Post
by Margo » April 5th, 2010, 1:00 pm
As a reader, way-out names do annoy me, even in sci-fi and fantasy. If I really like the book, I will just focus on the first syllable of the name. If the writer has too many of these names, with several of them having the same first syllable, I will put the book down. Sad but true.
As a fantasy writer, I'm hindered by the fact that I'm good with languages and pronunciation. So I can pronounce every person and place name I put into a story or novel. I was distressed to learn that not every reader/critiquer can do the same. I got nailed big time for using Humfridhak Mirrid (place name). I can pronounce it perfectly. Apparently, I'm virtually alone in that regard. If I ever rewrite that one I will very likely take out the longest person and place names -- more syllables seem to intimidate readers. (I don't mean that as a criticism of readers, just an observation. Gotta recognize I have an audience to serve, not dictate to.)
On a related note, I have a rule I use when coming up with character names. I write down the letters of the alphabet, name my important characters, and cross off the letters those names begin with. That saves my readers from the problem of having to slow down in their reading to double check whether the speaker was the hero Estof, his rival Elren, his sister Elliria, or the minor character Estira. If my hero's name is Estof, no other character name will begin with E or with a similar first syllable, like Ast or Ist. Also, I generally try not to have more than two minor characters with names that begin with the same letter, if that many.