Here are ten quick ways to come up with names for your characters (without using one of those online name generators)

1. Movie/TV Show Credits: one of the easiest ways I use for character naming is to take a glance at a movie or TV show as the end credits roll. Name after name after name, any of which can be mixed and matched to make new ones or kept as is for authenticity.
2. Census: If you dig a little, you can find a ton of old census records online. This will show you names that correlate to a certain part of the country or world, and often to a certain time period.
3. Baby Name Websites: Especially if you’re looking for ethnic names, these are invaluable resources for character names.
4. Book or Magazine: The acknowledgement section of any book or the list of contributors in a magazine will also provide many interesting names.
5. Ancestry Sites: This one could cost you if you’re not already a genealogy nut (or know one), but there are certainly lots of names listed, many of them by time period.
6. Cemetary: If you’d like to take a nice stroll for your health, try walking around your local cemetery. The older the graves, the more interesting the names in my experience.
7. Newspaper Morgue: This will likely require a trip to the library and a microfiche machine, but any newspaper, especially the classified section or want ads, will give you a list of names.
8. Phone Book: If you can find an old phone book or city directory, you’re in luck. They’re chock full of great names.
9. Company Websites: You can also find interesting names on a company listing of employees.
10. Club/Organization Rolls: If you can find the members’ list of a local club or organization (like the Rotary Club or Baptist Men’s Organization), you can find lots of names for characters.

Bonus: Five Name Generating Websites:

• Masterpiece Name Generator
• Reedsy Ultimate Character Name Generator
• Hiveword Character Name Generator
• Behind The Name Random Name Generator
• Bookbird Character Name Generator

Here’s what we got when we told the AI to give us some sensory details for that train story:

User

That’s great. Please give me a feel for the atmosphere. What are the sounds, the tempratures, the odors I can expect.

Brainstorming Assistant

Creating a vivid atmosphere aboard the Zephyry in 2050 involves blending sensory experiences that emphasize futuristic luxury and comfort. Here’s a sensory depiction of the atmosphere:

Sounds

• Soft Ambient Music: Gentle, soothing tunes play through hidden, high-fidelity speakers, adjustable to personal taste or switched off for silence.
• Whispering Technology: The hum of advanced technology is nearly imperceptible, with only the faint sound of servos or the whisper of the automated systems adjusting the environment.
• Nature Sounds: Depending on the selected theme, natural sounds such as flowing water, bird calls, or rustling leaves can be softly played to enhance the thematic experience.
• Isolated Quietness: Exceptional soundproofing insulates the interior from external noise, including the clatter of the train on the tracks, creating a serene bubble of tranquility.
• Interactive Sounds: Responsive sound systems provide feedback or ambient effects triggered by the occupant’s actions, like the soft chime of the AI responding or the subtle shift in audio when virtual windows display different scenes.

Temperatures

• Personalized Climate Control: Each zone within the car can be adjusted to suit individual preferences, whether it’s the warmth of a sunny beach or the coolness of a mountain retreat.
• Heated Floors and Surfaces: Walking barefoot is a pleasure with underfloor heating, and surfaces like seats can also gently warm to provide comfort on cooler days.
• Adaptive Environment: The train’s system anticipates needs based on time of day and outside weather, ensuring the interior environment is always perfectly balanced.

Odors

• Scent Diffusion System: Customizable aromas can be diffused throughout the car to match the mood or theme—fresh ocean breeze, crisp mountain air, or the subtle scent of a lush forest.
• Filtered and Purified Air: Advanced air filtration systems eliminate all external pollution and odors, ensuring that the air inside is always fresh and clean.
• Gourmet Smells: When meals are prepared, the aroma of fine cuisine can waft through the space, tantalizing with hints of exotic spices or the rich smell of gourmet coffee brewing.
• Subtle Fragrance: The overall scent is controlled and subtle, designed not to overpower but to enhance the sensory experience, like the soft fragrance of linen or the clean, minimalistic smell of high-tech luxury.

