Stephen Bly (1944-2011)
In my book Cowboy For A Rainy Afternoon, the narrator is never identified by a particular character name. He is just called “Little Brother” by the six old cowboys.
Aidan, 2) Jayden, 3) Jacob, 4) Michael, 5) Ethan, 6) Caden, 7) James, 8) Caleb, 9) Andrew, and 10) Matthew.
COMMON NAMES IN 1944? Here’s the list:
So, he should be called by a character name such as Bobby or Jimmy, Johnny or Billy, Dicky or Davy, Charlie or Tommy, Mikey or Ronnie. Notice that Michael and James were on both lists. But I rather fancy Stevie, if I had to give him a choice character name. That might give you a clue as to who this character is most like.
1954 Girl Names
And what if the 10-year-old narrator in 1954 had been a girl? Her character name could be Mary or Barbara. Patricia or Linda. Carol or Nancy. Sandra or Sharon. Judith or Susan. I probably would have spiced it up a bit myself. How about you?
ter’s times. For today’s consumer, it’s a shopping mall world. Butfor someone like Little Brother, it’s hard to imagine the incredible thrill to him of a product-packed Five and Dime store. I’m not sure kids today can
experience anything near that excitement.
Narration excerpt from Cowboy For A Rainy Afternoon:
Woolworth’s right out of high school. Even in 1954 most of the merchandise was inexpensive. And they had everything. What a marvelous world for a boy from the
country who thought the Fuller Brush man had so much merchandise in his Chevrolet CarryAll that is must surely be sinful.
buttoned at the collar and a little boy with plastic cap guns holstered to his side. But to my 10-year-old imagination, we were a posse surveyin’ a crowd, on
the trail of some bad hombres.
Stephen Bly – Copyright 2008
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Whether it’s picking a character name in writing a fiction story or choosing a name for a newborn child, what’s your guidelines for making that awesome
choice?
What’s your clearest memory of when you were 10-years-old?
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