Name a Character in My New Novel – Here's How!

One of the fun things about writing is creating characters that have interesting backstories that create conflicts with other characters that help illustrate the themes of the story.  While there may be many characters that appear in the story, there are usually just a few that are central to the plots running throughout.

Naming each character is always a critical part of the process, as that is the first and most recognizable way they are introduced to the reader.  People react to names; maybe they know someone they really like that has the same name (or vice versa!), or perhaps the name sounds pleasant when spoken or read, or the cadence and sound of the name suggest a character's disposition.

A great illustration of this can be found in the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling.  If you'd never read the series and I tossed these two names out to you – Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy – which one would you guess is a good guy and which one is a bad guy?

What I am going to do, because I am very grateful to the 1,000+ visitors who seek out my blog each week, is stage a contest where one of my readers can name one of the characters in my upcoming novel, "Rubbed Out".  The winner will have their suggested character name used in the book, and receive thankful recognition by name from me for their contribution to the novel in the "Acknowledgements" page at the beginning of the book.  They will also win an autographed copy of "Flesh Wound" as well as "Rubbed Out" (when RO is published in 2011).

Here is the brief backstory of the character to be named by the contest winner:  He is in his late 30s, a former Wall Street bond trader who crashed and burned in the latest financial crisis because of he took risks he didn't understand in the subprime lending market.  He lost his job as a result, and is currently trying to figure out what to do next with his life.  He is disillusioned and questioning his belief system, and comes to Faye as a new client.  The problem is, he is unable to find meaning in any of their sessions, which alarms him even more, and he embarks on a search for his destiny.

Go to it and good luck!  If you have any questions, just email me at jon@jonsay.com or leave a comment here.  This is your chance to contribute to the literary world and be remembered forever in print.    I hope you're having a terrific Monday!  Read something today that makes you forget where you are!  Thanks for reading.  -Jon