General Atmosphere

• Visual Harmony: The visual design complements the auditory and olfactory atmosphere, with colors and textures that evoke a sense of calm and luxury. Soft, ambient lighting adjusts automatically to the time of day or mood.
• Tactile Comfort: Every surface is crafted for comfort, from the plush carpets to the silky-smooth fabric of the furniture, creating a tactile environment that invites relaxation and comfort.
• Dynamic Ambiance: The overall ambiance is dynamic and can change based on the passenger’s preferences or the time of day, always maintaining a core feeling of sophisticated, understated luxury.

This sensory-rich environment aboard the Zephyr in 2050 ensures that the journey is not just about reaching a destination, but about experiencing a personal, luxurious retreat that engages all the senses in a subtle, yet profoundly satisfying way.

So I’ve been playing around with AI. Not to write anything for me, but for research purposes. One of the stories I’m working on at the moment involves a train so I decided to ask the AI what it knew about private train cars. Here’s how that went:

First, you need to specify what you want the AI to do, giving it specifics such as when the story is set and where it takes place. This is your prompt – we’ll be looking at “super prompts” in a later post. This is what the AI came up with for my train story:

Brainstorming Assistant

Creating a futuristic, luxury train car experience set in 2050 offers a wealth of possibilities for integrating advanced technology, comfort, and unparalleled service. Here’s a list of 100 amenities, luxuries, and experiences that could be included in your character’s private train car on the Zephyr:

Technology and Entertainment

1. 360-degree panoramic windows with adjustable opacity
2. Advanced VR (Virtual Reality) entertainment system
3. AR (Augmented Reality) windows that display information about passing landscapes
4. Personal AI assistant for each passenger
5. Holographic display units for work or entertainment
6. Ultra-high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity
7. Gesture-controlled interfaces
8. Voice-activated room adjustments (lighting, temperature, etc.)
9. Surround sound audio system
10. Digital art displays on walls
11. On-demand movie and music streaming
12. E-books and digital magazines library
13. Interactive floor projections for entertainment or exercise
14. Smart glass for privacy and mood settings
15. Retractable roof for stargazing or sunlight
16. Wireless charging surfaces
17. Sleep-enhancing technology in bedding
18. Mood-enhancing scent diffusers
19. Personalized climate control
20. Automated wardrobe management system

Comfort and Design

21. Spacious lounge area with designer furniture
22. Ultra-comfortable, ergonomic seating and sleeping arrangements
23. Customizable interior themes (e.g., ocean, forest, space)
24. Heated flooring
25. Mini spa with hydrotherapy tub
26. Rainfall shower with adjustable settings
27. High-end toiletries and grooming essentials
28. Walk-in closet with automatic clothing selection
29. Noise-canceling walls
30. Luxury linen and robes
31. Adjustable gravity settings for comfort
32. Art installations by renowned artists
33. Library with classic and contemporary literature
34. Zen garden for meditation and relaxation
35. Fireplace simulation for ambiance
36. Aquarium or terrarium options
37. Personal chef services
38. Gourmet kitchen with AI cooking assistance
39. Bar stocked with premium spirits and wines
40. Automated cocktail maker
41. Dining area that converts for business or entertainment
42. Private gym equipped with the latest fitness technology
43. Massage chair or personal massage robot
44. Medical and wellness check-up devices
45. Beauty and grooming station
46. Pet-friendly accommodations and amenities
47. Virtual personal trainer
48. Soundproof sections for undisturbed rest
49. Convertible spaces for different activities (e.g., yoga, pilates)
50. Organic and hypoallergenic materials throughout

Service and Experience

51. On-board concierge service
52. Virtual reality tours of global destinations
53. Live streaming of cultural events worldwide
54. Personal shopping and delivery to the train
55. Tailored cultural and historical briefings of areas passed
56. Private guides for off-train excursions
57. Helicopter landing pad for quick excursions
58. Submersible vehicle access for underwater exploration
59. Drone photography kit for capturing scenic views
60. Exclusive event hosting (e.g., private concerts or talks)
61. Celebrity chef dining experiences
62. Sommelier-curated wine tastings
63. Astronomy nights with expert guidance
64. Wildlife observation amenities
65. Language translation services
66. Security features including biometric access
67. Personal butler service
68. Childcare services including education and entertainment
69. Sustainable practices and amenities
70. Eco-friendly vehicle options for exploration
71. Private vehicle storage for personal use at stops
72. Networking opportunities with other elite travelers
73. Theme nights and costume parties
74. Virtual guest appearances (e.g., celebrities, experts)
75. Custom event planning and celebration services
76. Philanthropic opportunities linked to travel destinations
77. Workstation with office essentials
78. Secure, high-speed communication tools for business
79. Courier services for important documents
80. Advanced medical support and telemedicine services

