Christian Goodreaders discussion
Goodreads Authors in Our Group
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Not so idle chat.
And wouldn't you know it :o I have another question.Can satellites with thermal imaging cameras see people on the ground during the day in a hot summer's day?
Hmmmm...
Don't know anything about thermal imaging cameras; I'm pretty ignorant technologically!When I write fiction (which I haven't done that much --one short novel so far, and some short stories), like any author, I give some thought to naming the characters. But it's more of an art than a science; a name will just suggest itself and seem to fit. I've never talked with other writers about this particular subject, so I don't know if their experience/process is similar or not. Sometimes I riff off of (or rarely, outright borrow) names of people I've known or heard of; but I definitely try not to use names of people I currently know! :-)
Usually, I don't use symbolic names, but some characters in Lifeblood have them. But even there, most of them don't. For my heroine, who's from Transylvania, I wanted something that sounded Slavic, and a last name that would be patronymic, in keeping with the culture. Another character, Itchy, gets his nickname from a personal habit. A Jewish character has an Old Testament first name, and her last name is actually the name of a scholar who wrote a Hebrew concordance to the O.T.
Charles Dickens was a writer who came up with some very imaginative and distinctive names for characters. During his extensive travels, he used to like to ramble around in cemeteries, noting unusual names on tombstones for future use. (I've never tried that, myself. :-) )
Werner wrote: "Don't know anything about thermal imaging cameras; I'm pretty ignorant technologically!When I write fiction (which I haven't done that much --one short novel so far, and some short stories), like..."
Charles Dickens's idea sounds like a pretty good one ;) Got to try that next time I visit my grandparents' village.
Being the oldest of 22 cousins (and couting, the youngest is only 4 now) I've been coming up with stories to entertain some of them since I was old enough to babysit.
Kids are unforgiving lol. Try passing two characters, that have the same name, from two different tales, by them and they'll ask for an explanation.
I could only use "good sounding names" so many times lol.
I used to enjoy making up names, until a friend told me that in her maternal language one I had come up with meant something like, pardon my French, poop or abortion. So... that was the beginning of me wanting to make sure I was not using offensive names.
In my current and hopefully more serious writings I have my heroes trying to escape a see al know all kind of villain who has eyes in the sky. Shouldn't have gotten them into such a situation before thinking of it more seriously :) now I'll have to do a lot of research lol.
Just checked out the reviews on Lifeblood ;) looks like I'll be having to do a trip to my bookstore to do some ordering.
Thanks for your interest in Lifeblood, SgoiltePrais! If you read it sometime, I hope that you like it. (Let me know if you have any trouble ordering it. World Castle Publishing is a small press, and they may not be easy for your local bookstore to locate and deal with. :-( )The whole area of offensive names can be a minefield. In my novel-in-progress, the main character's nickname, which she usually goes by, was originally Skeeter (borrowed from country singer Skeeter Davis). But a writer friend who'd served in the military warned me that in Army slang, "Skeeter" has an extremely offensive sexual connotation! As a result, her nickname got changed to Scooter. :-)
Werner wrote: "Thanks for your interest in Lifeblood, SgoiltePrais! If you read it sometime, I hope that you like it. (Let me know if you have any trouble ordering it. World Castle Publishing is a small press, ..."Thanks Werner :) I'll try to lead them in the right direction, now that you've given me the publishers' name it might be easier for them. But I'll be sure to ask for your help if they get things muddled.
Still on the character naming subject, I love the way Anne MacCaffrey came up with names for her characters in the Pern series :) it'something done in some places in Africa and Brazil as well. They take part of the father's name and part of the mother's name and mash them up. So Silvia and Josiah will become Siljo or Jovia.
My problem with that is that some names really don't make for good combinations lol, I know a woman who is called Jelly, mom was Jerusa and dad was Charlly.
I use names I like on my characters. They also have to fit the time/setting of the story. It's that simple. :)
The problem is, I have favorite names that I want to use on multiple characters. I know writing 3 unrelated novels with main characters named Finn (or Lily/Kate/Maria, if it's a female character) is a terrible idea, but it's tempting. lol.
The problem is, I have favorite names that I want to use on multiple characters. I know writing 3 unrelated novels with main characters named Finn (or Lily/Kate/Maria, if it's a female character) is a terrible idea, but it's tempting. lol.
Raevyn wrote: "I use names I like on my characters. They also have to fit the time/setting of the story. It's that simple. :)The problem is, I have favorite names that I want to use on multiple characters. I kn..."
Too tempting lol.
If I did that all my female characters would be called Olivia or Emily and all my male characters would be Emidio, Jacob or Severin.
