You Name-Caller! 30 Dystopian Character Name Ideas {WriterlyWednesday}

{1st post in the new WriterlyWednesday mini-series You Name-Caller!}

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Picking names for your characters can be one of the most fun parts of building your story. For me? It's something I have spent hours on for some particular characters. That may sound a bit obsessive, but a name can say a lot about a character, and even describe a bit of their personality. So why not obsess over names? You want your MC to have an awesome name which fits his character to a T, don't you?

Name-choosing can be an art in itself, if you let it. Or, it can be something totally random and serendipitous.

Today, I thought we could look at some neat examples of different dystopian names since so many people I know are writing novels set in that time era.

GIRLS:

1. Eyva - A twist on the traditional Eva, pronounced phonetically, instead of the traditional pronunciation Ee-va.
2. Flair/Flare - A twist on Blair, and making use of words which aren't traditionally used as names.
3. Gliese  - This is an interesting one, and I believe it to be pronounced glees.
4. Bryony - I personally think that this one sounds a bit Irish. It is a twist on the traditional Brianna. Pronounced bree-ahn-ee, to my knowledge.
5. Indigo - Once again, making use of commonplace words. I like this one a lot. It could be used as a boy's name as well.
6. Kae - Basically just a funky way of spelling Kay. Pronounced the same way.
7. Wren - A number of bird names can be used as names, and this is one of them. I picture this as particularly effeminate sounding, personally.
8. Meav - This is actually more traditional than the others, but I think it could easily be a post-apocalypse era name easily.
9.  Laine - Pronounced layn. A pretty variation of the male name Lane.
10. Willow  - A lovely use of the tree name.
11. Raine - A twist on the commonplace word rain. Pronounced in the same fashion.
12. River - The first thing I thought when I heard this, was of the character from Firefly which bears the same name. But if you can get past that connection, it's really a lovely dystopian-sounding name.
13. Cherisis - To my knowledge this has not been used before, thus I created it maybe? *grins sheepishly* Well, whether or not that is valid, it is a variation of the name Cheris. Can be pronounced a variety of ways, but I prefer shair-eh-siss.
14. Carolina - Dakota has been used as a name, why not some of the other states, too? I like Carolina in particular because it could also be a twist on the traditional Caroline.
15. Rynn - This could be a fantasy genre name too, in my opinion. A simple name fit for the strong heroine who has been through all to save her country. Pronounced rin.

BOYS:

1. Archer - This is one of my absolute favorites for boys' names, in general. Making use of commonplace words/occupations/sport titles.
2. Eames - If you've seen the film Inception, you're probably recalling the gangster-like character therein with this name. Setting aside that connection, I think this is a very dystopian-sounding name which traditionally has probably been used as a last name. Pronounced eems.
3. Damascus - Making use of location names.
4. Forest - Ignore the mental connection you might be making with the film Forest Gump for a moment, and picture how this might sound as a nice guy's name. Very earthy and raw, rich and full.
5. Griffin - Another personal all-time favorite. Making use of mythological creature names. I think this sounds very masculine.
6. Tiyev - I think this sounds rather Russian. Pronounced tee-yev.
7. Zander - A name with a very strong dystopian aura. I am not sure what origins it descends from.
8. Reed - A variation of the traditional Reid.
9. Yancey -  I saw this in a novel, used as a last name, but I can picture it easily being a first name, pared with a single-syllable last name.
10. Shiloh - Making use of location names, once again. I really like this one. Another earthy-toned, full sounding name. Pronounced shy-low.
11. Tavis - A play off of traditional Travis.
12. Mungo - A Latin-sounding name which reminds me of the character Thresh from THG.
13. Ash - Another use of a commonplace word. I like this one, too.
14. Lance - This may be a contemporary name in use commonly today, but I still think it sounds rather dystopian.
15. Ronan - Similar in sound to Nolan.

Hope this short list was helpful to you! I could list a dozen more names but I'll save that for another time.

Next WriterlyWednesday, we'll continue the You Name-Caller! mini-series with a post containing 30 Civil War names.

Blessings, y'all!

Ambition Is My Middle Name {15 goals for 2013}

Some people tell me I am too ambitious.

. Some people have told me I was adventurous because of that ambitious nature, and I think they meant it as a compliment.

Either way, I'll agree with them, I am ambitious and that's just how I have always been. It's what makes me me. It's how I work and operate. And even though it may cause me to be in a constant scramble 24/7 to get everything done, I couldn't imagine living any other way.