Unique Features and Innovations

81. Weather simulation controls to match desired mood or theme
82. Personalized journey planner with AI suggestions
83. Interactive cooking and mixology classes
84. Art and creativity workshops
85. Environmental control to simulate different ecosystems
86. Augmented reality educational experiences
87. Personalized fitness and wellness programs
88. Simulation room for extreme sports or experiences
89. Time capsule messages for future passengers
90. Participation in research or scientific experiments
91. Quantum computing access for data analysis or gaming
92. Space weather forecast and viewing tools
93. Anti-gravity room for unique physical experiences
94. Memory-making kits (e.g., scrapbooking, digital albums)
95. Customizable souvenir creation
96. Enhanced reality escape rooms
97. Personalized dream recording and analysis
98. Ethical wildlife interaction experiences
99. Adventure planning with virtual previews
100. Legacy project contributions (e.g., planting a tree for each journey)

These amenities and experiences can make the journey on the Zephyr a pinnacle of futuristic luxury and adventure, providing your character with a uniquely immersive and opulent environment as they travel to San Francisco.

Here are eleven great books about how to write.

First You Write: The Worst Way to Become an Almost Famous Author and the Best Advice I Got While Doing It by Joni Rodgers. The author writes about her circuitous route to becoming a New York Times best-selling memoirist.

Making Shapely Fiction by Jerome Stern. The author breaks down sixteen story archetypes in this tongue-in-cheek book.

On Moral Fiction by John Gardner. “Art discovers, generation after generation, what is necessary to humanness,” says the author. 

On Writing by Stephen King. “This is a short book because most books about writing are filled with bullshit,” says the author.

Steering the Craft by Ursula K. Le Guin. This is the author’s second book on writing, intended for the more experienced writer.

Still Writing by Dani Shapiro. A roadmap to writing, peppered with personal insight and history.

Story by Robert McKee. A renowned screenwriter illustrates good plotting and structure for any writer.

The Elements of Style by William Struck and E.B. White. The original style manual.

The Forest for the Trees by Betsy Lerner. An editor’s advice to writers.

The Writing Life by Annie Dillard. A must-read for all aspiring authors.

Writing Past Dark by Bonnie Friedman. “Successful writers are not the ones who write the best sentences. They are the ones who keep writing,” the author says.

In our last post, we introduced a character named Mary Sue. A Mary Sue character is a character, usually female but not always (you can have a Gary Stu or Marty Stu), who is a self-insertion or wish-fulfillment for the author. Mary Sue is perfect: she is stunningly beautiful, amazingly talented, and totally beloved by the original characters in the story. You can already see why people hate her so much, right?

The big question for writers—assuming you want to write rounded, believable characters instead of Mary Sues—is how do you avoid this?

The answer is flaws. Yes, your characters need real, logical flaws to be rounded and not cardboard. I’m not talking about the supposed “flaws” of a Mary Sue, like “her lower lip was too full for true beauty” or “she’s clumsy” (but she’s an amazing warrior with little or no training) or “she’s shy” (but everyone is so drawn to her and wants her advice and wisdom). Those aren’t flaws, they’re red herrings.

Real flaws are character traits that have consequences. If a character really is shy, they will have trouble speaking to other people, especially in large groups. If they’re clumsy, they will not make a good warrior because they won’t be physically coordinated. If they have some sort of trauma in their background, they might suffer from PTSD, which is a debilitating disorder, not a handy “let’s give Mary Sue a flaw” characteristic with a couple of minor problems for her.

Creating realistic, logical, rounded characters is hard work. Some authors just can’t be bothered to do that work, so they come up with Mary Sue instead. However, if you want to be a better, more effective author, you will put in the work and craft the best characters you know how to. And that means researching those flaws to make sure you understand what consequences they will have, then making certain those consequences pop up periodically to trouble your character. This way, not only will your character avoid being a Mary Sue, but they will be even more sympathetic for your readers, who will be biting their nails waiting for those flaws to pop up and ruin things for your character.

