Mandy Newton's Lounge Discussions

Craig D Griffiths
How do you name characters?

I have a problem finding names that feel right and start with different letters. That's just me, I don't like having dialogue between people with similar names, too confusing for the reader. Please give your method, plus suggestion for a 29 year old well educated drug dealer, black, could be Boston born.

Louella M Reynolds

I use The Writer's Digest "Character Naming Sourcebook" - it gives national origin, meanings of the first names, and gives last names for each nationality. Ex: Byron means Bear - Radolf means Red Wolf.

Allen Johnson

I use a huge baby name book that also supplies name origins, meaning, and many alternate spellings. It also has several lists of popular names by decade, countries, and themes. Very helpful.

Craig D Griffiths

Here are the names I settled on if anyone is interested. Amy (20's), Ella (15 Amy's sister), Sue (20's Amy ex-girlfriend), Doug (Amy's dealer), Drea (was Andrea - Amy's buyer), Yuri, Isaac, Karl & Jonas. I nearly used Preston for Andrea, but it didn't sound right when it was read out.

Vince Conside

I get my ideas from athletes; College & Pro. I scan the rosters.

Michael Cantrell

You know, I often struggle with naming people myself. If it's my main characters, I usually pick names that might have some sort of secret significance and insight into their personalities, though I never mention anything about that in my actual scripts or novels.

Stage 32 Job Alert
Screenwriter hired through Stage 32 Jobs

Mandy Newton, a Screenwriter from Riverside, California was just hired for the project titled "San Diego Christian Short Film Crew". Congratulations!

Mandy Newton

Thank you!! I'm excited for the project!

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