One part of being ambitious is setting goals...and lots of them. Every new year's, I tend to do this. Dozens of goals which you end up not really covering completely, but ones you set with high hopes, thinking, "Oh yeah. Of course I'll get this done by the end of the year." Anybody relate?

Well, I thought I'd share with you people some of my goals for this year. I won't go into exhaustive detail, to spare you, because...well.. I'm still guilty of that creating-dozens-of-goals syndrome. *bites lip*

1. Become a stronger Christian, fall ever more in love with my Savior.
2. Spend more time with my family, get to know them better.
3. Hand out more tracts/witness to people more.
4. Run 20 miles.
5. Get a six-pack. (Okayy, you were probably snickering as you read that, but hey. With work, it can be done.)
6. Finish "The Rebels of Florida". I MUST.
7. Become the strongest and fittest physically I have ever been in my life.
8. Finish my Creation Worldview course.
9. Write in my journal every day.
10. Memorize a Bible verse a week.
11. Spend less time on Facebook and Pinterest. (the latter, especially xP)
12. Get up earlier, go to bed earlier.
13. Become proficient in archery and knife throwing.
14. Develop my herbalism/natural healing knowledge and skills
15. Make 2013 the best year of my life!

What are some of the goals you've set for this year?

Blessings,

Another Year, Another Crazy Adventure

(Adam on his and Andrew's birthday while we were at a local restaurant a couple weeks ago in December)

TWENTY-THIRTEEN. Now I will have to get used to saying that. As a friend declared on Facebook, "I barely had gotten used to saying 2012!" With every closing of a year, I always tend to focus on all the things I failed to accomplish that year.  But, as our pastor reminded us last Sunday, instead of dwelling on what you didn't get accomplished, focus on the many ways God blessed you, and the many things you did accomplish.

I can truly say that this year was a blessed one. Blessed far beyond my deserving. I am constantly amazed at how the Lord proves His goodness and mercy to me. Sometimes, it seems almost too good to be true.

So. Today I thought I'd share some highlights and things I'm thankful for, from good ol' twenty-twelve.

1. The opportunity to remain home schooled, and with my family here in the wonderful, beautiful countryside of North Florida. The continuing opportunities to spend time with my hilarious, sweet little brothers, my lovely role model mother and hard-working role model father. 

2. The opportunities we've had to travel to different places together. We got to go to Washington D.C. on a family road trip for one of my dad's conferences, and visit many historical sites and museums, including the National Air and Space Museum, in which the photo above was taken.

(Luke on his 6th birthday)

3. I've been able to babysit a ton this year, not only for my family but a paid job for some local kids which lasted several months and was an excellent way to bring in some money...and gain TONS of valuable stories and experience!!

(We had a really fun, crazy sleepover full of tea, chocolate, hair styling and foot massages!)

4. Got to visit with precious, beloved friends from out of state, the Caliguires. Love that family and it was so good to get to see them two different times this year!

(It was totally a surprise visit...everybody managed to keep it a secret from me until they got here...and keeping secrets from me is typically very difficult!)

(The second time the C's came down, in April. Here are us, them, the Floods and DeLucas all together in front of our church.)

(Daddy speaking at the ASGA conference in LA)

5. Got to accompany my dad on more ASGA conference trips across the country. Got to visit Boston, MA for the very first time, as well as Los Angeles, CA. My very first trip going to the west coast! Among other trips, also got to go to NYC, Orlando, and South FL as well as Jacksonville.

(Daddy and I in Boston at the U.S.S. Constitution)

(NYC!)

(Mom, Me, and Mammy in Jax)

(The boys and I in Jax)

(Me in front of one of my favorite paintings at the National Gallery of Art in DC)

(Southern Son playing during the 4th of July Celebration)

6. I was invited to join Southern Son Ministries, a Christian southern rock band at our church. I have been playing with them for almost a year now and it has been a most interesting experience. I have learned an incredible deal about working with other musicians in an organized band, coping with sound systems, stubborn microphones and PA systems which like to be naughty on us, and improvising on the keyboard. We've played at multiple different churches and I've gotten to play on multiple different keyboards. One had the pedal installed backwards, meaning, you had to push it down NOT to get sustain. O_O That was a crazy night, to say in the least. Oh, yeah, and I'm the only gal in the band. :P

7. I started singing in the microphone. OFFICIALLY. At church, and in Southern Son. Once I started I got hooked. I sing back up vocals/alto/the harmonization parts mainly but I also sing solo on some songs. It is sooooo much fun and I will hopefully never stop.

