Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest.

Letting Go of Comparison by Ian Acheson

Do you know someone who appears to have it all together in a way that makes you wonder why you can't be like that? Today, Ian Acheson gives us some tips about dealing with envy. -- Sandy

Ian: One of the benefits of social media is we can get an insiders view of authors we admire. They will often share a lot about their writing routine. Many times I’ve marveled at some authors incredible ability to produce. Somehow between doing another job, managing their household commitments, being an engaged spouse, parent and friend, they’re able to pump out thousands of words every day.

I’m in awe.

Sometimes (well more frequently than I really would care to admit) the nagging green beast of envy rises up within my heart. It’s a similar feeling that may strike me when a friend appears to have everything worked out and their life appears to be a bed of roses.

Comparison.

Arrgh. Yes, I think we can all relate to it.

As the annual book award season is about to start in earnest it is very easy to start wondering why others books have received more accolades than ours. Forget accolades, what about the number of reviews such and such has received for their latest work?

“Comparison is all about conformity and competition,” Brene Brown says. “When we compare, we want to be the best or have the best of our group.”¹ Even the disciples (and members of their families) struggled with similar impulses. Recall how James and John’s mother asked of Jesus that her sons be seated at his right and left hand. The other disciples were “indignant” at such a request. (Matthew 20: 20-28)

So how do I deal with the green-eyed monster of comparison?

1. I thank God for the person whose situation has prompted the negative emotions in me. It is amazing what happens when we start being thankful and praising God for the blessings another is experiencing. Something magical happens and those pesky negative emotions subside.
2. Encourage the other person in some way. You may not know them but these days with so many methods of connecting with people sending a tweet or FB comment usually isn’t too difficult. Once again, this encouragement acts like an anaesthetic to the wound in our heart. 
3. Get back to my writing project. God has made us to create (yes, all of us) and it’s in using our creativity that we can leave our own small original imprint on the world. No one else can write the story that He has placed in our heart. Yes, it is risky as Erwin McManus states, “We cannot create without risk.”2 But it is only in leaning into the discomfort that comes with risk that we are able to experience the joy from obeying the call that burns within our hearts. The call to create.

Note: 1. The Gifts of Imperfection, Brene Brown, Hazelden 2010 p94-95 2. Article in RELEVANT Magazine,  May/June 2014, titled “Everyone is Creative”, Erwin McManus.

