When I first started writing my book - almost 2 years ago - I needed a name for my character who was tough yet soft. To me, everything is in a name. Names give you feelings about a person before you even know them. It's funny how names fit people, isn't it.
I immediately thought of the name Grace but Grace was one of the names we had on our list for kids. We almost called my daughter Grace but she ended up a Madelyn (Maddy) - which suits her perfectly. I always loved the name Grace and what it stood for. But decided to save it for my next baby, b/c I was prego at the time. That was, until I found out my baby was a boy, who we named Gray (close to Grace :)
That left Grace fair game.
A few months after I started getting to know Grace and her story, I came across this beautiful U2 song that totally inspired my book and its core message of love and overcoming evil. Then, I watched this video - and it touched me deply. (FYI - the first girl crying with mascara running feels like Grace to me! It is so wierd! Wish I knew her name.)
I use this song when am beefing up details around Grace's character. She is a tough cookie and this song helps me keep an underlying femininity to her that she has yet to explore.
Some lyrics:
Grace
It's a name for a girl
It's also a thought that changed the world.
And when she walks on the street.
You can hear the strings,
Grace finds goodness in everything
What once was hurt
What once was friction
What left a mark
No longer stings
Because grace makes beauty
Out of ugly things
Grace makes beauty out of ugly things
Enjoy!
How did you come up with names for your characters?
3 comments:
Funny... I have a PB character named Grace too. She is a hippo and is anything but graceful. We were kind of going for irony :)
How did I miss this song? My closest friend's nickname is Grace, because she's a gymnast and should be graceful but is always running into things.
I won't tell you what they call me. :)
I love that I now know why you picked the name Grace. It's a perfect name for the lead character in you novel. Perfect.
When I think of names for my characters I think of people I know or what they remind me of...
My fish story. The fish is called Bernie. His buddy in the pond is named Larry (also my dad's name) but Al also came to mind. Good fish names. There are some girl fishes too- Louise and maybe Sally.
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