Name Calling

It was one of those days. You know those days. Days that the most rudimentary application flees your mind as if drinking and writing were habitual. 

Needless to say, I don't drink. 

Future Banner for Nocturnal Redemption

So what was the authorian infraction? Names. Names to my characters to be exact. I spent so much time working out plot lines, characterization, and dialogue that I forgot to give more than half my characters surnames. 

The travesty! 

Not really, but the situation did give me another prescription in my bid to edit and polish Nocturnal Redemption: In the Eye of the Beholder. 

So I went out on a discovery expedition. My antagonist, Chloe, needed a dark name. One that showed where she was in the story. I wanted to do: deWinter, but thought the name too closely resembled the Dumas character in The Three Musketeers. 

Since one of the scenes is and others will be in France, I decided to investigate the French word for winter, which happens to be le hiver. In my rounds on the internet I discovered place names like de l'hiver, and l'hiv. That gave me the idea to name her: Chloe de L'Hiv (of the Winter). 

Neat, right?

To name a character in one's story takes a little time and effort. Many new writers are overwhelmed by the task. There are an innumerable amount of baby name websites to choose from. The way to go about naming your characters is to know who your characters are and where they come from. 

Doing the brainstorming first before researching the name for a character cuts out the middle man so to speak. 

I went from panic mode to a quick afternoon's jaunt into France. The internet is a wonderful place. A writer can now venture any where in the world. 

So do not get stuck naming your characters, get proactive with fleshing out your characters and researching those ends online. 

Have a great and wonderful day!

Something About Anniversaries

On this day, one year ago, my adopted cat Irene had four cute little wigglebutts.

Thus the house was never the same again. The End... just kidding!

I have four little furry people who think I am their world. Riley, my Bombay, is playing fetch with me. I throw her toy and she brings it back for me to throw again. She is self taught. 

My calicoes, one is a bday girl and one is a year older from another litter, are both best friends. Those cats understand and nurture each other. Very cute.

The siamese screams and yells around the house with his bankie (a small, decorative wool blanket the size of a large index card for display items) in his mouth. I wake up in the mornings usually with one next to me. The other times, I yell back that I am in here (whatever room that tends to be). I explain to him with seven creatures in this house, there is no way he could ever be alone.

My black and white kitten is full grown and acts like his feral father. Boy, what a boy! He likes to be dominate especially over an older white male in the house, but I don't allow that. 

For creatures who are supposed to be dumber than dogs, these cats are really smart. They listen to what I have to say and do my commands when I talk loud enough. Cats are not stupid. You have to train them just like a dog. I associate words with actions and treats. 

Neighbors have even complimented me on how the outdoor cats listen to me.

Well, in the babies case, I fed Irene really well, took care of her, and trained her babies. These one year olds are very smart because I took the time and energy to raise them right. Doesn't mean they still don't act up and out like cats. They're cats! Of course, they do, but they also think and evaluate situations like how annoying can we be until the human gets the squirt bottle out and how fast can we run to avoid getting wet. 

Kitty logic.

Their presence has really helped me. My family abandoned me. A friend suggested: left me for dead three years ago. That leaves a lot of healing to do. 

With my new-found family, I don't have to worry about being alone in my house now. I have love and companionship. It may be unconventional but I don't see any human giving up their materialistic lifestyle to spend a life of isolation with me. 

Hell, I would be the greatest candidate to go to Mars, or some other colony. As long as I have a cat, the internet, and entertainment, I'm good. I wish I wasn't so ill. 

So off I go to get the office back in shape. I cleaned, organized, and am getting everything set up still. I am going to get back into writing novels and books again, not just do the periphery actions. If I start now, I should be done in about five to ten years! Isn't illness fun?! 

Have a great and wonderful day. 

 

_____

 

Novelist, DL Mullan, has Biotoxin Illness from industrial chemicals, black mold, and pesticides from her former employer. Her office was in the same building as the water treatment plant. Years later after receiving no recompense, she uses natural supplementation, sugarless diet, and detox methods to regain a small quality of life. She may never be whole, or able to work in an office ever again, but with perseverance, Ms. Mullan is beating the odds against a low functioning/collapsed immune system. 

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