Playing With Names
This is a follow up to yesterday’s post about naming characters. You can read that here. In the post, I gave a list of randomly generated names, and asked readers who were so inclined to give a sentence or two describing each of them, just based on the name. This is all stream of consciousness, what I picture whenever I think of the name. Here’s what I came up with:
Kellie Abbott:
15–16 years old. California girl. Peroxide blonde hair and blue eyes that may or may not be augmented by contact lenses. Lots of bubble gum. Not the greatest student. Not a great singer, but she still uploads covers to YouTube. Constantly playing her boyfriend’s guitar, that is, when she can put her cell phone down.
Fitzsimmons Binkley
Late 20s-Early 30s. The prodigal son of British gentry. His father is involved in the House of Lords; he will be the titular Earl of Binkley once the old man dies. For now, he’s content to spend his time in a big city, drifting from DJ job to DJ job. Casual hookups, lots of weed, the occasional hard drugs. The girls call him Fitzy. He doesn’t know it yet, but his liver’s on its last leg. The kind of guy you see dead on CSI: Miami.
Kadyn Weaver
Late teens-early 20s. A Black boy from a medium-sized suburb in America’s flyover country. Mom and Pops raised a good boy, but his heart still flutters each time a cop car goes by. Worked hard and defied expectations, did good in school and got a full ride to either an Ivy League or a good state school. More bookish than sporty, though he does like to shoot hoops or go for a run every now and again.
Dravin Graves
30s-50s. A rookie Republican congressman from somewhere in the Midwest. There’s nothing that his parents didn’t provide for him; there’s very little that he’s actually achieved on his own. His wife secretly votes a straight blue ticket; his kids think that he’s a blowhard. Women in Congress roll their eyes whenever he’s around. He’s not important enough for WikiLeaks to care about him yet, but sometime in the next 10–15 years, he’ll be busted for sexts or lewd pictures on his phone.
Maslynn Davenport
Late 40s-50s. New England, old money. She still works out to Jane Fonda tapes, even though she gushes about Jazzersize, or whatever the hell it is that hip old ladies are doing nowadays. Loves yoga culture, doesn’t actually do yoga. Has been cheating on her husband for at least 20 years. At least one of their kids isn’t his. Wino writ large.
Lucasta Roberts
50s-60s. A Black woman, somewhere in the Bible belt. Ferocious grandma, has always been dirt poor, but able to get by. Frequently praises Jesus, very active in the church community. Perhaps she even works at the church as a secretary. Volunteered for the Obama and Hillary campaigns. Raised her grandchildren, instilled the idea that with hard work, through God, they could do anything. Worries about taking care of their college tuition; forever trusting that The Lord will provide.
Virgil Kennedy
60–70s. Somewhere in semi-rural England. Very God-Save-The-Queen, probably served in the RAF or Royal Navy. Has worked a boring desk job since leaving the military, supervising people who make drill bits or pie tins, or what have you. He has very strong, very conservative opinions, opinions that he drops on his wife and children at the dinner table each night. Lives a solidly middle-class life, but, God, at what cost?
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Zach J. Payne writes YA fiction, poetry, and plays. He’s an assistant at Ninja Writers, helping writers find their voices and their tribe. In the past, he read queries as an intern for Pam Victorio, a literary agent at D4EO. He lives in Reno.
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