Urg! Changing names
Ok, I just posted for today, but didn't check my character's name (Cratag Maytree) and called him Maythorn. Shoot! This is what happens when you change a character's name. It's terribly difficult to recall the right one down the line, especially if it's a minor, secondary character. Cratag was originally Cratag Whitethorn.
THEN I did a search of my computer file for Heart Duel, where Cratag appeared, and I have him down as Cratag Hawthorn, too! I'm pretty sure that got missed in the book, so I'll have to check.
I changed his name from Whitethorn to Maytree near the end of Heart Duel (Heart Book 3). At one point he was giving a sword to Straif Blackthorn (who's been mentioned since the first book, so I COULDN'T change his name). I thought Whitethorn-Blackthorn was just too precious, and even if I had done it inadvertantly, my readers wouldn't know that. So Whitethorn had to go. I remember Whitethorn. I don't remember Maytree.
Urg.
So, that's a problem. And since I'm an author with a cast of thousands, I'm the one who is supposed to remember. Not my overworked copy editor or editor.
My apologies, and may all your characters keep their own names.
Robin
THEN I did a search of my computer file for Heart Duel, where Cratag appeared, and I have him down as Cratag Hawthorn, too! I'm pretty sure that got missed in the book, so I'll have to check.
I changed his name from Whitethorn to Maytree near the end of Heart Duel (Heart Book 3). At one point he was giving a sword to Straif Blackthorn (who's been mentioned since the first book, so I COULDN'T change his name). I thought Whitethorn-Blackthorn was just too precious, and even if I had done it inadvertantly, my readers wouldn't know that. So Whitethorn had to go. I remember Whitethorn. I don't remember Maytree.
Urg.
So, that's a problem. And since I'm an author with a cast of thousands, I'm the one who is supposed to remember. Not my overworked copy editor or editor.
My apologies, and may all your characters keep their own names.
Robin
posted by FantasyAuthor RobinDOwens | 8:38 AM
6 Comments:
It seems he is definitely a thorn !
Oh you make me smile, Robin. I, too have a cast of thousands. My protagonists is Rourke or Roarke depending upon the chapter. Assorted Fae clan names, dragons galore and gods who carry one name as a first and the second as a last name like Aprhodite Venus...or is it Venus Aphrodite...damn, now I have to go check.
:)
terri (frustrated movie casting agent)
LOL
At least you didn't call him
'Maytag'!!!
Oh, reader, you are right. Terri, I sympathize...and Michele thanks for the laugh!
Robin
I recently changed a bunch of my character's names and introduced new ones at the same time. Thank God for "find and replace" but as a recent episode of 'The Office' pointed out, that only covers when the names are spelled correctly!
Crystal, oh YEAH, that can be a pain. Straif came out Striaf, Bastien was sometimes Bastian...good thing the machine can do it so much faster than we.
Robin
Post a Comment
<< Home