Creating Characters (30 page)
Mr. Arbitrator:
This nickname could imply that the character is skilled at settling differences between people with conflicting viewpoints and purposes. On the other hand, it could also be a nickname given facetiously to a no-nonsense tough guy whose idea of "arbitration" is to yank two enemies across a table until their noses touch, thus getting them to agree on what they thought they never would.
Miss Goody Two-Shoes:
A writer might apply this nickname to a character when it is necessary to quickly establish a sanctimonious image.
Mr. Automatic:
This was the nickname given to Luke Appling, the all-star shortstop who played for the Chicago White Sox. So superior were his fielding skills that practically anything he could reach with his glove was an automatic out. Nicknames that denote a skill are often comprised of adjectives.
In choosing a nickname linked to the field of music, the author must decide whether the name in some way reflects that particular character's interest or activity in music, or some other personal characteristic. Among the great many options that are available, here is just a small fraction:
In selecting a nationality for a nickname, it will perhaps be important that no other character in the story should hail from the same area. It is worth remembering, too, that nicknames may reveal the prejudices of the nickname giver. Among the possibilities—some of which are offensive—include Aussie, Brit, Chink, Cockney, Dago, Dutch, English, Fin, Frenchie, Irish, Kraut, Limey, Mex, Mexie, Scottie, Shamrock, Swede, Turk, Yank.
In selecting a "naval" nickname, an author may choose one that pertains to an entire ship, part of a ship, or something else that is water-related. For
Brig
Clipper
Dock
Hatch
Hawse
Jigger
Ram
Rigger
Rudder
Schooner
Scooter
Scull
Sea Horse
Seaweed
Skiff
Sloop
Spars
Steamboat
Tanker
Wharf
Windjammer
Nicknames beginning with "old" are similar to those that begin with "Mr." or "Miss." The author usually uses them just once, when first introducing the character, for the purpose of establishing some image in the reader's mind. If used afterwards, the use will be sparing. Three examples:
Old Reliable:
A good nickname to use for a character who can always be counted upon when the going gets rough, or when someone is needed in the clutch.
01' Blood and Guts:
A nickname such as this could be applied, for example, to a general who has a habit of sending his men into battle with little planning and no regard for their safety.
Old Pinchface:
This could immediately depict a character's unsociability, someone in the story who could be misanthropic, pitiless, contentious, and so forth.
Some nicknames are effective only when they precede a proper name.
Babyface
Nelson and
Pretty Boy
Floyd were two of America's most notorious criminals. However, if you drop the proper name that follows either of them, the nickname sounds awkward. A nickname that is dependent upon a proper name for its existence can be an adjective, a noun, or an adjective-noun combination. Examples:
Adjective
Fearless
Fosdick,
Hardhearted
Hannah,
Honest
Abe,
Shoeless
Joe Jackson.
Noun
Calamity
Jane,
Homerun
Baker,
Honeysuckle
Rose.
Adjective-Noun
Cool Papa
Hines,
Hot Lips
Houlihan,
Red Dog
Rumble,
Blue Eyes
Billy.