What are your favorite character flaws?

If you’re a reader, you’ve probably encountered a Mary Sue (or her male equivalent Gary or Marty Stu). If you’re a writer, the term strikes fear into your heart if you hear one of your characters compared to them. But who, exactly, is this person and why all the hatred?

Let’s see what Wikipedia has to say about her: A Mary Sue is a character archetype in fiction, usually a young woman, who is often portrayed as inexplicably competent across all domains, gifted with unique talents or powers, liked or respected by most other characters, unrealistically free of weaknesses, extremely attractive, innately virtuous, and generally lacking meaningful character flaws. The term was actually coined by Paula Smith in her 1973 parody “A Trekkie’s Tale.” Lieutenant Mary Sue (youngest in the fleet) was the perfect crew member, soon beloved of the whole ship, talented in every area, and doomed to die a heroic death, which was (of course) mourned by everyone.

Mary Sue is usually a self-insertion for the author, who is often an adolescent (or otherwise immature) female. The character:

• Has no real personality because she is “just too good to be true.” Mary Sue has no flaws at all—or she:
• May have an obvious “flaw” like supposed shyness, but in fact everyone is drawn to her.
• Has special powers or talents with little or no training.
• Is loved and admired by everyone, including her enemies.
• Is insanely beautiful, even if she has a “flaw” like “her lower lip was too full for true beauty” or “her neck was too swanlike.” She has a perfect body without working for it and if she does have a scar or other distinguishing mark, it only serves to show her specialness.
• Has the highest IQ possible.
• Gives the best advice possible.
• Is implicitly trusted by everyone, even if she trusts the possible villain (who, of course, turns out to be redeemed in the end).
• Loves everyone—especially all animals—without exception, even if she is “shy.”
• Never makes a mistake. She is always polite, never swears, never loses her temper, etc.
• Is inevitably courageous, never even thinking of her own safety.
• Succeeds at everything she turns her hand to, even if she has never tried it before.
• Is utterly incorruptible.

So why write a Mary Sue if they are so despised? Most Mary Sue creators, as mentioned above, are adolescent or otherwise immature, so they don’t realize they are writing a Mary Sue. Other authors just want to put out a fast book, either quantity before quality or just to see their name on a cover. They’re willing to take a “short cut” in order to get something on a bookstore shelf. Mary Sue is easy to write, as she requires no imagination or real thought. She is a cardboard character cut-out an author can just stick onto the set in place of a more well-rounded character that takes thought and hard work.

Stay tuned for the next post: How NOT to Write a Mary-Sue! Have you ever spotted a wild Mary Sue when you were reading?

Mailerlite has threatened us with a fate worse than death if we don’t authenticate and validate our websites. What they’re talking about is making them come from some other location besides a free email server like gmail.com.

My alter ego puts out a newsletter once a month (or so), so we have been scrambling to get the emails put into place. An authenticated email would be something on the order of author@author.com – from the website instead of from a free server. See the difference?

Seems that free servers like gmail.com have been ending up in people’s spam folders instead of being seen and read. The AI’s that handle that sort of thing have collectively decided that if you have a free email account, you are a spammer. So the way around that is to have a verified, authenticated website with an email account. It’s a little complicated to get this done, but supposedly it’s worth it.

In order to read critically, you should know the correct terminology of a work of literature–a novel, memoir, autobiography, history, etc. Here are 9 terms every reader should know before they start reading.

