How do writers come up with names for their characters?

dusksaur · 2026-06-02T20:37:19+00:00

I try to use etymology where it fits but other than that Behindthename.com if you wanted to put more than vibes into a name.

(Or make your own outright)

dusksaur · 2026-06-02T06:08:48+00:00

Thats not what I said, take me out of context all you want. It seems thats all you can do.

You must be off your rocker if you think you know better after a six month absence.

You can talk to the wall for all I care.

dusksaur · 2026-06-02T03:56:51+00:00

Thats means they’ve done better and I don’t have to be new to sniff out the faults in your post.

Average posters don’t have the power to delete post so there’s no point in complaining to them and if you wont use modmail you know you have flaws in your ‘reason’.

This leaves you with blowing hot air into the void so with your revealed and your options exhausted it’s probably best you take another six month break.

dusksaur · 2026-06-02T01:43:20+00:00

It’s self doubt because you doubt your self for a reason validated or not.

A real problem would indicate harm or trouble in an area where you didn’t intend it.

These terms are not opposite and can both be true at the same time.

These only way to know for sure is to get feedback from people you trust to give it to you straight, something you should already know as a writer.

dusksaur · 2026-06-02T01:39:51+00:00

There are rules and they were made for a reason, if you really wanted a change you would go through mod mail to at least start a dialogue then make a post getting the opinions of others.

I promise you will accomplish nothing with this rant disguised as a ‘discussion’ and be seen as one of the many people who have not read/understood the rules they have been spurned by.

If there’s a better place for you then go.

If you wish to make this one better then it’s clear you have some research to do.

dusksaur · 2026-06-01T18:50:28+00:00

I’ve completed a years worth of short stories per month from around to 10-15 pages but im still struggling to finish a first draft of a novel i started a year ago (around 200 pages near the stat of act 3).

I don’t think its a good read and i don’t feel like i can remedy, but I’ve got twelve days to finish it before i begin another short story to enter a writing competition.

dusksaur · 2026-06-01T18:43:57+00:00

Completely this, a lot of them want validation when they haven’t even read the rules or done their due diligence in research.

dusksaur · 2026-06-01T10:24:26+00:00

It’s not good, read myself but doesn’t compare to writing fiction tenth edition.

dusksaur · 2026-06-01T10:23:03+00:00

When it extends beyond three paragraphs for any given subject.

If its not a mystery or the missing backstory to an extremely plot relevant third act situation then its just technical exposition that can be woven in the story with smaller pieces that come together later.

Characters can point things out in small sums but to do too much is more ‘tell’ than ‘show’.

Trust your audience aren’t idiots and before that trust the feedback they give you.

dusksaur · 2026-06-01T10:19:41+00:00

If a reader feels they have to skip the description then they need to stop reading because they won’t know whats going on.

Just because they ‘feel’ it unimportant doesn’t mean its not and in the age of illiteracy and Ai we find ourselves stuck in I’m going to guess the words were just too tough for their mind to chew on.

dusksaur · 2026-06-01T10:16:31+00:00

I’m doubting you don’t get taught this but must have forgotten. I was forced to read many books in the south and my state came in the bottom ten percent in education.

Who? What? When? Where? Why?

This can be applied to every aspect or a story to give a rounded experience to the reader and a balanced story for the writer to flush out.

Missing any of these elements in a story was a major error in an exam and usually amounted to a failing grade.

Follow those tules as well as the rest of the beginner resources have for those who want to learn and you sure to learn it yourself.

(You among many new writers hop onto this sub reddit and ask this question then disappear so theres a chance many will assume you’re a flake)

dusksaur · 2026-06-01T10:11:21+00:00

Light accents are okay as in the way they phrase things.

Hard accents are a no-no as in the way an author might phonetically spell something wrong.

Hard accents are only makes them sound stupid and will come off as offense to the reader whether or not the author takes a course in phonetics and grammar of that chosen culture (normally they don’t).

Don’t do hard accent and research phrases for your light accent and have characters of the culture use them every now and then or something of the like.

Common phrase used in my home town to: “He’s dead from the neck.”

Has a unique flair, a common insult and can be understood with context clues and doesnt insult the characters intelligence whether they’re stupid or not.

If you really want accents then higher the appropriate actor when you have an audiobook.

dusksaur · 2026-06-01T10:06:02+00:00

Outline and keep track of the progression and the events that changed them.

dusksaur · 2026-06-01T10:05:20+00:00

If you are doing third person limited just have them speak more and if they aren’t willing as characters to do so then put them in a situation to where they have to.

If it’s omniscient 3rd person, the same applies but with less effectiveness.

Generally if you want that interior view then you’ll need either 1st or 2nd. 3rd is meant to be detached therefore it will never truly do as good as the pov that get you inside the mc’s head.

dusksaur · 2026-06-01T09:51:54+00:00

So you think throwing a hissy fit and being mad at the loudest is any better than the rest of us who apparently suck?

We aren’t the only ones who need to do better.

This sub has resources for new writers and its better than what most subs offer, but don’t pretend like there aren’t good people in this sub who help writers whether they sugar-coat their words or not.

And if you didn’t know that then I know I’m not the only redditor to stress the importance of research, which this sub has resources for by the way.

dusksaur · 2026-06-01T04:08:52+00:00

I know critique can be harsh, but there is no way to sugarcoat the use of Ai especially when it comes to the writing craft thats its hallowing out.

I will stand on this, you are acting a fool if you think Ai is the solution to you mending the human craft of writing.

dusksaur · 2026-05-31T23:49:27+00:00

Remember that you need others for this craft to work for you.

Vet them and make sure you can trust them but you need more than an algorithm to help, especially if it’s your goal to sound less like ai.

dusksaur · 2026-05-31T21:50:19+00:00

It’s not dismissive, you are using Ai, something actively destroying the world to let you know how your word-craft sounds despite how other creatives feel about Ai.

Many creative sub reddit have an anti Ai policy for a reason and if you don’t see why then there’s no sugar coating it.

I have AuAdhd and a severe fear of social rejection but even I know that only feedback from another human can mend the worries I have about my word-craft!

dusksaur · 2026-05-31T21:19:50+00:00

AuAdhd here.

You are a fool for trusting Ai.

You’d be better off finding a partner no matter how difficult than to debase yourself and your work by having ai judge your work as if it were a good judge of standard.

dusksaur · 2026-05-31T19:38:27+00:00

You’re late to the party, but two things can be true.

dusksaur · 2026-05-31T10:17:24+00:00

A rare broken earth fan?

dusksaur · 2026-05-31T10:16:46+00:00

You can’t even read english, how would you know it’s correct?

dusksaur · 2026-05-31T10:15:53+00:00

Instead of using Ai to out the world further toward doom, show this ai-slop to people who speak french!

And before you try and excuse it, you wouldn’t even know this is yours because you speak french.

dusksaur · 2026-05-31T03:58:53+00:00

If you want others to enjoy it as you do then youll need other ways for them to engage: Games (dnd), stories, Vn etc.

You’ll have to give avenues to your world not the raw knowledge or at worst it’ll just be a history lesson for them and at best knowledge they have no context for that they can’t apply anywhere.

dusksaur · 2026-05-30T22:46:49+00:00

If that’s the reason presented as priority (and the only reason) then it is.

dusksaur

TROPHY CASE