My JooJooBee —

Names matter.

I spent my morning thinking about character names.

I keep a list of them to use in stories.

(A favorite from Pynchon though:

Mucho Maas — like us all, truly much more.)

We define names, but also, names define us.

So it bothers me when characters have no names.

(Lazy writers.)

My boss shared this story:

She said, her boyfriend dreamed they had a dog named Pancake.

So when they get a dog one day, they will name it that.

(love)

I had two dogs once, rescues, so I didn’t get to name them.

(Duffy and Lolly, if you want to know.)

If I got another I might name it Dog.

I’d use that more than its real name.

(—Here, Dog. —Dinner, Dog! —I love you, Dog…)

I love the simplicity of that.

I also love the complexity of nicknames.

(I have a talent for them.)

That can quickly turn into a Seinfeld though — Schmoopy Doopy!

I do not approve of letter hogging:

Abel, Andrew, Arthur…no, no, no…

Names need not always have profound meanings — but why not?

For example, in Penpals, the protagonist is a letter writer so his name is Liam.

(L I A M <=> M A I L)

(He is also very male.)

Liam means “strong-willed warrior” and “protector.” This fits.

The female protagonist is mysterious so her name is Violet.

Her name means… nothing.

This fits if you know her arc.

(The real life Violet’s name also began with a “V.”)

I need names for two new scripts I’ve started.

(I have a confession:

Both have you as the lead.

You inspired both characters.)

Incidentally, my three names mean:

— the highest one

— poet

— teacher

(That fits me, don’t you think?)

Of course I looked up your name too.

If I did it right, it means:

— incredible person

— precious

(That absolutely fits!)

The moment we met I thought those exact two things about you.

(Haven’t I kept telling you that?)

I love you, my incredible, precious person.

— Your Fortune Cookie