Creating Characters

by Lauther, Howard

  State: It was a gunfight that Montana wanted no part of.

  Region: Slowly, from his sleeve, Sahara removed a long-bladed knife.

  City: There in the corner sat Jericho, hunched over a dirty glass and a half-bottle of wine.

  The shortened names of geographical locations may also be adopted for nicknames. For example:

  State: When Joe looked at 'Barna, they started to laugh at the same time.

  City: Frisco had the upper hand and he knew it.

  Some geographically related nicknames can stand alone; others, however, sound better when they are linked to another name. For example:

  First Name: After he won the football game, they began calling him Broadway Joe.

  Last Name: Mountain Miller could shoot the eye out of a squirrel fifty yards away.

  Combination: The only person who stood in his way was Minnesota Fats.

  INITIALS

  Before deciding to use initials for a character's nickname, a writer should consider whether the initials are going to be used extensively throughout the story. If so, they will frequently stand alone—that is, they will not always be joined to a surname—and, therefore, the combined sound of the two letters must fall easily from one's tongue. The combinations most easily spoken include the following:

  B.B.

  B.J.

  C.C.

  D.C.

  D.D.

  D.J.

  G.G.

  J.B.

  J.J.

  K.C.

  K.K.

  K.O.

  O.J.

  EC.

  T.C.

  T.J.

  T.T.

  Z.Z.

  Other initials sound better when they precede a character's last name, although they can occasionally stand alone. Example: "J. Butts will be the movie's producer."

  MILITARY

  In the hit motion picture as well as in the long-running television series that followed, several characters were known by their nicknames, e.g., Hawkeye and Trapper. But only one of the key characters had a nickname that could be seen as military-related: that was Radar, who served as the all-knowing but still rather naive assistant to the unit commander. A few other typical nickname possibilities that may have a military connection include the following:

  Bazooka

  Bombshell

  Boots

  Bunker

  Gunboat

  Sarge

  Scud

  Scuttlebutt

  Shine

  Sonar

  Tank

  Taps

  Torpedo

  MR. OR MISS

  A writer can use a nickname beginning with "Mr." or "Miss" to quickly nail a specific skill, failing, or some other trait into the reader's mind. Such a name is more likely to be used when the writer first introduces the character, and it is rarely referred to again. Should the a nickname appear in the story after that, it will usually be uttered by another character, and usually in a derogatory manner. Here are three examples:

  Mr. Arbitrator:

  This nickname could imply that the character is skilled at settling differences between people with conflicting viewpoints and purposes. On the other hand, it could also be a nickname given facetiously to a no-nonsense tough guy whose idea of "arbitration" is to yank two enemies across a table until their noses touch, thus getting them to agree on what they thought they never would.

  Miss Goody Two-Shoes:

  A writer might apply this nickname to a character when it is necessary to quickly establish a sanctimonious image.

  Mr. Automatic:

  This was the nickname given to Luke Appling, the all-star shortstop who played for the Chicago White Sox. So superior were his fielding skills that practically anything he could reach with his glove was an automatic out. Nicknames that denote a skill are often comprised of adjectives.

  MUSIC

  In choosing a nickname linked to the field of music, the author must decide whether the name in some way reflects that particular character's interest or activity in music, or some other personal characteristic. Among the great many options that are available, here is just a small fraction:

  BeBop

  Bluenote

  Boogie

  Crooner

  Dancer

  Ditty

  Downbeat

  Drummer

  Hi-fi

  Hoofer

  Jazz

  Jingle

  Jitterbug

  Jive

  Juke Box

  Melody

  Piccolo

  Sax

  Shimmy

  Spinner

  Sticks

  Tango

  Tape Deck

  Tempo

  Tin Pan

  Tunes

  Whistler

  Yodel

  NATIONALITIES

  In selecting a nationality for a nickname, it will perhaps be important that no other character in the story should hail from the same area. It is worth remembering, too, that nicknames may reveal the prejudices of the nickname giver. Among the possibilities—some of which are offensive—include Aussie, Brit, Chink, Cockney, Dago, Dutch, English, Fin, Frenchie, Irish, Kraut, Limey, Mex, Mexie, Scottie, Shamrock, Swede, Turk, Yank.

  NAVAL

  In selecting a "naval" nickname, an author may choose one that pertains to an entire ship, part of a ship, or something else that is water-related. For

  Brig

  Clipper

  Dock

  Hatch

  Hawse

  Jigger

  Ram

  Rigger

  Rudder

  Schooner

  Scooter

  Scull

  Sea Horse

  Seaweed

  Skiff

  Sloop

  Spars

  Steamboat

  Tanker

  Wharf

  Windjammer

  OLD

  Nicknames beginning with "old" are similar to those that begin with "Mr." or "Miss." The author usually uses them just once, when first introducing the character, for the purpose of establishing some image in the reader's mind. If used afterwards, the use will be sparing. Three examples:

  Old Reliable: A good nickname to use for a character who can always be counted upon when the going gets rough, or when someone is needed in the clutch.