A strange or exotic nickname may evoke a faraway place or distant fantasy; or it may provide no link to anything that is instantly recognizable. Indeed, a writer may create one by simply arranging letters in a way that provides some special sound, one that seems uniquely suitable for a character he or she has in mind. A writer can also turn familiar utterances into exotic nicknames,
Abracadabra
being one of them. Here are just a few of the countless options a writer has at his or her disposal regarding the selection of a strange or exotic nickname:
Alabaster
Applejack
Arrow
Beezer
Bingo
Blackstone
Blaze
Blur
Boffo
Bolt
Breezy
Briny
Buckhorn
Bupp
Burgundy
Butterwing
Caboodle
Calico
Calypso
Cameroon
Capricorn
Chantilly
Chestnut
Chiffon
Chime
Cinnamon
Clarion
Clopper
Cobalt
Coo-Coo
Coosh
Cottonfoot
Crispy
Cymbal
Dambi
Dazz
Dewdrop
Diggity
Ditto
Doke
Dong
DooDah
Dusky
Dustwind
Ember
Fireball
Firebolt
Fizz
Fleece
Flook
Foto
Furf
Glaze
Glory
Gog
Gong
Gonzo
Gooch
Gossamer
Graywing
Groot
Gypsy
Hiccup
Hickory
Hippity
Hojo
Hoochee
Hoodoo
Hush
Iggy
Imoo
Indigo
Jade
Jangle
Jart
Java
Jiffy
Jinx
Jipper
Jolt
Juju
Jumbiliah
Jupiter
Kickapoo
Kiki
Koko
Krone
Lava
Lavender
Leek
Loo
Madeira
Mahogany
Marigold
Misk
Mog
Mojo
Mombo
Moonbeam
Moonglow
Mootzie
Mungo
Nighthorse
Nuff
Oogie
Orchid
Paffy
Palamar
Panky
Peekaboo
Pidge
Piff
Pojo
Poke
Poof
Potsie
Poucho
Pucker
Puff
Quick
Rambler
Rango
Rasco
Raven
Razzle
Rizzy
Roo
Rub-a-Dub
Sable
Sapphire
Sark
Scuff
Sess
Shadrack
Shalimar
Sha-Zam
Shoke
Shoo
Silky
Silverado
Silverleaf
Sizzle
Skadoo
Skat
Skib
Skink
Slade
Slappy
Slewfoot
Sligo
Sloo
Sneezer
Snook
Snoot
Snout
Spree
Spurlock
Sputz
Swoop
Swoosh
Swoozie
Tangerine
Tarf
Tass
Tawny
Thunderfoot
Thunderheart
Thunderstroke
Ting
Torch
Touchstone
Trig
Trinity
Troon
Tweedledee
Tweedledum
Vista
Weez
Whisper
Whitehorn
Whizzer
Yago
Yahoo
Yaz
Yellow Wing
Yellowhammer
Yogo
Yoho
Yorky
Yo-Yo
Zang
Zap
Zart
Zazz
Zepher
Ziggy
Zing
Zinger
Zip
Zoar
Zook
Zookie
Zoot
Zuzu
The rules that apply to a nickname using "the" are quite similar to those using "Mr.," "Miss," or "Old"—that is, it is usually used by the author just once, and, more often than not, when the character first enters the story. It serves to provide descriptive information that helps to establish some image in the reader's mind. In using such a nickname, the most common practice is to insert it between the first and last name of the character, or after the character's full name. In either case, it should be encased in quotation marks and the word "the" should be capitalized:
Charles "The Muckraker" Williams Charles Williams, "The Muckraker"
But if the nickname follows the character's first name, and the last name is omitted, "the" is not capitalized and the quotation marks are dropped:
Prufo the Magnificent
Sometimes, however, such a nickname may actually be substituted for the character's real name throughout most of the story, particularly when it comes to villains. Indeed, in some stories where an effort is made to evoke an emotion—say, fear—with a mere mention of the nickname, there may be little need to mention the character's proper name at all. For example, if a character was introduced in this manner, using the nickname throughout the story could possibly be all that is necessary:
Everyone in town knew who the Annihilator was. They had seen him grow up, watched him bully the other kids, steal money in broad daylight and brag about it. The way they saw it, he was a thug from the moment he was born. As for the sheriff, he was scared to death of him. So when Max Harper hired him to collect debts, the Annihilator soon assumed an air of importance formerly reserved for members of the Gestapo and similar notorious notables.
Also, the word "the" in some characters' nicknames may be followed by "Mr.," "Miss," or "Old." Two real-life examples are Bette Midler ("The Divine Miss M") and Joe Nuxall, one of the radio announcers for the Cincinnati Reds ("The Old Lefthander").
