Opinions on my characters

Writers' Corner
1

I’m writing a futuristic, dystopian novel as they are popular right now. Tell me what you think of these names in the situations.

  1. [name]Clio[/name] and [name]Pax[/name], brother and sister from one culture
  2. [name]Oma[/name] and Mam- [name]Oma[/name] is [name]Clio[/name]'s grandmother, Mam is her mother. Too similar? Suggestions?
  3. [name]Priya[/name]- [name]Clio[/name]'s friend from another culture
  4. [name]Mordecai[/name] the villain and Astor his assistant in a cult

Thanks!

2

I really like all the names, as unhelpful as that is :slight_smile: [name]One[/name] question: Are the names [name]Oma[/name] and Mam their given names or are they the equivalent of calling them grandmother and mother?

3

[name]Clio[/name] and [name]Pax[/name] feel well-matched to me.
I think [name]Oma[/name] and Mam is perfectly clear. It blends two cultures of today ([name]German[/name] [name]Oma[/name], British Mam), which makes it more recognizable.
[name]Priya[/name] is a guilty pleasure of mine. So pretty, but clearly culturally distinct from [name]Clio[/name] and [name]Pax[/name].
[name]Mordecai[/name] is an awesome villain name. Astor sounds fine, not as awesome as [name]Mordecai[/name] but as a henchman he doesn’t have to be.

I think you’ve done great.

4

Yep those are good names, though I agree that I hope that’s just what the mom and grandmother are called–it would be really strange if those were supposed to be their given names. Like naming your daughter Daughter.

5

I like all of those names a lot. [name]Priya[/name] is my all time favorite P- name, and it sounds very [name]Indian[/name] to me. In [name]Indian[/name], [name]Priya[/name] means [name]Beloved[/name]. (by the way) It’s obviously from a different culture than the other characters.

6

I really like the name [name]Mordecai[/name]. You may want to know that there is a supposedly haunted estate in [name]North[/name] [name]Carolina[/name] called the [name]Mordecai[/name] house. So it already has some evil connected to it. Great choice!

7

Touch of unsought advice: Write for yourself, not for others. If you write something because you think people will like it, because you think it will sell, you will have a hard time writing something you can be happy with, or even something good. Find a story that needs to be told, and tell it. Writing is about passion, not fads. There’s a lot of vampire romance out there, and none of it measures up to Twilight. Start the trends, don’t follow them; follow your passion and your muse. Write what you know, write what you would read, write what you love.

Rant over.

  1. [name]Clio[/name] and [name]Pax[/name] – Good, but not a fan of [name]Clio[/name]. A bit to close to another word that shouldn’t be a name…
  2. [name]Oma[/name] and Mam – Are these what they are called in the culture or their names? As the first, they’re fine. As the second, meh. Probably too close?
  3. [name]Priya[/name]- Cute.
  4. [name]Mordecai[/name] and Astor – Good. I would consider something more made-up for [name]Mordecai[/name], unless you want to reference/parallel the bible story. But I’m weird, and like allusions.
8

I just like the word allusions, myself. :slight_smile: I agree with what you said about writing to please yourself, not others. But whatever. I do like the name [name]Mordecai[/name], but, (if you know me at all you probably know this is coming) how is that pronounced???

9

[name]Mordecai[/name]

More-deh-keye (as in eye/letter I)

10

I was right!!! (For once…)

11

[name]Oma[/name] and Mam are their cultural names,as a mother and grandmother. They are not their given names.

[name]Mordecai[/name]'s reference is intentional.

This idea is one I’ve had for a while but haven’t actually written, so now that its style is popular I am going to write it.

12

Good. I’m glad there’s an actual desire to write the story, and you aren’t writing it just becuase it’s popular. That doesn’t always generate the best writing, in my opinion.
You may not have thought this through, and you don’t have to, but if you have, what are [name]Oma[/name] and Mam’s given names? [name]Just[/name] curious, if you don’t know, then don’t answer.