8. YHWH let me reconnect with a very sweet lady who is now my best friend (outside the family). Maygan and I are sooooo much alike it scares both of us sometimes. I am truly thankful for her friendship. In April, ahe and I formed our own folk music band, Southern Lights. We have played at numerous locations now.

Several of my favorites? Ocali Country Days was a blast. We dressed up in period correct attire, swapped outfits, ate tons of shaved ice and junk food, and got to meet other home schooled musicians while there. Beside it being SUPER COLD one of the mornings we were there, all was wonderful.

Another favorite place we played? The McIntosh 1890's Festival. God blessed us incredibly that day with letting us make almost 70 dollars in only 2 hours or so. It was so much fun playing for such a big crowd. Thousands of people attend that festival yearly.

(It's fun just to jam at home, too!)

9. I picked up playing guitar. Never would have thought I would, but that's how things played out. I love it and it's a really fun instrument to play. I've also picked up learning bodhran, an Irish hand-drum. (pictured  above)

10. I discovered how much I love bluegrass music and playing it.

11. I've continued to play piano, but this year has been a year of teaching myself and being lazy about that most of of the time.

(Us in a hotel getting on a sugar high during a trip to a Rays baseball game)

(Adam at the Rays spring training baseball game)

12. I ran 10 miles.

13. I did a ton more meal prep and planning, and increased my skills in botany, herbalism, plant identification and natural healing.

14. I worked in my two gardens and successfully put two more fences up around them.

15. I continued to write in my primary WIP, The Rebels of Florida, and reached 70,000 words.

16. God allowed us at Glory Film Productions to make more short films including a 13 minute parody/remake of the classic fairytale Rumpilstiltskin. We started work on our biggest project ever, a feature length film.

17. I got to do a TON more drawing and sketching, and improve my skills in such art.

18. I discovered how much I love to act.

(The GFP crew, February 2012)

(The GFP cast in Rumpelstiltskin, April 2012)

(Andrew)

(Luke in one of his favorite places, the sandpile.)

(Will + facepainting =Very, very amusing)

(Luke)

(Maygan and I playing at the 4th of July Celebration)

(Driving Grizzly crazy after working in the garden)

(Mom enjoying some homemade ice cream at the Reddick BBQ Festival in March)

In twenty-twelve, the Lord taught me many spiritual lessons and showed me many things about myself and His Character.

Some of the things I struggled with this year, and survived living through?

A terrible season of flu and sickness earlier this March. If anything here on earth could be compared to hell in the least bit, that was it. Several weeks of horrible weakness and zombie-like existence. It was the roughest few weeks I experienced in '12.

  I struggled heavily with patience and gentleness, and learned a lot about controlling my temper. I learned how hypocritical I can be if I don't watch.  I struggled with putting God first in all that I did.

I struggled with trusting God and resting in the assurance that He forgives when we call upon Him for forgiveness, and repent.

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Overall, this year has been wonderful. Quite frankly, the best year of my life. So many learning experiences, adventures and precious memories.

I am eagerly awaiting making 2013 the best year of my life and quite confident already that God's going to do awesome, mighty things this year.

Adventure is out there. Twenty-thirteen, come at me. Give me what you've got, 'cause I'm ready for whatever you want to send my way.

I can't wait to fulfill the goals I've set, use my time more wisely, grow closer to my family and become a stronger woman of God. I can't wait to see what He has up His sleeve for the coming 365 days ahead.

How about you?

Smitten Fool

(A very random photo that has nothing to do with today's very random post)

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I'd like to announce that I have now officially hit 70,000 words in my primary WIP, my favorite novel, and also the project I've been spending 4 years of my life on...The Rebels of Florida.

70,000 WORDS!!! *throws confetti* It's hard to believe, on one hand. On the other, it's rather rediculous to celebrate it, because...well, I've been working on this durned book since I was 12, and I would have liked to have finished it two years ago at 14. *Sigh* So if anything, I should be slapping myself for not having accomplished that goal. Oh well. The past is the past and what matters is now, right? I'm just happy to be making even the slightest bit of progress in this project.

To celebrate, I'll let you see a snippet of my most recent writings therein.

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"That was when her heart stopped. She gasped, staring at the wagon sitting out in the front, parked alongside the road. It was a simple Conestoga frame, without the tarp roof attached. But the wagon itself was not what stopped Emma in her tracks.