And then I'd be in trouble for using family names ;)
Two no-nos lol.
Maybe I should have a character called Roger, or Federer ;) *Runs off to watch her favourite player play*
A friend's question for me today at lunch: What makes you refrain from trying to publish your works? Why not give it a try?I honestly can't answer that.
I've been writing for most of my life, have entertained kids with my little tales, created worlds for them where they were the heroes.
Why have I never sent those best of my musings and imaginings to a publisher? Hmmmm. Good question.
Maybe I'm just shy about sharing what goes inside my mind with the rest of the world? I never gave it much thought.
When did you know you wanted to publish your works?
Was it a planned thought or did it just happen?
How did it come about and did you have any doubts?
What kind of doubts?
And out of idle curiosity, if that's a thing lol, do you count rereading a book as currently reading?
I count anything I'm reading as currently reading, no matter how many times I've read it before. I just switch it back and forth between shelves.
Janelle wrote: "I count anything I'm reading as currently reading, no matter how many times I've read it before. I just switch it back and forth between shelves."LOL
I just had a mental image of you with an armful of books scooting over from one shelve to nother :3
Lol, SgoiltePrais. Actually that's not a bad description of me. I love fiddling with books.
Janelle wrote: "Lol, SgoiltePrais. Actually that's not a bad description of me. I love fiddling with books."I can understand that, books are wonderful things to have around and fiddle with :) I love to organize and reorganize mine lol, and I can't pick one up to dust it without getting lost in its pages. It's dreadful ;) heehee, specially when you own hundreds of them :D hahaha
I can't believe there's someone else out there who likes organising their books. When I was a kid, I loved getting all my books off the shelf, looking at them and putting them away, all orderly and neat. Nowadays I love to fiddle with me Goodreads shelves. I don't fiddle so much with my hard copies anymore. But they are all organised. I enjoy ebooks, but nothing beats the touch of the real thing.
Janelle wrote: "I can't believe there's someone else out there who likes organising their books. When I was a kid, I loved getting all my books off the shelf, looking at them and putting them away, all orderly and..."We are many ;)
I love to hold them, dust them and every now and then change them from one shelf to another.
I much prefer the feel and smell of the "real" thing, even when they're getting on with age and make me sneeze lol.
Although... I kinda wish I had bought my current book as an ebook :o the thing weighs some 4lbs, had to give up trying to read it on the bus and train on my way to work lol.
Sometimes ebooks come in handy, SgoiltePrais
Janelle wrote: "Sometimes ebooks come in handy, SgoiltePrais"Indeed XD
Janelle wrote: "Sometimes ebooks come in handy, SgoiltePrais"Whoa o_o" you've read 1497 books?
I'm feeling unaccomplished >"<
Need to read more, urgently!
Lol Nena, that's all the books I can remember reading in my lifetime. I'm always on the hunt for books I've read but can't remember the titles of. Somewhat more daunting than my read list is my to read list. I'm never going to get through it.
I wish the mobile version of Goodreads allowed me to edit my posts. Two mistakes in one post!
Janelle wrote: "Lol Nena, that's all the books I can remember reading in my lifetime. I'm always on the hunt for books I've read but can't remember the titles of. Somewhat more daunting than my read list is my to ..."Janelle wrote: "I wish the mobile version of Goodreads allowed me to edit my posts. Two mistakes in one post!"
I know what you mean about not remembering some titles. There are books I remember from the library, I remember the stories but the title has gone.
Some were pretty good too and I really wish I could remember because I want to buy them lol, but you can't get to the bookshop and go "Mmyeah, I want to buy this book that was about - what if queen Elizabeth the first had been murdered and Victorian England hadn't existed - do you have it?" XD I can just see the shopkeeper's face LOL.
I only have 56 books on my to read list :3 but something tells me it'll grow significantly if I keep going through the lists of suggestions :3
Janelle wrote: "I wish the mobile version of Goodreads allowed me to edit my posts. Two mistakes in one post!"Pshaaaah XD
I'm the queen of typos lol. I've just gotten in the habit of "editing" what I post before I post it ;)
You'd be laughing your head off it i didn't :3
I normally do an edit before I post, but I think this morning I was too sleepy to see my mistakes. I joined What's the Name of That Book group on Goodreads to help me find books I'd forgotten. I've also found a few through friends' posts and shelves. I'm sure your to read list is going to grow exponentially. Mine only had about 20 books on it when I joined Goodreads, and look at it now. And that's after a number of edits to try whittle it down.