  01' Blood and Guts:

  A nickname such as this could be applied, for example, to a general who has a habit of sending his men into battle with little planning and no regard for their safety.

  Old Pinchface: This could immediately depict a character's unsociability, someone in the story who could be misanthropic, pitiless, contentious, and so forth.

  PRECEDING PROPER NAME

  Some nicknames are effective only when they precede a proper name. Babyface Nelson and Pretty Boy Floyd were two of America's most notorious criminals. However, if you drop the proper name that follows either of them, the nickname sounds awkward. A nickname that is dependent upon a proper name for its existence can be an adjective, a noun, or an adjective-noun combination. Examples:

  Adjective Fearless Fosdick, Hardhearted Hannah, Honest Abe, Shoeless Joe Jackson.

  Noun Calamity Jane, Homerun Baker, Honeysuckle Rose.

  Adjective-Noun Cool Papa Hines, Hot Lips Houlihan, Red Dog Rumble, Blue Eyes Billy.

  STRANGE AND EXOTIC

  A strange or exotic nickname may evoke a faraway place or distant fantasy; or it may provide no link to anything that is instantly recognizable. Indeed, a writer may create one by simply arranging letters in a way that provides some special sound, one that seems uniquely suitable for a character he or she has in mind. A writer can also turn familiar utterances into exotic nicknames, Abracadabra being one of them. Here are just a few of the countless options a writer has at his or her disposal regarding the selection of a strange or exotic nickname:

  Alabaster

  Applejack

  Arrow

  Beezer />
  Bingo

  Blackstone

  Blaze

  Blur

  Boffo

  Bolt

  Breezy

  Briny

  Buckhorn

  Bupp

  Burgundy

  Butterwing

  Caboodle

  Calico

  Calypso

  Cameroon

  Capricorn

  Chantilly

  Chestnut

  Chiffon

  Chime

  Cinnamon

  Clarion

  Clopper

  Cobalt

  Coo-Coo

  Coosh

  Cottonfoot

  Crispy

  Cymbal

  Dambi

  Dazz

  Dewdrop

  Diggity

  Ditto

  Doke

  Dong

  DooDah

  Dusky

  Dustwind

  Ember

  Fireball

  Firebolt

  Fizz

  Fleece

  Flook

  Foto

  Furf

  Glaze

  Glory

  Gog

  Gong

  Gonzo

  Gooch

  Gossamer

  Graywing

  Groot

  Gypsy

  Hiccup

  Hickory

  Hippity

  Hojo

  Hoochee

  Hoodoo

  Hush

  Iggy

  Imoo

  Indigo

  Jade

  Jangle

  Jart

  Java

  Jiffy

  Jinx

  Jipper

  Jolt

  Juju

  Jumbiliah

  Jupiter

  Kickapoo

  Kiki

  Koko

  Krone

  Lava

  Lavender

  Leek

  Loo

  Madeira

  Mahogany

  Marigold

  Misk

  Mog

  Mojo

  Mombo

  Moonbeam

  Moonglow

  Mootzie

  Mungo

  Nighthorse

  Nuff

  Oogie

  Orchid

  Paffy

  Palamar

  Panky

  Peekaboo

  Pidge

  Piff

  Pojo

  Poke

  Poof

  Potsie

  Poucho

  Pucker

  Puff

  Quick

  Rambler

  Rango

  Rasco

  Raven

  Razzle

  Rizzy

  Roo

  Rub-a-Dub

  Sable

  Sapphire

  Sark

  Scuff

  Sess

  Shadrack

  Shalimar

  Sha-Zam

  Shoke

  Shoo

  Silky

  Silverado

  Silverleaf

  Sizzle

  Skadoo

  Skat

  Skib

  Skink

  Slade

  Slappy

  Slewfoot

  Sligo

  Sloo

  Sneezer

  Snook

  Snoot

  Snout

  Spree

  Spurlock

  Sputz

  Swoop

  Swoosh

  Swoozie

  Tangerine

  Tarf

  Tass

  Tawny

  Thunderfoot

  Thunderheart

  Thunderstroke

  Ting

  Torch

  Touchstone

  Trig

  Trinity

  Troon

  Tweedledee

  Tweedledum

  Vista

  Weez

  Whisper

  Whitehorn

  Whizzer

  Yago

  Yahoo

  Yaz

  Yellow Wing

  Yellowhammer

  Yogo

  Yoho

  Yorky

  Yo-Yo

  Zang

  Zap

  Zart

  Zazz

  Zepher

  Ziggy

  Zing

  Zinger

  Zip

  Zoar

  Zook

  Zookie

  Zoot

  Zuzu

  "THE"

