My writing group in Portland argued for an hour about a single character's name

We were outlining a fantasy novel, and I suggested the name 'Elara' for our main hero, but half the group said it sounded too much like a brand of bottled water. The debate got so heated we almost scrapped the whole first chapter outline. Do you think a character's name can really derail a story before it even starts?

3 comments

3 Comments

lucashart2mo ago

Honestly, I used to think names were just labels and the story was what mattered. But I read a book last year where the main guy was named "Brock Hardstone" and I swear, I couldn't take a single fight scene seriously. It totally pulled me out of the story every time. So now I get it, a bad name can really mess with a reader's head. Your group might be onto something with the bottled water thing, because once you hear it, you can't un-hear it. Maybe try a slight change, like "Elaria" or "Alara," to break that link?

ray3631mo ago

Totally agree, test a few names out loud!

john_flores2mo ago

Honestly it's wild how much a name can color your whole view of something. I see it all the time with baby names now, where a perfectly nice name gets ruined because it's also a trendy car or a fancy cheese. Once that link forms in your brain it's stuck there, and for a character you want people to connect with, that's a real problem. Maybe test a few new names out loud to see if they trip any weird wires for your group.