Although I don't think I have many people reading the stuff here, I just want to say that, if you've somehow stumbled across this and actually like the content, then the author doesn't use this blog any more! I've moved over to WordPress. But my Tumblr and Twitter are still active, so you can find me there, too. Thanks very much for your interest! And RIP to my very short-lived Blogger account...

Having recently been on the topic of names, I figured I'd talk a little about creating them. One troubling thing that comes with writing a fantasy, sci-fi or futuristic piece is coming up with character names. If your story is set on a distant planet, it's not very likely that you're going to have an abundance of Bobs and Alices. Although you may not think it, there are times when you have to put some serious thought into a name. 

So, what kind of things can we consider when making up our own fantasy character names?

• Look at different languages.

There's every chance you know a little bit of French, or maybe some Spanish, Japanese or German... no matter how limited your comprehension of a language, just knowing the prominent sounds and a few key words is a good start. One prime example is J.K. Rowling's character Voldemort, from her Harry Potter series. As you probably know, it's a French phrase combined into one word: 'Vol de Mort' or otherwise, 'Flight from Death'. Of course, you have to make sure your translations are sound once you do pick a name; you don't want to have any awkward mistakes in there. But widening your knowledge of the world's languages can be very inspirational when naming your characters.

• Focus on the sound of words.

Let's take a look at another contemporary example - The Hunger Games. I'm going to use Peeta Mellark for this one. Peter: phonetically, 'Pee-ee-ter' or 'Pee-ee-ta'. Condensed? Peeta! This especially works well for futuristic works because names evolve all of the time, and different spellings and versions of once common names crop up year-by-year. The variation in dialect and accents across the world also transforms a name like Peter to Petah. Focusing on the sound behind any given name can change it from something ordinary, to a totally different title altogether.

• Think about your environment.

This might seem like a strange tip, but you'd be surprised how many character names are related to plants/herbs. Back to The Hunger Games, there's Katniss and her sister Primrose, little Rue, the tribute Clove... all in one book! The botanical names of plants and trees, whilst maybe unsuitable for our characters in their purest form, can also be a great source of inspiration. Thinking about it, a lot of names are taken from things in the world around us. Descriptions of name meanings tend to begin with 'Derived from the ______ meaning ______' and in the second blank it could be something ordinary like 'stone', 'field', 'grass'... Tolkien's fantasy names from his Sindarin language are comparable at times: Legolas translates to 'green leaves'. People have also taken to using names we give to certain types of weather, precious stones and even fruit when considering baby names! You can consider the same for your characters.

• Draw inspiration from names of the past.

When naming humanoid characters who have attributes that separate them from regular humans, it's a good idea to look at names that have (mostly) fallen into disuse. A character with other-worldly powers or allure will often have connections to the distant past. It's why Rowling and Collins (as my main examples) can get away with naming so many of their characters with Roman cognomens. The target audience doesn't have to be majoring in Ancient History to recognise these Latin titles, but the names are almost 'renewed' due to how rarely we hear them in our day-to-day lives. In an alternative universe piece, it's these more flamboyant, unusual names that set your 'different' humanoid characters apart from the ordinary humans. The same applies to angel characters, and the use of Biblical names.

• Don't be afraid to reflect character with a name.

This is something done again and again in works of fiction. There's the obvious example of Snow White and the seven appropriately named dwarves, and then more subtle attempts such as Rowling's use of the name Severus on Severus Snape. It doesn't take a genius to work out why the name is so befitting, but it works well for all it might seem obvious. So long as you juxtapose this with writing your character well, then there's no reason why you can't do it. Just don't let your reader's interpretations rely heavily on the title. If Grumponius is going to be grumpy, he has to act it!

Of course, there's every chance some of your fantasy characters have a human or alternative name. That's an acceptable thing to do as well. If your main setting is earth and your character won't ever have to rely on their true title, then that's fine as well. There are also those that are an exception to the rule of their kind and have a name that doesn't match their surroundings at all.

Making up character names doesn't have to be a chore! It can be really fun just seeing what you come up with, even if it doesn't make the final cut.

I don't know about you, reader, but when I begin to describe my fantasy/futuristic worlds, I heavily rely on sight. This isn't an uncommon problem. When you imagine a new thing in your head, it's how it looks that becomes the most important thing for a moment. Everything else comes after. But if you're imagining a place not of this world, that doesn't mean you can't draw on the experiences around you to help flesh out your fantasy creations. Wherever you are now, just focus for a moment...

