WHAT'S IN A NAME?

A famous line from William Shakespeare's ROMEO & JULIET is, "a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."

So, if that is true....what's in a name?

I'd have to say ABIANCE!

The definition for ABIANCE in the dictionary states - The special atmosphere or mood created by a particular environment: It comes from the French word, ambiant, which means "surroundings."

I believe ABIANCE should not only pertain to one's surroundings, but to names as well....especially the names writers give their characters.

We'd probably love GONE WITH THE WIND just as well if Scarlet O'Hara's name was Ivy O'Leary....but Mitchell's heroine sweeps acrossed the pages of this novel so much more romantically with the name that was orginally given to her.

And what if THE GREAT GATSBY was THE GREAT HORNSBY? Or MR. DARCY was MR. DUNSTIN? And what if instead of DR. JEKELL & MR. HYDE we read DR. PICKLE & MR. MCBRIDE?

When naming characters for a novel, picking names that flow, capture, and that are unique always adds a touch more magic to any story. Keep each character's name defined from one another as well. Having one character named Brent Thornton and another Horton Trenton could become confusing to the reader.

And I'm so glad the beautiful bloom we know as a ROSE, is called such. No matter how sweet it still might smell by any other name, I don't think it would be quite the same for a gent to send a lady a dozen long-stem red HACKLEBUMS!

HAPPY WRITING!

Roberta C.M. DeCaprio

www.robertadecaprio.com