Janelle wrote: "I normally do an edit before I post, but I think this morning I was too sleepy to see my mistakes. I joined What's the Name of That Book group on Goodreads to help me find books I'd forgotten. I'v..."
You're from Australia... just saw that ⊙.⊙
I should have said good morning then lol, is it still morning there?
You could read one book a day ;) that way you'd get through that list in just, allowing for a few "days off", 4 years :3 or maybe read 22 books per week? ;) you'd be done in one single year XD
I used to do marathon readings when I was still at school, we could take 5 books home over the weekends, so I'd take out 5 books go to the park by the library read those books untill just before closing time go back take another 5 and take them home lol. Did that for years before we moved to another town. I loved that library.
I don't remember half of those titles :3 Granted, not all were worthy of being remembered to tell you the truth, I sort of kinda like remember the story of one about how a family had only four daughters and was miserable, poor and the dad a drunkard, but after their much desired son was born all became wonderful.
Can't remember much more of it but I don't think I really care too either lol.
I'm keeping my to read list in check, I already have three series of about five titles each on my eReader ;)
Lol Nena, you sound just like me when I was a kid. Every year we went to the beach for a holiday for two weeks. I'd borrow books on everyone's card, which would be about 20 - 25 books. I'd have them read after 10 days and then wouldn't know what to do with myself. I think my to read list is a lost cause. I couldn't read as fast as you suggest, and even if I could, when I finish one book, I just add on the next in the series. It doesn't help that my husband gets me new ebooks every second day.
Yes, I am in Australia and it's afternoon now. I saw on another post that you were born in Angola. Is that where you live now?
Five books in an afternoon!? You must have been a fast reader!
Janelle wrote: "Five books in an afternoon!? You must have been a fast reader!";) hee hee heee
My primary school teacher wholeheartedly agreed with you on that. XD
That's when my parents introduced me to the public library, first book I ever requesitioned was Mrs McGinty. It's still one of my favourites ^_^ I love Agatha Christie.
But the books I was gobbling down were in the league of Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew, you have to admit anyone can read one of those in 2 or 3 hours lol, they're fun and great for what they are, but not exactly great literary works ;)
Still love them though! Still have my own collection and still read them from time to time.
There's a lot of good books out there that aren't great literary works. I've never read Nancy Drew, but I used to own a few Trixie Beldens.
I had to go look Mrs McGinty up. I haven't read much Agatha Christie.
Janelle wrote: "There's a lot of good books out there that aren't great literary works. I've never read Nancy Drew, but I used to own a few Trixie Beldens."I completely agree with that :-) my shelves are full of them ;) I have never gotten rid of a single book I have been fortunate to own.
Not unless it was for a good cause, like donating to the school library. T︵T it was heartwrenching LOL
You need to try Agatha Christie :o she's brilliant!
Not sure if her tales can be considered great literature ;) had a teacher who thought her books weren't worth reading. But then, she didn't like Narnia either -_-
I'm impressed you've been able to keep almost all your books. I've moved too much, and now my house is too small. So I've had to do some culling :( I also lost a box of books somewhere in my travels. I wouldn't take any notice of a teacher who doesn't like Narnia. They're not to be trusted.
I think I've read one or two Agatha Christies. They're on my radar as books to possibly read, but not on my to read shelf. I reckon it's bloated enough already.
I don't have every book. I did make donations to a couple of school libraries when we had to move, my parents were very convincing ;) and we had to leave some things behind (books included) when we ran from the war (Google 1970s Angola independence war) :(
You must have been quite young when the war happened. That's some experience for a young girl.
Too young, just like thousands of others :( and I remember a lot.But I still believe the Lord allows me to remember things for a very good reason. If I didn't remember the things I do I know I'd be one of those people who can't relate to others' suffering, this way I at least retain a measure of compassion.
"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials,
that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
whom having not seen you love."
1 Peter 1:6-8
Been feeling too tired to ask this but... How about fictional maps of fictional worlds for your characters to walk through?
I'm using gimp.
It's not the same as photoshop but about as good, and a lot less expensive ;) since it's free.
Is anyone else as errr... focused (good word he?) O:) as I am about knowing and being able to tell where my characters walk?
In the case of both my published short novel and the one in progress, I drew up sketch maps of the main setting for my own reference, so that I had a geographic frame of reference for all of the events that I could see at a glance. But I didn't think it would be necessary to include a map for the readers, since the geographic scale isn't large --just a small town and its environs. (Jan Karon included a map of Mitford in her At Home in Mitford, though.)In the case of large locales, sometimes spanning the whole world (especially an invented world), or a whole country or region, I think a map is a real necessity for both writer and readers. (Robert E. Howard, for instance, drew up a famous map of his Hyborian world, which he and his imitators have used ever since; reading the stories, I'd be lost without it.) I've always considered the lack of a map in Susan Collins' Hunger Games books to be a serious flaw.