  The rules that apply to a nickname using "the" are quite similar to those using "Mr.," "Miss," or "Old"—that is, it is usually used by the author just once, and, more often than not, when the character first enters the story. It serves to provide descriptive information that helps to establish some image in the reader's mind. In using such a nickname, the most common practice is to insert it between the first and last name of the character, or after the character's full name. In either case, it should be encased in quotation marks and the word "the" should be capitalized:

  Charles "The Muckraker" Williams Charles Williams, "The Muckraker"

  But if the nickname follows the character's first name, and the last name is omitted, "the" is not capitalized and the quotation marks are dropped:

  Prufo the Magnificent

  Sometimes, however, such a nickname may actually be substituted for the character's real name throughout most of the story, particularly when it comes to villains. Indeed, in some stories where an effort is made to evoke an emotion—say, fear—with a mere mention of the nickname, there may be little need to mention the character's proper name at all. For example, if a character was introduced in this manner, using the nickname throughout the story could possibly be all that is necessary:

  Everyone in town knew who the Annihilator was. They had seen him grow up, watched him bully the other kids, steal money in broad daylight and brag about it. The way they saw it, he was a thug from the moment he was born. As for the sheriff, he was scared to death of him. So when Max Harper hired him to collect debts, the Annihilator soon assumed an air of importance formerly reserved for members of the Gestapo and similar notorious notables.

  Also, the word "the" in some characters' nicknames may be followed by "Mr.," "Miss," or "Old." Two real-life examples are Bette Midler ("The Divine Miss M") and Joe Nuxall, one of the radio announcers for the Cincinnati Reds ("The Old Lefthander").

  There are, of course, literally hundreds of nickname possibilities that can be linked with the word "the" and most are nouns. Among them include the following:

  Accountant

  Administrator

  Agitator

  Ambassador

  Apprehender

  Arranger

  Avenger

  Barbarian

  Blade

  Bodysnatcher

  Brain

  Breaker

  Broker

  Broom

  Bruiser

  Buccaneer

  Bulldozer

  Butcher

  Cannibal

  Capitulator

  Chameleon

  Chancellor

  Chopper

  Claw

  Cleaver

  Collaborator

  Computer

  Conqueror

  Crepehanger

  Crusader

  Crusher

  Defender

  Demon

  Devil

  Dragon

  Elder Statesman

  Emperor

  Engineer

  Eradicator

  Executioner

  Exterminator

  Fixer

  Gladiator

  Globetrotter

  Hammer

  Hangman

  Iceman

  Iron Duke

  Iron Man

  Jackal

  Jawbreaker

  Kingmaker

&nb
sp; Little Shepherd

  Magnificent

  Man-Eater

  Mechanic

  Minuteman

  Pirate

  Princess

  Shark

  Smasher

  Spoiler

  Vulture

  Warrior

  TRADES

  The area of construction is rich with nickname possibilities. But many can be found in other fields of labor as well. Here, for instance, are just a few:

  Blacktop

  Blowtorch

  Corkscrew

  Digger

  Drag

  Driller

  Dumper

  Greaser

  Grip

  Hammer

  Jigsaw

  Pitchfork

  Pumper

  Ripsaw

  Rivet

  Sash

  Shaker

  Shingle

  Sixpenny

  Skid

  Sledge

  Spade

  Striker

  Tar Pit

  Trench

  Trucker

  VILLAINOUS

  The best nicknames for villains are often those that immediately convey some hint of danger. Here are just a few that could possibly fill that function.

  Blood

  Brimstone

  Bruiser

  Carve

  Crush

  Cutter

  Darkwing

  Fingers

  Fist

  Gash

  Knucklenose

  Knuckles

  Masher

  Scar

  Shooter

  Skull

  Skunk

  Slash

  Slicer

  Slick

  Smack

  Smash

  Snake

  Snapper

  Snatch

  Sniper

  Snort

  Snot

  Spike

  Spook

  Squint

  Stabber

  Stinger

  Stone

  Strangler

  Switchblade

  Wart

  Weasel

  WEATHER-RELATED

  Weather-type nicknames, depending upon the one chosen, can convey a positive, negative, or neutral image to the reader or viewer. Some of these

  Cyclone

  Misty

  Muddy

  Lightning

  Raindrop

  Shiver

  Sled

  Sleet

  Slosh

  Snow

  Snowball

  Sprinkle

  12. What Is the Character's Job?

  Choosing the right kind of job for a fictional character can be just as important as selecting a name. The reader or viewer must be immediately convinced that "yes, that's the kind of thing that person might do." True, the character may be inept at discharging the responsibilities of that jobGod knows that happens in real life with extraordinary frequency (for example, the son of a business owner may be totally unsuited for the managerial position his father has given him)but that won't matter as long as the reader or viewer regards the match-up between character and job as plausible. Conversely, any kind of work that does not seem to fit the character will make it all the more difficult for the author to establish that character's credibility.