Pronunciation

Pronunciation is key when one reads your work or you read theirs. Sure, you can always pronounce it your own way, and the author may always pronounce it their way. Which is correct? Both.

The reason I'm bringing this up is because a friend asked me how I pronounce my characters names.

Rhys: I pronounce it REEss
Tamara Lamnar: Tuh-mar-uh Lam-narr
Jori: Jh-OAR-EE
Bylee: BUY-LEE
Mira: MEE-RAH
Rou'tre: ROW-TRuh
Tesqui-Wiit: TES-Kwee-White
Sarline'batra: SAR-LEAN-BAW-TRAW
Oph'la: OH-Fell-Ah
Malton Alhai: MALL-TON ALL-HIGH
Walrot: WALL-ROT
Jeksonn Alhai: JECK-SON ALL-HIGH
Griff Wahl: GRIFF WALL
Tixe: TIE-SHEE
Khariss: K-ARR-iss
Latchton: LATCH-TON
Y'canthra: EE-can-thr-uh
T'ol: Tuh-OLL
Vhoz Lamnar: V-OSH Lam-nawr
Ascon Tirs: ASK-ON Tuhrz
Lexz: LEK-Ss
Y: why
Q: cue
Z'jara: Zshuh-JAR-uh
Riine Valonto: REEn Vuh-LOHN-toe
Av'ryl: Aahv-uh-rILL
Bartok: Barr-TOCK
Ivarrson: EE-vARE-suhn
Qeru: KARE-OO
Cinor: SIN-OAR
A'liin Mobar: Aah-LEEN MOE-barr
Henrik Reapre: HEN-rick RIPE-err

Getting in touch with your characters

I've been hard pressed to describe my characters accurately to my current critique group. So yesterday I decided to take one of my characters and do a short 1st person exploration with them. The result was unexpected. This character is really more hardened and resentful of the events in her world. For her, nothing ever goes right; in other words, it's a dystopia.

Some suggestions for getting in touch with your characters:

• Try writing them in the 1st person or the 3rd person limited. This allows you to connect with your character, giving you insights into the character's mindset. 
• Try writing a character exposition using only that character and no one else. Sometimes, it's what the internal dialogue says that tells all.
• Do a Question and Answer type thing with you character where you ask them a question and in turn allow them to provide the answer. 

The Key to all of this is to let the character speak to you.  Remember, writing is both serious and fun. Don't be so serious about how your character should act. As the 11th Doctor (Matt Smith) says "Never knowingly be serious."

Character Lists

I think character lists/dramatis personae/cast role call are important for any novelist. Not all books should have one (if any ever do). They should be for the author only. This helps in case you forget a character or their profession.

Example:

Title of Book
   Main Characters:
     Jack Wells, commander, Death Commandos (human male from Rulnudor)*
     Rhys Jones, commander, Liberty Rangers (human male from Libertia)
     Tamara Lamnar, lieutenant, Liberty Rangers (human female from Libertia)
     Jessica Green, lieutenant, Death Commandos (human female from Calassa)
     Jori, lieutenant, Liberty Rangers (human female from Libertia)
     Kyle Daly, reporter, Calassa News Network (human male from Calassa)
     Jon Green, senator (human male from Calassa)
     Prince Khariss, head of Darkstar criminal organization (human male)
   Secondary Characters:
     Juan Lopez; lieutenant, Liberty Rangers (human male)
     Q, lieutenant; Death Commandos (Mar'ahli male)
     Nick Trang; lieutenant, Death Commandos (human male)
     Sarha Poland; captain, Liberty Rangers (human female)
     Tessa; captain, Death Commandos (human female)
     Latchton; assassin (human male)
     Y'Canthra; mechanic (Azhiiry female from Azhiiry)
     T'ol; mechanic (human female from Hydronkker)
     Tixe; general, Rulnudor Special Operations Brigade (human male from Rulnudor)
     Vhoz Lamnar; general, Libertia Special Operations Brigade (human male from Libertia)
     Stone; general, Libertia Special Operations Brigade (human male from Libertia)
* = this may be different if your story is only set on earth, main stream fiction, or doesn't involve other species like dogs, cats at which point the "(human male/female)" becomes irrelevant.

I don't recommend this for all writers though. It mainly works well with Sci-Fi or Fantasy (if you have a lot of characters, mind).

Writing Tip: Keeping Busy

For most beginning writers, the hardest challenge we have to face is making ourselves sit down and write. Life is distracting and we all know it. The trick is to sit at the computer or writing pad and just tell yourself "I'm just gonna write for a few minutes." Then, after you finish writing, hours have passed and you've completed a few scenes in your work in progress.

If not, then try picturing yourself surrounded by your family and friends, each of them telling you that your never going to make it as a writer, to get a real job, and adding all those doubts into your head. Now imagine you have a People Remote. The only button on it is the "mute" function. Simply aim it at each member and "mute" them. Then, put that remote down, and away from them, and keep writing.

The most important thing to remember while your writing is to just let it be junk. This is only a first draft. it doesn't have to be perfect on the first try. Remember back in high school writing essays. It needs to be like that, there needs to be a rough draft, a middle draft (which can take up most of your time) and your end product.

If that doesn't work for you, try plotting out a few scenes. By plotting, I mean an outline of what is to come. If you don't have a specific ending in mind, try outlining the ending. Does your main character win and is happy; win, isn't happy; lose, is happy; lose and isn't happy? Or is it the dreaded ambiguous ending?

Another ting to do is ask your main character(s) what it is he/she/they want. What is it they want most and what are they willing to do to get it? If you have a kid who wants to play the drums in the school band, he can't just do that. There needs to be tension (he gets in, but his parents can't afford to by the practice drums or sticks; the bully breaks the practice drum set or sticks). It needs to be something convincing yet realistic for your character. What obstacles is your character going to overcome? These are the important questions to ask when drafting a novel.

So get off the internet now and get writing!