Werner wrote: "In the case of both my published short novel and the one in progress, I drew up sketch maps of the main setting for my own reference, so that I had a geographic frame of reference for all of the ev..."I agree. Hunger Games needs a map. Without it I find my mind putting all the districts in one tiny space. I want to know exactly in which part of the US the 12th district is.
I find it difficult to gage distances when I'm writing, or reading, if I don't have a map to look at.
Sadly cartography is not my forte lol. Gimp does help a lot, if I had to do it by hand I'd lose most of the time mapping things instead of actually writing.
It helps to have a map when I am describing how someone is stumbling through a forest or a town trying to escape whatever they are trying to escape. I need to know where the rocks are that they're using to hide lol.
How do you deal with not being able to read or write? I have been so busy in the last few days I haven't been able to do either.
Any secret hints on how to be able to cram in a few pages every day? lol
I feel hungry when I can't at least read a couple of pages every day. XD
I've found audiobooks to be very handy. I also have a number of books on the go at once. This means I have books readily available for different situations and different energy levels.
And I also have a book I leave on the table to read while I eat. This one is usually a book of art or photos, or sometimes poetry.
I like to listen to an audiobook when I wake up, when I'm not awake enough yet to look at all those letters on a page.Hubby also likes to read a page or two in the restroom, although that doesn't work for me.
I have several audiobooks but they tend to put me in a sleepy mood lol. Stephen Fry Is amazing in his HP readings, puts me right to sleep ;) Reading while eating sounds feasible Janelle, and Swantje, reading in the loo... hmmm got to give that a try XD
I even dream I am reading, but the letters in the books get all mushed together and I don't understand anything. It's very confusing lol.
But reading at the table and in the loo sounds good, need a smaller book I can carry around, I might just be able to fit in a chapter or two (if they're short ones) during my lunch and break hour.
Thanks girls.
Now to find a solution for the writing part...
Normally, I do a half hour of exercise on a stationary bike every day (and make it up another day if I have to miss a day) for weight maintenance and cholesterol management. In the early 90s, I discovered I could read on the bike, so that's become my primary reading time. (I've become very devoted to physical fitness. :-) )Don't have a solution yet for the writing part of the equation, though. (That's why it takes me forever to write anything!)
Werner wrote: "Normally, I do a half hour of exercise on a stationary bike every day (and make it up another day if I have to miss a day) for weight maintenance and cholesterol management. In the early 90s, I di..."Werner, I always walk part of my way to work (about a mile and a half and for the same reasons as you ;)) when it's not raining. but books and rain don't mix well, and that is what's stopping me now.
Sadly, I have a perfectly good treadmill but no space to use it (you wouldn't believe how small my house is) I never thought of reading on the treadmill though, maybe I should get rid of a couple of armchairs...
Thinking of it, I should have about one hour free now that I am taking the bus to the train station. Why don't I? Hmmmm.
Have you tried to write on the bike? I mean, if you decided to use a computer the keyboard might be usable while you do your exercising.
SgoiltePrais, I do use my computer for writing, but it wouldn't work to try to do it on the bike. The PC and the bike are on opposite sides of the room, the keyboard cord is nowhere near that long, and trying to balance the keyboard while pedaling would be awkward. (Besides, if I wrote on the bike, I couldn't read!) But thanks for the suggestion.
Werner wrote: "SgoiltePrais, I do use my computer for writing, but it wouldn't work to try to do it on the bike. The PC and the bike are on opposite sides of the room, the keyboard cord is nowhere near that long..."LOL
See? Told you my house is small, if I could have my treadmill out and even if the laptop was on the other side of the room I'd be able to see the screen quite well. XD
Christian Goodreaders
Books mentioned in this topic
The Tree of Culture (other topics)At Home in Mitford (other topics)
Lifeblood (other topics)
Don't mind me ;) I have a Pooh side, good thing there's no sound here or you'd be forced to hear me hum.
Since I'm already here, here's my first question (I have a million of them) how do you come about naming characters for your works?
I try to think of the specific personality I want them to have and then find a name, the more obscure the better, for them. Like Blaise ;) who's a bit of a liar in a short story from long ago.
Other times I do it the other way around, I find a name, check its meaning and shape the character around it.
Got into a bit of trouble once when I named a pilferer with a good friend's second name.