In it, sat Mr. McIntosh…Silas’ father.

Great heavens, look at me. Agh, my hair, my dress…  Figures they would have to come on such a day…oh, drat!

Emma felt herself breaking into a nervous sweat, as she continued to stare involuntarily at the wagon like a smitten fool."

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What did you think? I happen to particularly like the last sentence. It really fits Emma well.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful, blessed weekend!

Notice: All work, references and quotes from The Rebels of Florida are copyrighted by the author.

5 Foods to Boost Your Immune System! {FabHealthFriday}

Greetings and salutations! Did everyone had a delightful Christmas? We sure did!

My apologies for not writing a FabHealthFriday post last week, or a WriterlyWednesday post this week. You probably know how it is during this time of year. The word "busy" is replaced with "hectic". And even though we tried to minimize the Christmas craziness this year, it has still been B.U.S.Y.

OK, let's forget the busy-ness for a moment and take a look at one of the many ways to naturally boost your immune system.

As you probably know, "the most wonderful time of the year" is also the biggest time of the year for colds and flu. It's likely you even caught something this season, and maybe it's still lingering. Stuffy noses, runny noses, irritating coughing fits, and sore throats. Don't ya just love it? Not to mention, loss of energy and that yucky, congested feeling in your sinuses.

Nobody likes getting a cold. It's even worse when you happen to catch it right before or during the holidays! How do you avoid this almost-inevitable fate? Let me tell you, it can be terribly challenging if you live in a large family or are constantly exposed to other people.

The best form of medicine, for colds and flu, is prevention. You may hate to hear this because it doesn't help you get over your cold at the moment, but it's a reality none of us can escape. In order to avoid catching "the bug", you have to beef up your immune system long before "the bug" starts flying around.

How can you achieve this? One of the most successful and widely known ways is to keep a steady intake going of fruits and veggies.

1. Kale is a powerhouse full of vitamins and nutrients, and is almost as powerful as broccoli, which as you probably know is at the "top of the food chain" when it comes to loaded greens.

We have been making a salad from fresh, raw, kale leaves, and trying to consume at least a bowl of it daily when we have it available. Toss with some homemade salad dressing, almonds and perhaps some Parmesan cheese, and voila! A super-healthy super-lunch(or snack!)!

2. Oranges, grapefruit and other citrus are also essential this time of year or any time when you want to give your immune system a lift. Oranges are chock-full of vitamin C, and one of the roles of vitamin C is to protect cells by neutralizing free radicals. When free radicals build up in your body, they cling to healthy cells, causing permanent damage. Free radicals cause chronic diseases, like cancer and heart disease. By eating an orange or two daily, you can help your body ward off disease and sickness. Oranges are also full of vitamin A, which helps with vision improvement and strengthening/protection of the eyes.

3. Raw, unprocessed, virgin coconut oil can be used a variety of different ways, either by oil pulling, direct ingesting or incorporating it into your meals. It can be a replacement for butter, whether in cooking or just a bit spread on a slice of toast. Coconut oil is an incredible resource which promotes longevity and overall radiant health. It can also aid in weight loss. Studies have show that intake of coconut oil can help our bodies mount resistance to both viruses and bacteria that can cause illness, making this the perfect food to add to your diet to boost your immune system. Even more, it also can help to fight off yeast, fungus, and candida.

4. Garlic. Raw garlic. I'll warn you now, there is fire in this fiesty little plant. A tablespoon alone (crushed) can be painful going down. But, there is reason for this, and don't overlook garlic simply for its smell and taste. Garlic is one of THE best medicinal plants in the natural world. It has been used centuries over for both flavoring and overall health. It is also one of the biggest immune system boosters you will find.

Garlic is a widely recognized health enhancing supplement. It promotes the well-being of the heart and immune systems with antioxidant properties and helps maintain healthy blood circulation. One of garlic's most potent health benefits includes the ability to enhance the body's immune cell activity. How to utilize this stinky but super plant? Chop up several cloves, throw it in your chili, soup, spaghetti, just about anything! Just make sure you add it into the recipe right before you are going to eat it, so that it doesn't cook and the nutrients remain intact. Or, you can just mince it and eat it raw, or with some honey. We do this frequently...it is not a pleasant experience, but it is worth it. Garlic will wipe out just about any fungal growth in your body, and as stated above, will greatly build your immune system. Just be prepared, and have a glass of water nearby if you do decide to consume it raw. ;)

Last but not least, a quote from bulkherbstore.com:

"One easy way to keep the immune system in high gear is raw garlic, but it stinks so bad that we use our Double “E” Immune Booster. Our recipe, which includes the whole Echinacea plant and Elderberry herb (as well as several other immune boosting herbs), has proven to be a fast and effective way to provide the body with the defense it needs in times of repair."

