The Story is Chosen – Now Let's Name the Characters!
Got a friend with a birthday coming up? Want your name in lights? Have a baby name you'd never actually use? Here's your chance to have some creative fun!
If you’re new here, Plot Twist: A Collaborative Novel is an interactive writing project where you get to help decide what the characters say and do next. Check out the introduction to Plot Twist: A Collaborative Novel for all the juicy details on how this works, and subscribe to make sure you don’t miss a step on this fun adventure.*
The people have spoken! And by the people, I mean you!
In your infinite wisdom and creative excitement, you and your fellow subscribers have chosen the book that we will write together this year!!!!
As a reminder, you had three options to choose from:
Magic and gender mayhem
Assassins and espionage
Crossing borders and boundaries
If you haven’t read them yet, you can find synopses for all three – plus my requirements for any story we write – in this post here.
Are you ready to find out which storyline won the popular vote?!
Here are the results of the poll:
WE ARE GOING WITH MAGIC AND GENDER MAYHEM!
Not gonna lie, I was really hoping this would win. While I loved all three storylines equally – and hope to turn the other two into published novels someday – the idea of collectively writing about magic, gender, covens, resistance, and reclamation of power really appeals to me with the political landscape happening right now.
Plus, I’ve got some great twists and turns planned for this one!
I’ve already started on the first chapter, but before I can send it to you, I need character names!
Next up: Naming the characters!
Here’s the fun part! Got an ex you want to make a villain? Have a baby name you never got to use? This is where you can put that creative energy!
Here’s how it works:
For three days only, I’m opening comments on this post to everyone. (Usually comments are limited to paid subscribers.)
During that time, you can suggest names for the three main characters in the comments and/or comment on other people’s suggested names.
After the three days are up, I’ll choose the names based on the commentary (with the help of The Group Chat).
We’ll also have three more characters that will be chosen solely by The Group Chat, so join that if you want even more input on the book!
Our six core characters who need names:
Main character (X)
The Twin Sister (Y)
The Evil Villain (Z)
The Bodyguard (and possible future father of X’s child)
The Executive Assistant (who may be madly in love with X)
The Ex (who might be a second chance romance or might stay a thorn in X’s side)
1. Main Character (X)
X is the second most powerful witch in the Frontera coven, the heir in line for the throne. Her voice can command obedience, her aura pulls people in, her royal upbringing infuses her every move with power and poise – unless she’s talking to a cute girl at a gay bar, then she’s an awkward, babbling mess.
Ever since disappearing on her fiancé over a decade ago, she has been quite literally cursed when it came to love, which would be fine with independent X except for one major issue: the wards that have protected the coven for a century will fall if she doesn’t produce an heir. More precisely, she needs to give birth to a female child who could one day reign as Queen.
Even though her position as Queen is new, X reigns over the coven of Frontera – what humdrum (non-magical) governments call Southern California – with the strength, poise and confidence that was bred into her. She is a force to be reckoned with in the throne room, holding press conferences to represent her billionaire family’s corporate holdings, and commanding the hidden magical armies. If only she had that kind of confidence when the cameras were off.
What should our main character’s name be? We want something regal, old fashioned, but also playful and fun. Maybe with a great nickname those who know her best could use.
2. The Twin Sister (Y)
Y was quite literally born to be a mother. As the elder of the twins, Y knew from a young age that she had two jobs that were intrinsically intertwined: keep the coven’s borders strong and produce an heir and a spare. Like the dutiful daughter she is, Y gave birth to two girls, and for nine years, the royal family breathed easy knowing they had their heir and a spare.
Until a mysterious blood cancer that’s been making its way through the coven tragically killed A. Then B transitioned, making him now ineligible to rule the coven. Y is unable to have more children, and that combined with her debilitating grief forces Y to abdicate the throne to her younger twin sister.
With the pressure of Queen off her shoulders, Y is beginning to piece together who she is and what she wants from her life. She’d always been jealous of the freedom X got, but now that she has a taste of it, she’s not sure what to do with herself.
What should we name the twin sister? Do we want the twins to have similar but slightly different names or names as contradictory in personality as they are?
3. The Evil Villain (Z)
A conservative warlock posing as an evangelical preacher hell bent on stealing power away from the women of the Frontera coven. I don’t know much more about him, because you all are going to help me develop this character the most!
We need a really great villain name! What should it be? Do we want two: one that the non-magical public knows him as, and one that the magical world knows him by?
BONUSES FOR THE GROUP CHAT:
We’ve got three more characters that The Group Chat will get to name:
4. The Bodyguard (and possible future father of X’s child)
5. The Executive Assistant (who may be madly in love with X)
6. The Ex (who might be a second chance romance or might stay a thorn in X’s side)
Join The Group Chat if you want even more input on the book!
Some tips for choosing character names:
Avoid names that are already in use in popular novels (like Christian Grey or Gandalf the Grey).
Use baby naming websites! They’re a great source of inspiration.
Think of the character’s personality traits and backstory. Would they have a common name, a wildly unique one, or somewhere in between? Would their name contradict or align with their story?
Feed off of other people’s creativity in the comments! This is a collaborative novel, so collaborate!
Have fun! This isn’t a real life human you’re naming, and we can always change it later, so take the pressure off and have fun.
I can’t wait to see what names you come up with! Leave a comment to get started now.
I’m excited to see where this adventure takes us together!
Lauren
P.S. Got a friend who loves naming people? Know someone who could use a joyful and collaborative creative project in their life right now? Share this post with them! The more brains we have collaborating on this project, the more fun it will be for all!
*PLEASE READ THE FINE PRINT BEFORE YOU COMMENT OR VOTE:
By participating in Plot Twist: A Collective Novel, you’re agreeing to give your input on a book that will be written by Lauren Marie Fleming. The final book will be published with Lauren Marie Fleming listed as the sole author and copyright owner. This project will be mentioned in the acknowledgments and anyone who comments on at least three posts will be listed as a collaborator. No compensation or copyright is granted for collaborators from any book sales or derivatives.
Violet; Iris for the sister. There’s magic in purple flowers!
Body guard should be Gregory