"Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it." - Hebrews 13:2



Monday, June 18, 2012

Nicknames


This week, the weather has been in the mid-nineties. Woo! Sizzle! Hot! Summer is here. How’s your summer going so far? Doing any fun summer reading?

This week, I’m thinking about nicknames.

I’m writing a character with a distinct nickname. It’s a pet name that she is called only by one person.

Writers - what do you think of character nicknames? Should we include them, or does it just confuse the reader?

Readers – do you like characters with nicknames?

And, I want to know - Do you or did you ever have a nickname?

Hubby calls me Pooh. The kids affectionately call me Mamoo. I love it.

Would love to hear from you!

Between you, me and the gatepost,

Loree

By the way, I’m really enjoying Jeanette Levellie’s book – Two Scoops of Grace with Chuckles on Top. Honestly, she has me laughing and crying in turns. A fun, well-written, inspirational read!

24 comments:

Jessica Nelson said...

Mamoo is SO cute!!! :-) I'm always reading but am enjoying sleeping in. :-) I'm still in my pjs, actually. LOL

Unknown said...

I love characters with nicknames. :) In my first book, Georgia's friends call her George. In my second book, secondary character Blake goes by Blaze (and there's a good reason!)...hmm, no nicknames yet in my third book.

I've had a ridiculous array of nicknames:

Milly--to friends in London and one friend here in the States

Milbo Taggins--reference to Lord of the Rings

Sparky--at work, in reference to a certain microwave fire incident

Maytag--should be rather obvious considering my last name

Brandi Boddie said...

I give my characters nicknames. Usually, I'll have a relative or a close friend in the book do it. I don't think nicknames are confusing so long as they match the character's temperament, personality, or other trait in some way.

My husband and I have a nickname for each other. We call each other pookie, lol.

Emily R. King said...

I never had many nicknames, but I always wanted them. That's why when I named my children, I thought of what their nickname would be, too.

Pooh is a cute nickname. :)

Unknown said...

Some of my family members call me JJ. My hero has a stage name and a shortened name he prefers.

Terri Tiffany said...

My husband calls me B.
My daughter is SHell Bell:)
So yes, I love characters to have nicknames--my current WIP does.
Hot here too--close to 100~

Lindsay Harrel said...

Supposed to be 112 today in Phoenix...woohoo.

I love nicknames. I think they're so much fun. Most of my friends call me Linds (some spell it Linz). My husband also calls me "Love."

Fun post!

Loree Huebner said...

Jessica: Love those days when we can stay in our PJ's all morning - sometimes into the afternoon. Enjoy!

Melissa: Loved reading bits about "Blaze" on your blog today. Milbo Taggins cracked me up! haha!

Brandi: Pookie! So sweet! Love it!

Emily: Great idea, thinking in advance for nicknames for your kids!

Julie: Oh yeah, JJ makes total sense. I love that nickname. One of my favorites.

Terri: B. You must be the Queen Bee! Love it.

Lindsay: Welcome here!! 112 is too hot! They are saying 97 here tomorrow. Linz and Love - how perfect!

Jessica, Melissa, Brandi, Emily, Julie, Terri, and Lindsay, thanks for stopping by and sharing. I enjoy reading your comments!

Sarah Forgrave said...

I haven't thought about nicknames too much, maybe because I've never had one myself. :) Hmm, you have me thinking, Loree....

Cindy R. Wilson said...

Hey Loree! I like to give my characters nicknames, but they're usually just shorter versions of their longer names. It feels more intimate, though, like the character is my friend :)

Melanie N. Brasher said...

Loree,

I often find characters with nicknames stick in my head longer (ie. skeeter in The Help). I've used a nickname for my main character.

Charlotte Brentwood said...

I don't often give my characters nicknames, except for occasionally shortening their real names. In my current historical romance I am actually in the midst of thinking up a nickname for a character who has been a surrogate mother to someone. I don't want anything too cutesy so I think it'll be a bit of a challenge.

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I don't often use nicknames for my characters, but occasionally I do and it seems to work. In real life, I have far too many nicknames, lol.