5. My family has been making and drinking Double E Immune Booster tea quite frequently this winter, and not only is it extremely beneficial health wise, but it is also makes a delicious hot drink which will warm you up on a chilly day. We buy several packages of the herb-mix, put half a cup or so in our percolator, and drink it throughout the day mixed with a spoon of honey. Mmm! This is a product worth spending for, and my entire family enjoys drinking it. What better way during the cold, wintry months, than to get your immune system boosted through a hot, cozy cup of tea?

There are many other ways to give a lift to your immune system, and now days you can learn just about anything by googling on the web. I highly encourage you to do some research of your own about health topics. Learn all you can, and then apply that knowledge in your life! God has provided us so many resources for keeping our temples healthy. Let's take advantage of those resources!

Blessings,

Wintry Little Faces

Merry Christmas, you dear, wonderful followers who have taken the time to come read my rather pathetic little blog posts. I am honored by you who would take a few minutes out of your busy day to read something I've written, you should know that it means a lot to me. So, thank you. Thank you very much.

Wishing everyone a lovely day today! Whether or not it be a white Christmas, (you think we get white Christmases?!? In Florida?!? Seriously?!) may it be a truly special time for you and your family and friends. Enjoy your cool, chilly, perfect-day-for-a-cup-of-hot-chocolate days while they're here. We sure are!

Remember, as this year draws to a close, how blessed you truly are, how much you have been given.

And, don't ever forget to do what you were created to do..."Give unto the Lord the glory due His Name..." (1 Chronicles 16:29)

Warm fuzzy hugs,

Guest Post: Literary Magazines in 5 Steps {WriterlyWednesday}

 

{today's guest post is brought to you by Ciara Hope of Forward Your Goal}

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My New Year Resolution for 2012 was to receive ten rejection letters from literary magazines.

 

This may seem backward, but from what I’d heard about the competitiveness of the literary market, it seemed both realistic and doable. For years I’d heard professional writers speak on the value of perseverance when submitting your work out into the world, some suggesting that writers get a list of fifty markets for a single piece, and that they should expect to get turned down at least as many times.

 

For the longest time, I let these facts discourage me from submitting. I figured I’d spend more time honing my craft on my own, getting together some quality pieces, and worry about publishing when I felt ready.

 

The truth is, no matter what you’re trying to get published, whether a novel, short stories, or poetry, literary magazines are the ideal place to practice your craft and get publishing credentials. The kind that stand out on a query letter and scream, “hey, I know what I’m doing, and I love writing too much to let a couple rejections discourage me.”

 

I wish I’d known years ago all I do now about submitting to literary magazines, so here I’m sharing what I’ve learned in the past year:

 

1.      Go to Duotrope.com. Starting next year, you’ll have to pay for an account, but it’s well worth it. Use the search function to find publications that fit the genre, style, even the specific topic of your piece.

 

2.      Go to the publication’s website and read some of their material. Most have samples available for free online, but some might require you to buy a copy.

 

What are you looking for? Assess the style, tone, length, and topics the editors seem to favor and compare it to your own. Are the stories funny? Grim? Disjointed, or omniscient? The more you read, the better you can tell the difference between editor’s tastes.

 

3.      Read the guidelines, and follow them. Most publications will have a submission guide on their website. It will give info like word count, format, page numbering, etc., as well as whether you should submit by mail, email, or online.

 

4.      Submit. The worst thing that happens is you get a form rejection. Even those are pretty encouraging, saying things like “it wasn’t right for us,” or “we didn’t have enough room.” The lines are corny, but it does soften the blow. And anyway, if you persevere and keep submitting, you may…

 

5.      Get accepted. In the process of colleting ten rejection letters, I received my first acceptance, way sooner than I thought it would come. It’s important to stay realistic and not have an unattainable timeframe for your goals, but dreaming is still allowed. And when a victory comes, don’t hesitate to celebrate, share your joy, and then get right back to writing and submitting.

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Ciara Hope is a writer and blogger at Forward Your Goal. If you have a goal, literary or otherwise, check out her blog at http://forwardyourgoal.blogspot.com/.