Imagine: you have an idea for a novel or short story. You have mapped out your plot, and sketched out the world your characters will be living in. You have all of the details, except for one important thing – your characters’ names! If you are stumped trying to think of character names, here are some ways you can go about naming fictional characters. 

Name meaning

You can name your characters by choosing names that align with their character traits. Most first names and last names have a meaning that has carried on throughout time. Use the internet to search for name meanings. You can look up the meanings of names you already know, or search for names that mean a certain thing. Behind the Name is a leading site for first name meaning, as well as Babynames.com. Behind the Name also has a section dedicated to last name (or surname) meanings. 

Personal connections

Honor family members or friends by naming characters after real life loved ones. However, use first names only – it’s unwise to give out personal identifiers for a story the public will read. 

Random generator

You may have no ideas for a character name, or be completely fine with letting a random name generator decide for you. An online random name generator can be a great solution when you want to come up with something totally fresh and new for your characters’ names. Random Name Generator will generate first and last names according to parameters you set. The random name generator from Behind The Name will generate first names, last names, and middle names in a wide variety of categories. 

Ethnicity and Nationality

Similar to searching by name meanings, you can search names by country of origin and ethnic group to find ones that fit your characters. 

Historical Context/Age

If you have a good idea about what time period your characters are living in, you can look through a list of popular baby names for the year they were born. For example, if your character is 50 years old, search for popular names from 1973. 

Maybe your story takes place in a different time period than the present. There are also records of names that were popular in bygone historical eras. You can find an Ancient Roman name, or perhaps a  medieval name for your story set in the Middle Ages (500-1500)! Behind the Name remains the most comprehensive site for these types of searches. 

Bottom line

At the end of the day, character names are important to your fictional novel. They help create meaning and create the character’s identity. They help brand your book as uniquely yours. And who knows – someday they may even become famous!

The post How to Name Characters for Short Stories and Novels appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Every year on George Washington’s birthday, the United States celebrates Presidents Day. Presidents Day is a federal holiday to honor the leaders of America’s highest office.

Over the 234 years since the Constitution established the office of President, many interesting men have provided wisdom to Americans. Here are some quotes from past presidents to inspire you as you write your book! 

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” —Theodore Roosevelt

“If you’re walking down the right path and you’re willing to keep walking, eventually you’ll make progress.” ―Barack Obama

“Be patient and calm; no one can catch a fish with anger.” —Herbert Hoover

“Try and fail, but don’t fail to try.” ―John Quincy Adams

“The finest steel has to go through the hottest fire.” ―Richard M. Nixon

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” ―Calvin Coolidge

“There are no great limits to growth because there are no limits of human intelligence, imagination, and wonder.” ―Ronald Reagan

“Tell the truth, work hard, and come to dinner on time.” —Gerald R. Ford

“You can do what you have to do, and sometimes you can do it even better than you think you can.” ―Jimmy Carter

(Source)

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Genre is a term given to categories of books. The word is derived from French, meaning “like” or “type.” It is a label that describes what the book is about and how it is constructed. A genre label not only helps in marketing the book, but it helps readers know what they are getting into with a book. 

There are fiction and nonfiction genres: Fiction is a made up story, while nonfiction is a “real life” book. A book can’t be fiction and nonfiction at the same time. A book that is a novel, but based on a true story, is still fiction. 

Some examples of nonfiction genres are biographies, memoirs, and history. (For more about the difference between an autobiography, biography, and memoir, read this blog post!)

Some examples of fiction genres are romance, mystery, science fiction, children’s fiction, and fantasy.

Books of a genre will share certain characteristics and conventions. For example: romance novels will feature characters falling in love, science fiction will push the limits of our current scientific knowledge. The familiar characteristics are what made up the genre.

Sometimes, for fiction books especially, the story may not fit neatly into a genre. “Literary fiction” is sometimes the genre given to novels that are character-centered or otherwise don’t fall into a genre. There can be multiple genres – a book can be a fantasy romance, for example. 

Nonfiction books that don’t fit into another nonfiction genre are often simply categorized as “nonfiction.” 

We have a wide variety of genre categories at the Dorrance Bookstore. These genres are not to suggest that all books within the genres are the same, but to merely sort similar books with each other. This makes it easy for readers browsing the store to find what they are looking for.

Having a genre also helps with promotion and marketing of a book. For example, a true crime book and a children’s fiction book need to be handled differently – they are very different, and meant for very different audiences!

Dorrance Bookstore online homepage.

As for promoting your book, a genre helps you find your audience. If you have a book that is about a topic related to business, a business magazine or podcast might be a suitable partner for an interview. 

At the end of the day, the genre of your book is not a determining factor of quality, but is a signal to your audience. Books may be of the same genre, but each one is unique – just like yours!

Have a book within you? Let us help!

The post Book Genres 101: What is genre? appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

This ancient Mesopotamian disk shows Enheduanna (second from left) in what is likely a religious procession. COURTESY PENN MUSEUM

Enheduanna’s father, King Sargon, took over Sumer, in what we now know as Iraq. He selected his daughter to be the priestess of Nanna the moon god, according to their religious practices. King Sargon was also ruler of the Akkadian people, which meant there were then two cultural groups of people under his rule.

In an attempt to unite the people, Enheduanna wrote about a goddess that was a fusion of the Sumerian Inanna and the Akkadian goddess, Ishtar. This fusion appeared in The Exaltation of Inanna, which made her the first named author in history. Others had written in the ancient world, but Enheduanna was the first to have her name attached to her writings.