1. Title: the title is what the book is called; its name, if you will. A good title should summarize, describe, or entice. It should resonate both with the work inside and with the reader.
2. Characters: the characters are the beings in the book, whether they are human, animal, or even inanimate objects. You can learn about these characters through their appearance, their personality, their situation, and the actions they take throughout the story. You can also find out about them by what the author says about them, by what the characters say in dialogue, their movements and actions as they react to their situation. There are four basic types of character in a work: a) Protagonist: this is the “hero” or “sympathetic device to drive a story.” The protagonist is the character most of the situations are happening to. b) Antagonist: this character or force is there to thwart the protagonist’s desires and dreams. They are there to create conflict, without which you have no story at all. c) Confidants: these characters, one of which is the sidekick, are there to support the protagonist’s goal and help them achieve it. d) Love Interest(s): This is the most common type of sub-plot and character. They are the ones who show the protagonist’s vulnerabilities and strengths. This will allow the writer to place stumbling blocks in the protagonist’s way and create even more conflict.
3. Setting: the setting is where, when, and in what social context the story takes place. It is often the backdrop but can move to the foreground and become a character in some stories. Setting gives readers a framework for the story so they can identify better with the characters and their world.
4. Theme: the theme is the central idea within the story. It generally sends a message, which may show you the beliefs and opinions of the author. Theme is usually revealed through the next term, plot. You can find the theme by asking yourself “What did the protagonist learn?
5. Plot: the plot is what happens, a sequence of events that tells the story Most plots occur chronologically, but some have flashbacks to the past and may even jump forward to the future. Here’s how you know you have a plot: An inciting incident taken by the antagonist has negative effects on the protagonist. This action creates a problem that must be solved by the protagonist. This becomes the story goal, the pursuit of which leads to confrontations (conflict) until the protagonist either achieves or fails to achieve the goal. Plots also generally have one or more sub-plots that add texture by showing different perspectives of the main conflict of the story and different aspects of the protagonist’s personality. Sub-plots also test the protagonist’s resolve to achieve their goals.
6. Style. this is how the author writes the story. Each writer has their own individual style of writing which can usually be identified by their readers. The author’s word choice, sentence structures, and figurative language choices will describe their style, which will then create the mood, images, and meaning of the story. Style is also guided by the genre the author is working in, the viewpoint they choose for their story, and their intended audience.
7. Tone: this is the atmosphere or mood of the story. Tone is “the use of words and writing style to convey an attitude towards a topic. Tone “is expressed through word choice, viewpoint, sentence length, and punctuation.” Tone can be said to be how the author feels.
8. Mood: this is how the reader feels. The author uses atmosphere to affect the reader emotionally and psychologically, usually with style and tone. Setting is also often important to the overall atmosphere.
9. Intention: One question you want to ask yourself is “Why did the author write this? What was their purpose?” The success of a book is often judged by how well it achieves its purpose, whether that is to entertain or to inform.

Knowing and understanding these terms will help you to read on a deeper level and to question what you’ve read, making it mean more to you.

I spent last weekend at the South Carolina Writers Association StoryFest Conference. It was a great little convention, and I learned a lot. We had some good speakers and of course, assorted agents, editors, and publishers made an appearance. One of our keynote speakers, Janisse Ray, spoke on 5 Challenges to Great Writing.

Here’s what we learned:

1. Thinking It’s Easy. Writing is hard. Janisse likened it to a brick wall, but if you keep punching the wall, eventually cracks will appear and you will get through.
2. Giving Up Without Realy Trying. To make goal-setting work, you should write down your goals—but don’t talk about them to everyone. Studies actually show that people who talk about goals are less likely to achieve them. Make your goals attainable, also.
3. Convincing Readers Through the Senses. You must write about people and create a world with weight and extension. Showing is scene building, while telling is reflection. You can tell the difference between a scene and a reflection by noting certain phrases. For example, a scene would say things like “One day…” or “This particular day…” while a reflection says “Often when…” or “Usually…” Just remember there are more than the usual five senses.
4. Seizing the Reader’s Attention. This is perhaps the biggest challenge to the writer. As Benjamin Percy puts it, “The work is not about us; it’s about the other.” Janisse says there are three ways of perceiving: bodily, interior, and environmental. 
5. Believing All the Genius Comes from Inside You. A writer, says Janisse, is Coyote or Kolopelli. Sometimes the words just seem to flow from somewhere outside of you.

My chapter of Sisters in Crime is thinking about producing an anthology, so I’m getting in on the ground floor. We’ll see how it goes. So far, it looks immensely complicated and a lot of work…

We’ve met with a few people from other chapters who’ve done anthologies, so we’re getting ideas & starting to put together a rough timetable. Plus, there is a sort-of guideline sheet on the main website, detailing things we must do if we want to make our own anthology.

My job is to research the nitty-gritty behind putting together an anthology, from finding judges & editors & publishers to marketing the finished project. We’ll see how much I can dig up…