So, it’s not like I just noticed this or anything, but now that I’m finished Broken Silence and starting to plot my next big project, I’m thinking about it now. Over the years I’ve written three books that featured secondary characters that I am now writing stories for. Broken Rules featured Rich Matheson, Nut Cream featured Mick Madison and Black Wolf featured Rick Black (thank God it’s not close to Matheson or Madison or that would just be ridiculous!). Anyway, Rich’s story is now finished and going into edits, so I’m working on plotting for Mick and Rick’s stories. Not quite so easy when I keep mixing them up! Oops.
Anyway, I’m learning from my whoopsie moment and putting together a database with all the names of my characters, including secondary characters. I’d rather not confuse myself like this again LOL! Plus, I’m almost positive I’ve written about two Mitch’s…
This happens to me ALL the time, Jade.
In one of my early stories I had a Lucas Durst (he was never a Luke though). Then I had Luke O’Connor now I have a Luke Abrams. Well…Luke Abrams became Adam Abrams.
I wrote another story and had an Adam Payne. No biggie I though. Until AP showed up in the one I’m writing now as a secondary character. Do I really want to change Luke/Adam Abrams name again? I kinda don’t want to because AA just…works.
I’ve got a Mitch! Or had one. I’ve got a Mike though. And a Max.
I personally liked when I realized I had a character’s whose first name was a coworkers last name. Yeah that took a year to figure out.
I’m liking this database idea. It could save me a lot of pain down the road. Especially since it seems I like certain names without realizing it.
Poor Adam Abrams!! Don’t change him! LOL! He’s going to get a complex and you’ll end up with a neurotic hero
I had a Marcus Flint show up in one of my manuscripts, and didn’t notice until my one critique partner (who’s a big Harry Potter fan) pointed it out to me. I nearly left it in for fun, but ended up changing it in the end.
I don’t know why I didn’t think of a database years ago.
good tip to start now, before i have 40 books pubbed. it’s funny how I go thru cycles. the 1st draft of this last book, everyone was a Hill, Miller or Hillier. sheesh.
LOL! The funny thing about it is that it happens in real life, but we tend to think it’s unrealistic when we read it in fiction. My mom has two friends who have second husbands with the same first names as their first husbands. I mean, when I think about how many Jason’s were in my elementary school it makes me want to write three Jason’s into my next manuscript LOL!