General Writing

[Maxine MagicFox]

Haha, I dunno. I mean, sure, I've made my fair share of what I feel are bad names but it's never put me off. I enjoy naming my characters. ^_^

However, I've made frequent use of the "Replace Text" feature in my word document program to fix names. *sigh*

[DGAE]

[Maxine MagicFox]

DGAE -

This is how "publishing" works in magazines and even in book companies, I believe.

You aren't selling the story - you are selling the rights to the story. The magazine buys your story and after that, it's their property. You will not even be able to publish it in another magazine, though it's your story. All you get is the price they pay (usually some odd cents for every word or something like that).

Since you wrote the story and entered the contest, it was a given - the magazine or who ever was funding it was going to publish it. I'm sorry you feel cheated and I don't know the full details, but it sounds about right.

[Kinokokao]

Sometimes magazines and journals will allow multiple submissions, but usually the publisher, whether it be a periodical or book, does have the exclusive rights.

I named my character and noodles immediately informed me it was a dumb name

D:::

[Maxine MagicFox]

Everyone's a critic, Kino. How many books have you read that you thought the names were either horrid or didn't fit the character at all?

Just choose a name that feels right for you. Getting into the etymology of names is fun, too, and helps me pick sometimes.

^_^; For example, Talitha = Girl (from Death's Doors). I used a lot of name meanings in Death's Door, actually.

... I couldn't figure out a name for Talitha and I started writing and just called her "girl". So... it's kinda my own funny thing.

Talitha = Girl
Leia = Weary
Hugh = "Spirit" (more to the idea of bright in personality XD *cough* but I liked this usage, also that Hugh is the exact opposite of his name)
Faolan = wolf
Orland Bernhold = Orland means "Famous Country" Bernhold = "Rules as Bear" - Orland is an entity of himself. Everything he does.

^_^ I wonder if this will make the name of Chapter 2 more... interesting XD Chapter 6 as well.

I also have fun scrambling up names sometimes and seeing what combinations I get.

In TLQ, one of my characters (an Elemental... an Angel-like race) goes by the names "Remus / Rem" as his god name and "Rei Murshek" as his human-disguise name - I changed two of the letters (a y became an "i" and the "k" was actually a "c") Rem Rei Murshek, unmixed is "Hermes [s]Merkuri[/s] Mercury" ^_^ I had a lot of fun with that. A LOT of fun. Remus is labeled as the Elemental of Time, but the spirit of one of my favorite Gods whose names just didn't fit into the story is definitely still true to where I snagged it from.

^_^; I just have too much fun with my stories sometimes, I guess. From the creation of their names, to their personalities, to their stories and the scenes I drop them into.

[eharper256]

Most of the time, for me at least, I start with a name and build a character and story around it, rather than writing a story based around nameless NPCs and naming them later.

But, when stuck, I often use Behindthename to help with names.

I even used it to name my Etrian characters LOL. ^_^'

Hmm, I have to design the third layer of hell this morning for the RPG I'm GM'ing later. Seriously, what is it with player parties wanting to visit the netherworld? I can't use Dante's vision this time either, since I used that in the recent D&D game, so I have been blantantly stealing from Shin Megami Tenshi: Strange Journey so far, but I want to pull away from that, so...

Perhaps I can do something with Greek Myth...hmm...a giant river styx. I guess that would work...

On other notes, not that anyone cares, but Dearly Beloved is progressing well. Now 21 Chapters!

[Maxine MagicFox]

I do it all. I've started with names like you, harper, but I've started with story ideas. I've started with an individual personality. Even just going through old stories and patchworking things together.

And "fan works". To take things I liked from movies or books and rewrite them to a way that I like.

Glad to hear your story is progressing well!

[DGAE]

[eharper256]

[Maxine MagicFox]

Big lesson learned here I hope:

NEVER, EVER, EVER SIGN SOMETHING WITHOUT READING THE RULES!!
THIS INCLUDES EVEN TERMS OF AGREEMENT WITH SITES!!

Don't just gloss over something. You'll be surprised what some bastards attempt to sneak in.

[KitsuAccalia]

<_< I’d imagine people can get away with some awful schemes through contracts, I suppose it's the person who did not read its fault. Unless it was supposed to be a general contract of some sort, you know like those online agreement contract's for video games >_>

Also in other news i can't figure out a name for a female protagonist with the personality of well.... i guess you can say she is anti-social, yet somewhat ambitious. She enjoys company however hates meeting new people as she usually fumbles over words and such. <_< i know it's a generic personality but I need her for *special development's* of which her personality is generally necessary ^_^

[Maxine MagicFox]

[Maxine MagicFox]

[Maxine MagicFox]

[Maxine MagicFox]