How do you deal with the green-eyed monster of comparison?  

~~~~

Ian Acheson is an author and strategy consultant based in Sydney, Australia. Ian's first novel of speculative fiction, Angelguard, is now available in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. He’s currently busy working on Wrestling with Shadows, the second novel in The Chronicles of the Angelguard. You can find more about Angelguard at Ian's website, on his author Facebook page and Twitter

Castles, Gratefulness and Why You Might Kiss Your Carpet by Holley Gerth

Holley Gerth

My heart has been so blessed to follow Holley Gerth for almost a year now and I wanted to share her encouragement with you. I was so thrilled when she agreed to let me re-post this wonderful piece about dreams and gratefulness on Seriously Write. Be sure to follow the links to Holley's website and don't forget to subscribe to her newsletter so you can smile every day, too. ~ Angie

Every little girl grows up dreaming about living in a castle. So as I flip through channels and find a home tour in a renovated castle I pause for a moment. It’s gorgeous–high walls, timeless floors, winding staircases. The hostess explains a local architect and his wife have brought new life to this old place. The wife nods and then replies, “Would you like to see a picture of it before we began?”

What she shows the camera next almost jolts me out of my seat. It’s nothing but ruins. No roof. No windows. Just jagged pieces of wall stretching into the sky.

I shake my head in wonder. How did they even have a vision for what that place could be?

Just seconds ago I thought, “It would be really cool to live in a place like that someday.” Now I take it all back. No way would I be willing to do that much work. I landed on the “happily after” part of that castle’s story and completely missed how arduous the process had been to get there.

I thought about how I often do the same in other ways. I look at an area of another woman’s life that I admire – maybe a talent, skill, strength or dream that has come true – and I think, “It would be really cool to live in a place like that someday.”

But I don’t see the whole picture. I don’t know how much renovation happened in her life to get her there. I don’t have the back story that shows God gets all the glory. I haven’t counted the tears or uncovered the cost along the way.

"You are loved. God has a purpose for you.
He is working out his plans for your life."
- quote and graphic by Holley Gerth

Jon Acuff shared, “Never compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.”

I’d take it one step beyond that and say, “Never compare your middle to someone else’s happy ending.”

And know that if we’re longing for someone else’s “castle” we’re also asking for all the effort, energy and emotion it took for that to be built in their lives. Do we really know what we’re asking for?

Writer Kathryn Stockett received 60 rejection letters before a publisher accepted The Help, which became a runaway best-seller and popular movie.

Olympic athletes train in obscurity and make significant sacrifices just for one shot at seeing their dream come true.

The Apostle Paul experienced being beaten, shipwrecked, imprisoned and more in order to fulfill his calling.

By the time the television segment on that renovated castle finished I felt ready to kiss my carpet.

I had a new appreciation for my realities.

So next time we see a “castle” in someone else’s life that’s complete let’s close our eyes for a moment and try to imagine not just what could be but what may have already been. And then take a moment to thank God for being wise enough not to give us everything we think we want–and all that comes with it.

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Never compare your middle to someone else’s happy ending.
I landed on “happily after” & completely missed the process to get there.
You're loved. God has a purpose for you. He's working out his plans for your life.

About the Author

Holley Gerth 
"I’ve loved Jesus, words and ideas ever since I was a little girl in my grandparents’ bookstore, where I curled up with stacks of books tall enough to touch the sky. God grew the dreams He planted in my heart and I served as a writer and editorial director for DaySpring for over a decade. Then He led me in a new direction and I’m now the best-selling author of You’re Already Amazing as well as several other books with Revell."

Connect with Holley
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/HolleyGerthPage
Twitter - http://twitter.com/HolleyGerth
Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/holleygerth/

You're Going to Be Okay
by Holley Gerth

You're Going to be Okay
You really are going to be okay. And it truly is possible to live with joy, resilience, and strength no matter what life brings. Yes, there will be hurt and hard times. But God wants to help you find ways to survive, grow stronger, and even thrive--no matter what happens. For every woman who has been disappointed, who has watched a dream disappear, whose life isn't what she imagined it would be, bestselling author Holley Gerth has a heartfelt message of hope.

With her trademark positive encouragement and probing questions for self-reflection, Holley encourages women to spend less of their lives regretting and more of their lives truly living. She shows them how to guard their hearts against despair and look to the future with confidence, remembering that they are part of a greater plan and nothing can stop God's purposes for them.

Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CBD.com, DaySpring, Givington’s, Family Christian, LifeWay

The Power of Words

Marianne Evans

Hi, friends! I'm Marianne Evans, honored to return to Seriously Write as a monthly contributor! Annette Irby, the editor extraordinaire I credit for making my book Hearts Communion shine and earn wonderful honors, invited me to join the team and offer words of encouragement. I hope you enjoy the journey and I look forward to our time together! God bless!

The Power of Words

By Marianne Evans

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29 (NIV) 

“Words can build us up, words can break us down, start a fire in our hearts…or put it out.” From the Song ‘Words’ by Hawk Nelson 

Words fascinate me. A plaque hangs on the wall near my desk reading: “I love the swirl and swing of words as they tangle with human emotions.” The quote is from James Michener. I’d like to take matters a step beyond that truth.

No matter what God gives me to do, no matter what He calls me to become, encouragement and uplifting others is a vital component of my life. Our words possess a level of impact we may not fully recognize as we communicate with those around us.

I’ll never forget my first writer’s conference, Tapping the Source, sponsored by Greater Detroit RWA. I submitted ten pages of my manuscript for review. Hopes high, best foot forward, I entered the small conference room and sat across from the diminutive, yet high-energy agent from New York. Other writers joined me. Nerves tight, prayers lifted, I waited.

And I was slaughtered.

 Merciless, she ripped the submission to shreds. Specifics escape me but for the end note: “This story won’t be published, but at least you know you can write a book.”

Words can build us up…words can break us down…

Sucker-punched, I held it together. At lunch, I sat with another "victim" who had been treated with equal severity. We talked. Planned. No way would this moment be the last say when it came to our dreams. We established a critique group. We worked, learned, attended conferences and refused to give up.

Start a fire in our hearts…or put it out. 

From ashes rose best friendship. To this day we’re ‘sisters-by-another-mister.’ She’s the constant reminder in my life of the power of encouragement, of sharing and supporting. Together we survived the machete of poorly chosen words. The agent had every right to disregard my work. Writing is subjective.

But what about impact?

Yes, the woman’s words ripped a hole in my heart. But that hole left just enough room for a miracle. I fought back. I refused delivery on her verdict. I lived, I learned, and I grew. I won. Perhaps that slaughter was necessary in order to accomplish God’s purpose.

Get bitter, or get better.

The story she critiqued became my second sale to Kensington Publishing in a career now stretching across twenty-plus releases. So, my encouragement for you today? Never let someone run roughshod over your dreams. Persevere! (Tweet this!) Learn from life’s bitterest circumstances, then regroup. Give yourself to God in prayer and keep moving forward as He calls.

I don't want to say a word, unless it brings the world back to you." From the song 'Words" by Hawk Nelson.

Nothing fills Jodie Sullivan’s spirit like sharing contemporary Christian music and scriptural insights on her morning drive radio show at KWJD. Lately, though, life is conspiring against her. She’s overwhelmed, drained and depleted by the circumstances that have led her from the big city to Angel Falls, Texas and Heart’s Haven apartment complex. 

Kevin Mitchell is the freshly installed groundskeeper at Heart’s Haven—a place famous for angelic intercession and loving connections. His uncle owns the facility, and he’s ailing. Kevin is more than happy to chip in, and as he prepares the grounds for a spring wedding, he meets Jodie and they begin to work together to make Heart’s Haven sparkle. Kevin begins to believe the stories of Heart’s Haven, and its aura of romance, are true.

But just when lasting connections form between himself and the lovely, if troubled DJ—right when he succeeds at coaxing Jodie’s heart to bloom, tragedy strikes in a double dose that will test the bonds of their faith, and the love they’ve found…


Marianne Evans is a multi-award-winning author of Christian romance and fiction. Her hope is to spread the faith-affirming message of God’s love through the stories He prompts her to create. Readers laud her work as: ‘Riveting.’ ‘Realistic and true to heart.’ ‘Compelling.’ Devotion earned the prestigious Bookseller’s Best Award from Greater Detroit RWA as well the Heart of Excellence Award from Ancient City Romance Authors. She also earned wins for best romance of 2012 from the Christian Small Publisher's Association and the Selah award from Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Fiction Writers for best novella of 2013. Happily married and the mother of two, Marianne is a lifelong resident of Michigan who is active in a number of a number of Romance Writers of America chapters, most notably the Greater Detroit Chapter where she served two terms as President.