Joshilyn’s Comments (group member since Jul 28, 2014)

Joshilyn’s comments from the New Voices in Fiction Authors from William Morrow group.

OH I LOVE! Write or Die.

And hate it.

I play Kamikazi Grumpy Cat mode. :)

I am at a coffee house and cannot go home until this scene is DONE.

I have been here since 6. It is now 2.

I have played a lot of Drawception.

I have dinner reservations at 6 and may miss them if I can't get it together and MAKE THIS SCENE GO.

I may have to have my mail forwarded here.

I may die here and rot entirely away to dirt in this very chair.

I am starting to hate this scene. >.<

Ariframli wrote: "What is the main message from your novel?"

Thanks for posting--- I am not sure I have a message, per se---It's more about exploring some questions, ones that I do not think have easy answers---what does faith look like, how can this owerful force be used for good or ill, is there any such thing as a post=modern miracle, and if so, what does that look like?

HA -- I love all these, and I remember penny candy, BUT I am ashamed!! EMMI I AM A HUGE MOOMIN FAN! How did I MISS that in your book! *shame!*

I am reading Uncle TOm's Cabin for my classics book club, and after that I will reread the remarkably good ORPHAN TRAIN for my neighborhood book club.

M.P I JUST finished COP TOWN---WHEW I loved it.

SO...did any of you hide "Easter Eggs?" You know, little shout outs to beloved people or places?

For example, in every book I have multiple references to Stephen King---some overt, some SO tiny even SK himself might miss 'em if he wasn't really looking ---He was my favorite writer growing up, and his work has remained so dear to me. I think he is amazing.

I also hid a couple of very personal things only my husband would get. :)

You? CONFESS!

Oh THANKS! Truth be told, that one? I have NO idea! He started fully formed as Walcott and stayed Walcott, and the end of the book came out of his name in a way (no spoilers, but you know what I mean) SOmetimes they just are who they are.

Like Paula was ALWAYS Paula, but I NEVER had a last name for her. I tried about 100. Finally, I decided to never say her last name in the whole book.

Now I am writing a book that Paula narrates, and I HAD to find a last name. I picked Vauss, which is a hybrid of two names---one means fox and one means liar. I think it is going to stick. :)

(PS THAT WAS A LIE!!!!I AM NOT "WRITING" IT! I am sitting in a coffee house with the FILE OPEN playing on this message board...but I SHOULD be writing it...) --Joshilyn

In another thread, but I thought it might get lost. Here is my (abbreviated) answer, plus please chime in!:

Hey Jenn!

Sometimes I look for a name that sounds like who the person is...A kind of naming onomatopoeia. A hard tough person might have a short name with sharp, staccato consonants.

Sometimes the name evokes who they are for me --

in SOMEONE ELSE'S LOVE STORY, William's last name was always Ashe, but I did not realize until much later how perfect that name is for a man who has lost everything---his whole life has been set afire and is utterly gone at the beginning of the book. It is ashes.

And sometimes? I resort to the Great Big Book of Baby Names. :) Shandi (who claims to have experienced a virgin birth) is a Celtic name that means Gift of God, but it can be very LITERALLY translated to mean "I am pregnant." It is also used as a nickname for a traditionally Jewish name (her dad is Jewish) and a Wasp-y name (Her mom is a WASP), and I wanted that blend to be reflected in her name. SO... that one took HOURS with the Big Book of Baby Names.

Now this may JUST be me, but I find that angsting and researching about naming is a GREAT way to avoid writing, but eventually the name slots into place and I have to face that blank, bare, spooky page. If you think you are doing this, then stick a placeholder name in and promise yourself you can play names after you get your word count in.

What about you, Debut folks -- do you have ways to avoid writing? Or is that JUST me. :)

Best of luck to you as you pursue this maddening and delightful craft---Joshilyn

Jenn wrote: "How do you come up with names for your characters? I can only think of common names and I'd like something a little unusual, any suggestions?"

Hey Jenn!

Sometimes I look for a name that sounds like who the person is...A kind of naming onomatopoeia. A hard tough person, might have a short name with sharp, staccato consonants.

Sometimes the name evokes who they are for me -- William Ashe was named William because I wanted him to have a very classic simple male name that sounded strong and unerring. His last name was always Ashe, but I did not realize until much later how perfect that name is for a man who has lost everything---his whole life has been set afire and is utterly gone at the beginning of the book. It is ashes.

And sometimes? I resort to the Great Big Book of Baby Names. :) Shandi is a Celtic name that means Gift of God, but it can be very LITERALLY translated to mean "I am pregnant." It is also used as a nickname for a traditionally Jewish name (her dad is Jewish) and a Wasp-y name (Her mom is a WASP), and I wanted that blend to be reflected in her name. SO... that one took HOURS with the Big Book of Baby Names.

Now this may JUST be me, but I find that angsting and researching about naming is a GREAT way to avoid writing, but eventually the name slots into place and I have to face that blank, bare, spooky page. If you think you are doing this, then stick a placeholder name in and promise yourself you can play names after you get your word count in.

Best of luck to you as you pursue this maddening and delightful craft---Joshilyn