Jessica R. Patch said...

Depends on the character if they get a nickname. Some of mine do, some don't.

My name is Jessica, but most often I am called Jess or Jesse. Some of my husband's friends, most of them, call me JP. None of my girlfriends do that, although as a fun joke, since I write by Jessica R. Patch, they call me Jessica R. LOL I get a kick out of that.

Fun post, Loree...mamoo! I love it!

Loree Huebner said...

Sarah: Never had one? We will have to think of a good one for you, Sarah!

Cindy: I like those shorter version "affectionate" nicknames. They are more personal.

Melanie: I never thought of it that way. Great example, Melanie!

Charlotte: It's funny how names come about. You'll find the right one that fits.

Lynda: Haha! One can never have too many nicknames.

Jessica: Jessica R. Funny how things stick. Mamoo actually comes from a big blues hit titled, The Big Mamou. The song is hilarious! Big Mamou is actually a place in the song. We were at a Blues fest one summer, and I've been Mamoo ever since. I love it.

Sarah, Cindy, Melanie, Charlotte, Lynda, and Jessica R, thanks for popping in!

Rhonda Schrock said...

Very endearing nicknames you've got! In my weekly column, I use nicknames for the 'cast.' I figure they deserve some privacy, but it also adds some personality, mystique, and color.

Susan J. Reinhardt said...

My MC is called a shortened version of her name. Does that count?

I grew up as Susie. As a teen, I insisted on Sue because Susie sounded too juvenile. Then, I went to my full name, Susan.

Now, a select few call me Suze (pronounced Sooz). My uncle started that one.

Blessings,
Susan :)

Gabrielle Meyer said...

I love nicknames - especially when a hero gives a heroine a pet nickname. :) My name is Gabrielle with a long a, so my family has called me Gabe or Gabey all of my life. When I was younger my older brothers called me Goobers, two of my aunts call me Gabes and one of my aunts calls me Gaberellie. I have given my children an array of nicknames - I love calling them pet names that only I can get away with. :)

Loree Huebner said...

Rhonda: I agree. I think nicknames do add personality and mystique.

Susan: Of course that counts! I love Suze!

Gabrielle: How fun! All that from your name. I love Goobers! Sounds like something a brother would come up with. What a perfect nickname!

Rhonda, Suze :) and Gabrielle, thanks for stopping by!

Cynthia Chapman Willis said...

Pooh is such a cute nickname. I love nicknames. I think they give subtle information about a character. Having typed that, I'll admit that I can get carried away with nicknames in my writing.
I've had the nickname Cinder since I was a baby.

Victoria Lindstrom said...

Loree - I love nicknames, too. My protagonist has a nickname - a shortened version of her given name. However, I am concerned because her full name is also used in my text. Since it is an obvious form of her given name, I think I'm okay. I have heard to shy away from nicknames in a novel, or at least use it exclusively.

Jeanette Levellie said...

Oh, my, I popped over here to see what you had to say about nicknames, and found my name on the bottom of this post! Wow, thanks, Loree, I soooo appreciate you!

My nephew nicknamed me Ghet when he couldn't say Jeanette. My ex-sil still calls me that. I like nicknames, if they're cute. And as a reader of novels, I don't think it's confusing, unless you have too many.

I have used some in my nf book: Kev for Kevin, Estie for Esther. My readers are super smart--I know they won't be confused!

Thanks again,
jen

Stacy Henrie said...

We have unique nicknames for our kids, which only make sense to us! :)

Loree Huebner said...

Cynthia: Ahh, love Cinder. Nicknames do give subtle hints about the characters. I like that.

Victoria: I think shortened versions of given names are fine. In one of my novels, the main character's dad is the only one who calls her by the nickname.

Jeanette: I am enjoying your book!
I agree that nicknames aren't confusing unless they are over used.

Stacy: We've got some of the kid nicknames too. haha

Cynthia, Victoria, Jeanette, and Stacy, thanks for visiting! I enjoyed reading your comments.