• What do you hear?

What sounds can be heard in the immediate area? Are there people talking? Is there road traffic in the distance? Can you hear any wildlife, or are the elements drowning it all out? In worlds and areas of your own creation, there will be comforting background noises, annoying dins and sounds that are pleasant to the ear. Sound can really bring a place to life, but what if there is nothing to hear? The absence of noise can be just as powerful as background fuzz. Think about each area and what kind of noise will be characteristic of it.

• What do you smell?

The best thing about the sense of smell is that, similar to taste, different people can have a different reaction to what's in the air. Either that is just the way they react, or there could be a specific memory tied to it that makes them recognise the scent as unpleasant/enjoyable. Your character is no different, and nor are your fantasy worlds in regards to what a 'standard' scent might be. In another place, the background smells might seem unusual. And someone accustomed to that environment might not notice them at all!

• What materials are around, and how do they feel to the touch?

You can avoid having to make up names for the materials you envision if they're not going to be a central focus of the area. Another character discovering the world for the first time will use materials of their own planet as a basis for comparison. But should they come into direct contact with anything, it might be worth describing how it feels. What is it like in temperature? Is it a rough or smooth material? Does it feel pleasant to the touch, or does it feel repulsive? Your character might notice if the contact brings a strong reaction; it might even affect them on a deeper level than they can comprehend.

• What do you taste?

This is an odd one, especially if you're not eating. But in regards to food, think about common adjectives used to describe the things we eat. Is it crunchy, soft, chewy or crisp? There's more to taste than just flavour - texture and consistency also adds to the experience of eating. It might be worth considering these things when making up your own fantasy menus!

• And finally, what can you see?

If you deal with the senses you're most likely to leave out first, then you get to save the best until last! Chances are, you have a great mental image of what you want to describe. That's the fun with fantasy lands and futuristic buildings. However, when you're constructing these things, consider what kind of being is going to use them! Maybe it's not for humans that walk on two legs. So how would the layout of their buildings/homes look (if they have any at all)? Looking at how animals manoeuvre themselves throughout their natural habitat can be insightful when you're thinking about how your fantasy creatures pass from place to place. If your fantasy creature has similar qualities, then you can take inspiration from its earthly counterpart.

• Speaking of animals...

There are some animals in the wild that use more than five senses to survive, or use different parts of their bodies to a human for a particular sense. There are a number of animals and insects that can tune into vibrations in the air or ground to pinpoint the location of their prey. If you're going to describe a totally new alien race, then paying attention to the variety in the species of our planet is a useful exercise. Your fantasy world can appeal to more than our human senses! This kind of thinking is also useful when you're writing werewolves, vampires or other creatures from folklore. If they have an animalistic quality, then you will have to consider how they might differ from their human selves or the humans around them.
Remember, even if all of these things won't make it into your final story, there is no reason why you can't put this extent of thought into your world building! If the place feels real to you, then you're probably going to do a great job of making it real for other people. Then if you do happen to need any of these extras from your notes, you can rest easy knowing that you don't have to spend your writing time trying to fill in the gaps.

Editing can be tricky, but there's no reason to be afraid of it. Here are some things that you might want to think about during the process:

• Grammar and spelling mistakes are easy to miss when you've been staring at your manuscript for a long time. Try sending it to beta readers - or to friends and family - to catch out all of those pesky typos.
• Review your work chapter by chapter (or scene by scene, for shorter works and scripts). Is everything in it serving a purpose? If not, cut it.
• Read your writing aloud! Especially your dialogue. You'll know if a sentence or line of speech needs work when hearing it aloud.
• Mark evidence of over-repetition, or the overuse of adverbs. There are always other ways to say and describe these things, and you have the talent to discover them!
• Finally, be fair to yourself. Regardless of feedback, this is your work. Sometimes comments from others can be helpful, but if you're sure a specific part needs to remain in tact, then by all means allow yourself small luxuries.

Looking at your work with a critical eye, and receiving feedback from others, is key to the revising process. Re-read, and re-read, and think of your work as an unpolished gem.

Just a little tip: if you find yourself beginning sentence after sentence with a personal pronoun or with your character's name, try jumbling the words around a little bit.

