Tuesday Tip: Names & Titles – Why Authenticity Matters
When you think about books you’ve read but didn’t enjoy enough to continue, can you put a finger on exactly what made you uninterested? Often times you can within books with looming plot, writing style and character flaws. But what about the times when you couldn’t quite figure out what it was that made you go… “No thanks.”
The answer is simple; a lack of authenticity.
Reading a poorly written book is like watching a low-budget movie; you notice the cheesy set, the bad acting and the cheap special effects. Books have their fair share of crucial movie-making mistakes as well. Maybe the character dialogue didn’t seem realistic, the town didn’t feel real or a conversation felt staged. The art of writing well is to forget it’s fiction at all. A good book (or movie) will make you forget you are observing fictional character interacting with fictional circumstances in a fictional world, and make you believe what you are experiencing is real. If you remember you are reading a book, then the author isn’t doing their job to create a wholly real and authentic world. These mistakes combined tend to give you the overall sour impression that could make you put a book back on the shelf.
So how do you remove these authenticity thieves?
Start with your nouns. Do your characters, places and items have names that match your story? For example, classic names such as Emily, Sarah, John or David, most times won’t feel right in a futuristic or science-fiction novel, while they would fit beautifully in a historic or modern novel. The same goes for name-mashes and creative, elaborate names; they usually shouldn’t be placed in a historical novel. Remember to take note of what the name means, or what it is often associated with. When writing for Teen/Young Adult, also keep in mind the importance of the ever growing “fandom” industry. Book these days aren’t just being purchased by publishing companies for the sake of selling a book, but to also sell a market. Take The Hunger Games, for example. Readers love the trilogy because it feels authentic, and part of that feeling comes from something as simple as the names. Collins’ creative character names such as Rue, Cato and most importantly, Katniss, embody the meaning of what it sounds and feels like to live an another society. Katniss’ character probably wouldn’t have the same unique and commanding power if she was named Elizabeth.
But authenticity isn’t just names of characters; it’s names of places. If you are creating a fictional country, make it sound real. Mash names together or take your name from a meaningful word translated into another language. Use parts of real countries or states and government terms as inspirations such as “United” “Republic” or “Union.” Place these words with something unique from another language (my favorites are Latin and Greek) to create something new but realistic. Simplistic names don’t pack the same punch as a hidden meaning within another language.
Lastly, remember to consider the names of things and items. If you create a fictional food, don’t just call it “(Character’s name) Super Sweets,” instead create a back story around why the food is being included/created at all and work it into the story. If you create a fictional weapon, don’t just call it a “(adjective) Gun,” create a word or take a barely known word as a title instead. The same also goes for vehicles. If it’s the future, don’t call your mode of transportation a “Hovercar,” even if it is exactly what it does. It’s boring. WE KNOW IT FLIES. You don’t need to tell us. Give it an interesting name that gives your story unique character, personality and most importantly… authenticity.
Whether you are reading, or doing the actual writing, take note of the authenticity. Going back to my low-budget movie example, looking for these examples will often help you see not necessarily low-budget writing, but low-budget thought. Serious writers consider every creative outlet within their story as an opportunity to add depth and meaning. This extra time and energy is what makes the difference between a story you remember for a month, and one you remember for a lifetime. So I challenge you: write real and write authentic.
