Ok, In my day job, have access to new names every single day. Sometimes, when I need to blow out the creative cobwebs (especailly after SIX WEEKS of non-stop holiday madness) I give myself a creative writing exercise. I thought I'd share it with you. BTW I only ever grab first or last names, never both so no privacy issues ever. I'll even do this as I watch film credits sometimes. I grab a first name, and a last name and then I create a character description for them. Ready for the NAME BANK?
FIRST NAMES
Justus
Kynzi
Kenrick
Armetrius
Laiken
Brendalen
Roy
Wyatt
LAST NAMES
Possa
Morehouse
Dupuey
Razer
Stanberry
Latour
*Wiley
So, the idea is something like this: Roy Stanberry is a 40 year old man who has always longed for adventure but due to his fear of ..... he has never.... until one day he.... He's average height, balding, bright blue eyes and has a big chest. He's afraid of .... so he.....
Let's see what we can come up with :)
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Thanks for the writing exercise, Libby Wright.
Justus Stanberry. Shy, kind, geeky 21-year-old private investigator who becomes brave and fierce when his life, family, or people are in danger.
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LOVE THIS! I see so many names in a day, It's tiring. But I love this so far. Justus Latour- 32 years old, a cherish only son who believes in the idea that the Golden Child is everything until the day the Black Sheep of another family he knows- dethrones him at his perfect job. Now, it's every person for themselves as It becomes the ultimate office showdown- Justus For All.
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I love the name Morehouse for a first name. ;)
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How about this one: Kynzi & Kenrick Razer who's parents started the scooter empire in the early 2000s are over their parents' invention. They just want to try roller skates- their parents refuse (bad brand optics) until zombies appear in their town and all ride Razer scooters. The brave 12 year old twins must roller skate to saftey along with their Great Pyrenese Dupuey.
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Debbie Elicksen so what would Moorehouse be like? I'm curious!
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Great ideas @Maurice & Cynna!
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Thanks, Libby Wright. I like your ideas! Thanks again for the writing exercise. We can use it for creating characters and script ideas.
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This is a great exercise for shaking out the cobwebs, Libby! I'll take a swing with a character that fits the grounded, high-concept world I'm currently writing:
Justus Latour is a 55-year-old former frequency engineer who has spent decades living off-grid. He’s tall, with sun-leathered skin and a perpetual squint as if he’s always looking for something in the distance. He’s deeply afraid of digital surveillance, so he communicates only through short-wave radio and outdated analog gear. He’s been waiting for a 'signal' that most people think is just a myth... until today.
Thanks for the inspiration!
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I changed my character’s name from Justus Morehouse to Justus Stanberry, Libby Wright. I think Stanberry works better for him.
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Interesting… my swing at this game:
Roy Dupuey. Middle-aged, recently divorced, never felt like he was in the right place in life no matter how hard he tried to fit in and make it work. After his father dies, he inherits a house, including an attic… with a box he vaguely remembers, but never looked into… it's his full family geneology, including the original name "DuPuis" that his father had changed.
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Armetrius Stanberry was already incredibly rich and powerful when he was alive, but ever since being turned into a vampire 1,500 years ago, he’s been worshipped by the terrified villagers who call him their clement god. Growing bored of his ever-increasing immortality, he decides to use all villagers living and dead to accrue the ultimate vampire/undead army to reverse the curse once and for all.
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I L.O.V.E. all of these so much! Thanks for playing along with me!!!
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You're welcome, Libby Wright.
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Just did a sister exercise in the Composer's Lounge if anyone wants to take a swing at that. **It was harder- maybe because I haven't had coffee yet? Lol!
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I'll share my not so awesome lyrics... feel free to play along with this one too: Roy Possa loved Laiken with alll of his heart
She never knew he existed, right at the start
He'd gaze at her longingly through windows at night
Wondering if ever she'd put up a fight
For love
For the sake of their hearts
Could they risk
For love
Laiken was moving to Richmond the next afternoon
Roy was broken his love going way too soon
Cause he'd never told her the depth of his heart
And soon she'd just leave him alone in the dark
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Libby, I'd like to take a swing at it!
Here goes:
Kenrick Wiley (21), a native of Detroit, came out of high school as one of prep football's best 100 wide receivers. He ended up enrolling at the University of Texas-Austin...and helped the Longhorns make the College Football Playoff.
He's tired of the Lone Star State's political antics (he's that much of an activist)...and now, he wants to enter the transfer portal and go to the U of Michigan.
On the other hand...he's considering skipping his senior year and declaring himself eligible for the next NFL draft.
Choices, choices...