Skip to main content

Crafting Unique Nicknames in Your Fantasy World

Nicknames are a great way to add depth and personality to your characters and show their relationships and culture. However, writing nicknames in a fantasy world can be tricky since you have to balance creativity, consistency, and clarity. Here are some tips on how to write nicknames in your fantasy world:

Think about the origin and meaning of the nickname. A nickname can be derived from various sources, such as the character’s name, appearance, personality, occupation, hobby, or history. For example, Elora might be nicknamed Ellie, Lora, or El by her friends, Bright Eyes, Starlight, or Spark by her admirers. A nickname can also have a hidden or ironic meaning, such as a character named Rolf being called Wolf by his enemies or a character named Cora being called Coral by her lover.

Think about the tone and context of the nickname. A nickname can convey different emotions and intentions, depending on who uses it and when. For example, a nickname can be affectionate, teasing, respectful, mocking, or insulting. A nickname can also change over time, depending on the character’s development and situation. For example, Zane might be called Zee by his childhood friend, Zan by his mentor, or Zane the Insane by his enemies.

Think about the consistency and clarity of the nickname. A nickname should be consistent with the character’s name and the fantasy world’s naming system. For example, if your fantasy world has names inspired by Norse mythology, a nickname like Bob or Sue might not fit well. A nickname should also be clear and distinguishable from other names and words, to avoid confusion and ambiguity. For example, if you have two characters named Tara and Kara, a nickname like T or K might not be enough to tell them apart.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Names you thought of for your MC but ended up not using and why?

Down below are the names that I had thought of for my MC Arwen  I used this name when I was in the plotting stages of my WIP, however when I first started outlining the name didn’t sound right for her anymore, so I ended up scrapping it and began the search for something else.  Marble  I didn’t want to use this one because it didn’t sound right for my main character, but I do plan on using it soon for another character’s name that will be appearing in a later book  Shimmer  This is another name that didn’t feel right as the main character’s name, but like Marble it will be used in a later book for another character  Gimmick  I ended up using this name in book 2 for a brand-new character that my MC meets along with an old familiar face from her past that is linked to this new character who happens to be a witch.  Zetta  I can’t pronounce my ‘Z’s’ very well and they come out sounding like ‘S’s’ so that’s why I ended up scrapping this ...

What kind of kid songs inspire you as a writer?

The sad songs in some of my favorite Disney movies inspired most of my heartbreak and sad potential breakup scenes. The songs from Jem and the Holograms have been my inspiration for some of my secret-keeping scenes. Some of my favorite confession of love songs from many favorite animated kid movies were an inspiration for some of my revelations of love scenes.

A song for the daughters on reaping day in my main character's village

The Reaping Song Verse 1: When the moon is full and bright And the shadows dance in the night We hear the whispers in our ears The Reaping is drawing near Chorus: They come to take the chosen ones To train them as the council's sons They make them kill without remorse They make them serve the darkened force Verse 2: We never know who they will pick We only hope they do it quick We hug our daughters and we pray The Reaping will spare them today Chorus: They come to take the chosen ones To train them as the council's sons They make them kill without remorse They make them serve the darkened force Verse 3: We see the cloaks and hear the bells We know they cast their wicked spells We watch them drag the girls away The Reaping has claimed them today Chorus: They come to take the chosen ones To train them as the council's sons They make them kill without remorse They make them serve the darkened force Outro: The Reaping is over for now But we know they will come back somehow We l...