Naming Characters

One of the biggest challenges facing authors is how to choose character’s names, and especially the name of the lead character. In this interview with the soprano, Golda Schultz, an opera singer, begins her interview on this program, “Living the Classical Life”, talking about her name, Golda. She explains her parent’s idea about the importance of names. How names can be destiny. The name, Golda, meant a great deal to her parents. She talks about how she did, indeed, grow into her name. I think that this initial part of the interview is essential listening to any aspiring writer.

The interview goes to cover Golda’s career as a musician, the actual purpose of this interview. For writers, the interview becomes super interesting towards the end. I suggest listing to the central part of the interview with one ear, as they say, and start paying attention when she begins to talk about stage fright. The stage fright part of the video offers insights into character that I think many of you will find useful.