There are, of course, literally hundreds of nickname possibilities that can be linked with the word "the" and most are nouns. Among them include the following:
Accountant
Administrator
Agitator
Ambassador
Apprehender
Arranger
Avenger
Barbarian
Blade
Bodysnatcher
Brain
Breaker
Broker
Broom
Bruiser
Buccaneer
Bulldozer
Butcher
Cannibal
Capitulator
Chameleon
Chancellor
Chopper
Claw
Cleaver
Collaborator
Computer
Conqueror
Crepehanger
Crusader
Crusher
Defender
Demon
Devil
Dragon
Elder Statesman
Emperor
Engineer
Eradicator
Executioner
Exterminator
Fixer
Gladiator
Globetrotter
Hammer
Hangman
Iceman
Iron Duke
Iron Man
Jackal
Jawbreaker
Kingmaker
Little Shepherd
Magnificent
Man-Eater
Mechanic
Minuteman
Pirate
Princess
Shark
Smasher
Spoiler
Vulture
Warrior
The area of construction is rich with nickname possibilities. But many can be found in other fields of labor as well. Here, for instance, are just a few:
Blacktop
Blowtorch
Corkscrew
Digger
Drag
Driller
Dumper
Greaser
Grip
Hammer
Jigsaw
Pitchfork
Pumper
Ripsaw
Rivet
Sash
Shaker
Shingle
Sixpenny
Skid
Sledge
Spade
Striker
Tar Pit
Trench
Trucker
The best nicknames for villains are often those that immediately convey some hint of danger. Here are just a few that could possibly fill that function.
Cutter
Darkwing
Fingers
Fist
Gash
Knucklenose
Knuckles
Masher
Scar
Shooter
Skull
Skunk
Slash
Slicer
Slick
Smack
Smash
Snake
Snapper
Snatch
Sniper
Snort
Snot
Spike
Spook
Squint
Stabber
Stinger
Stone
Strangler
Switchblade
Wart
Weasel
Weather-type nicknames, depending upon the one chosen, can convey a positive, negative, or neutral image to the reader or viewer. Some of these
Cyclone
Misty
Muddy
Lightning
Raindrop
Shiver
Sled
Sleet
Slosh
Snow
Snowball
Sprinkle
Choosing the right kind of job for a fictional character can be just as important as selecting a name. The reader or viewer must be immediately convinced that "yes, that's the kind of thing that person might do." True, the character may be inept at discharging the responsibilities of that job
What follows is only a partial list of jobs that you may wish to review before assigning a character a line of work. The jobs are divided into major categories. (One of those categories is crime; it's not the kind of work one would find advertised in the help-wanted pages, but it still represents a means by which some characters acquire money.)
beekeeper
cattle rancher
cowboy
crop duster
dairyman
farmer
farmhand
field worker
migrant worker
pig farmer
plantation owner
rancher
sharecropper
sheep rancher
shepherd
tobacco farmer
wheat farmer
blacksmith
broncobuster
cat breeder
dog breeder
dog trainer
elephant trainer
game warden
horse breeder
horse trader
horse trainer
hunter
kennel owner
pet groomer
veterinarian
barber
beautician
coiffeur-coiffeuse
cosmetician
diet workshop counselor
dress designer
facial massager
fashion buyer
hairdresser
hatmaker
manicurist
masseur/masseuse
model
pedicurist
perfumer
tanning bed operator
wigmaker
accountant
accounts payable clerk
accounts receivable
clerk
activity manager
administrative aide
auditor
bank examiner
bank manager
bank teller
banker
benefits manager
billing clerk
bookkeeper
branch manager
broker
buyer
claims adjuster
client service rep
comptroller (controller)
contractor
copier operator
credit analyst
credit manager
customer support rep.
document manager
economist
exporter
factory owner
financial analyst
financial planner
financier
importer
industrialist
internal auditor
investment advisor
loan officer
mailroom clerk
market research analyst
office manager
payroll manager
pension administrator
personnel assistant
personnel manager
president
promotions coordinator
public relations rep
receptionist
records administrator
regional administrator
regional manager
researcher
sales manager
sales rep
secretary
stockbroker
switchboard operator
systems administrator
tax accountant
trader
typist
underwriter
vice president
warranty supervisor
wholesaler
workers' compensation rep