He rubbed his hands together and smiled at the sight. He couldn't believe the guy had been so stupid.

Could just as easily become:

Rubbing his hands together, he smiled at the sight. He couldn't believe the guy had been so stupid.

Sometimes, this type of repetition can be useful. You'll know yourself when it's needed. But otherwise, the order of your words can really make an impact and improve your writing just that little bit more.

Of all characters, I find those of the winged variety to be the most interesting. If you know me, this will not be a surprise. So yeah, I figured I'd share some little ideas around in case there are people with the same interest. Looking back at my old drafts, my winged characters were nowhere near close to what they are now. It was like I forgot they even have wings at all. This is kind of a common mistake. Here are some ways to avoid making it:

• Remember that there is a physical difference between your winged character and an ordinary human.

Look at the human body. Almost everything that makes it what it is has a reason for being there. And our world is adapted to cater to our bodies. There's no reason why a winged humanoid wouldn't live in a world that does the same for them. Essentially, they're six-limbed. Their wings are an important set of appendages. It's worth thinking about how they use their wings, how often they use them, and how they take care of them. And what about their general anatomy? Even though achieving flight with a human body would be impossible, that doesn't mean you can't make it plausible. James Patterson's bird-kids in the Maximum Ride series have larger chest bones; in fact, looking at the anatomy of birds is a good place to start to help you understand how they become airborne.

If you're writing an angel character, you probably won't need to go into too much detail, considering they're known for their human appearance. But do they have a spiritual, non-physical form? And how do they cope when using a human vessel/form? It might be helpful to think about how they conceal their wings, or if they're of a material or magic that can be summoned and repressed at will.

• Human behaviour isn't universal.

This can apply when writing any otherworldly character. Cultural variety is something that our planet is nothing short of. Sometimes, it's easy to think that our emotions, standards and expectations are universally applicable to everything that might fester in our imaginations. But think about this: if someone at the other side of the earth from you can be unique in their way of life, then it's hard to believe that something galaxies away - or something existing in a different dimension - will adopt the exact same behaviours as a human. You don't have to be overly detailed, but for example, how would certain human behaviours look in the eyes of your winged character? Gestures and movements are another thing that can have multiple meanings depending on where you are on earth. Your winged humanoid might be prone to misinterpreting these things based on how they would look to their kind.

Also, having wings will affect balance, and 'idle' behaviours. When a human is left standing still for a long while, they might fold their arms across their chests or tap their feet. Does your winged character do the same? Again, bird behaviour is useful here. Birds preen and ruffle their feathers; they have their own little movements and behaviours when they're not flying.

• Wings should be for more than just decoration.

The greatest conflict for a winged character is causing them to lose their wings. Imagine if a human character lost an arm or a leg. What's the chances of them getting back up and moving on with their lives like it's no big deal? There are multiple obstacles that would prevent that. Even if your winged character has some kind of spiritual or magical quality that can repair the damage, it doesn't make the emotional response go away.

Like with any limb, wings develop and grow. There are ways for them to be injured or altered, which would prevent flight, too. How would members of the same species view your winged character if he/she lost their wings? What difficulties would they face there? By any chance, are there methods/reasons for your character's own species to cause wing damage and keep a member of their race from flying? Or would they look upon such a thing as a barbaric practice?

Wings can be used for expression as well. Like a human's arms and hands, wings will undoubtedly respond to most emotional stimuli. What kind of movements do the feathers and wings make when your character is upset/frightened? What about when they're happy, curious or adopting an aggressive stance? We can tell what another person is feeling from their body language at times. It's likely your winged characters would notice the same amongst their own species.

Also, it might be worth noting that your character's wings will make certain types of clothing a little difficult to wear. Designing outfits for your winged humanoids can be fun; be as creative as you like!

These are the three main things I consider when writing my winged characters. As you would describe the facial expression, hand/arm movements and stance of a human character, I include all the same for my winged guys and girls but also think about their wings, and how the behaviour would be different to a human's. Eeep so yeah - sorry if these seem like a really obvious set of rules! There's a ton of other things to consider, but this post is long enough as it is. This isn't an official guide or a 'YOU MUST DO THIS' kind of prompt; just a bit of rambling about wings because, let's face it, they're awesome. Feel free to chip in with your own ideas, if you'd like~