Ishtar, the Akkadian war goddess who Enheduanna merged with the Sumerian goddess Inanna. COURTESY ORIENTAL INSTITUTE OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

According to historian Majdolene Dajani, Enheduanna’s role was not just a writer. Her role as high priestess would’ve been a political one. While it is hard to grasp what the life of a priestess in the 23rd century BC would’ve been like, it can be inferred that the role was important due to how these ancient cultures treated their religious faith.

The high priestess would’ve facilitated worship of the gods. Historians have also found a “King’s List” – a list of the kings that ruled, with the priestesses in power during their reigns listed alongside them. This means the role of high priestess was important to these ancient cultures.

These tablets are inscribed with Enheduanna’s The Exaltation of Inanna. KLAUS WAGENSONNER/COURTESY YALE BABYLONIAN COLLECTION

Specifically, Enheduanna’s writing for the Sumerian and Akkadian people was important. The story of the fusion of the goddesses Ishtar and Inanna that Enheduanna wrote in The Exaltation of Inanna remained popular in the Mesopotamian region for many years after, which was not the case for other gods of the time. 

Modern historians until now have not considered that a woman might hold such a powerful role in Ancient Sumerian culture. According to Dajani, when Enheduanna’s writings were discovered, modern scholars dismissed them and didn’t take them seriously. Luckily, there have been changes in attitude toward women’s roles historically.

Now, we can examine ancient rulers like Enheduanna as part of a long tradition of women writers in history. Enheduanna wrote in first person, inserting herself and her convictions into the narrative. 

Have a story to tell? Contact us!

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A new year is upon us, and with it comes new opportunities. If you’re looking to finally write that project you’ve been thinking about for ages – whether it’s a book of poetry, a novel, or your life story – just know that it is possible!

Here are some practical tips to make the New Year’s resolution of writing a book into a reality. 

1.) Start small

Every finished book was once a small idea. When you get the idea for a book, it can be intimidating. The blank Microsoft Word document or blank notebook page can stare back at you and make your mind go blank. If that’s the case, no need to worry – start smaller. Write down your ideas on a sticky note, or in the notes of your phone. They don’t even have to be complete sentences. Just getting your ideas down will help you get started.

2.) Ask for help

Writing a book is a lot of work. A lot of things need to be done for it to happen. A lot of things need to go right for it to happen. Often, you might think you are in it alone. But you might be surprised how many people are in your corner rooting for you to succeed. Ask for help when appropriate from your friends and loved ones. You may not be able to ask your support system for specific writing help, but they can offer support and encouragement in your writing.

For help with writing, ask us! Dorrance’s Writing Coach program has helped hundreds of writers realize their goals. A Dorrance Writing Coach will be your guide for finishing your book at whatever stage in the process, and can help as little or as much as you need. Learn more about our Writing Coach program here.

3.) Go with your gut

When writing a book, there can be pressure to do what is popular or what may get the most notoriety. However, listening to this pressure usually causes more problems than solutions. Write the book that is inside you, rather than the one the world may want to hear right now. As the old adage goes – “write what you know.” Not only will your project be more authentic, but you will be more trustworthy to readers. When in doubt, go with your gut!

4.) Take risks

At the same time, one mustn’t be afraid to take risks. Whether it’s the type of story you write, the structure of the story, or your personal style – it is worth it to be bold. If you’re wondering whether to take a risk with an aspect of your project, here is your sign to do so. Fortune favors the bold.

5.) Pat yourself on the back

Whether you are at the beginning of your writing journey or have reached the end of writing your book, give yourself a pat on the back every now and then. Stick to your goals, but don’t beat yourself up if you fall short. Celebrate your accomplishments at every step of the way as you complete your book. You will feel better about yourself and your project if you treat yourself kindly throughout the process!

No matter what stage of the writing process you’re in, we want to hear from you! Contact us.

The post New Year, New Book: 5 Tips To Help You Write More in 2023 appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

We talked to Ms. Parks about her inspiration for writing the book and more!

Name: Malissa Parks

Hometown: Grew up in Carson, CA and now reside in Long Beach, CA.

Book Title: “I Like Being Brown, This Family & Hero 44”

Describe your book in 10 words or less.

A keepsake for families that teaches young learners to read.

What made you want to write your book?

I wrote this book because of the relevance of the most historical moment in African American History.

How long did it take you to write your book?

It took a year to write this book.

What do you do when you have writer’s block? 

Due to the history that is apparent behind writing this book, I never experienced writer’s block because I definitely was inspired by God. He gave me the wisdom so I knew exactly what I wanted to write about and it came to me naturally!  I knew what I wanted to say and how I wanted to present it. As an educator, I am very passionate about writing, especially writing about a topic that teaches.   

What was your favorite part to write and why?

My favorite part in Small Trilogy is in the story “I Like Being Brown” when Richard, the character, realizes he could be whatever he wanted to be, just being himself!

If your book includes illustrations, what was it like working with your illustrator? 

It was great working with all three of my illustrators. With my son and my nephew as two of them, it was really a surreal moment!! I really pride all three young men on making each picture come alive in the minds of children.

If you were stuck on an island and had to have one person from each category with you, who would they be and why:

-One friend or family member:

My son because he’s always been my little protector.

-One fictional character:

Character in the book, Richard because of his big imagination!

–One famous person (living or dead):

Maya Angelou because I love her thought process when creating some of her most famous and cultural poems and quotes.

What are some of your hobbies?

I enjoy skating, swimming, singing and socializing.

If your book was made into a movie, who would play the main characters?

The main characters would be Viola Davis, Phylicia Rashad, Denzel Washington, Tyler James Williams, Zendaya, Yara Shahidi, Marsai Martin, Jennifer Lewis with a splash of Sherri Shepard.

What did you enjoy most about working with Dorrance Publishing?

Receiving my Author’s copy of my finished project!

Five favorite books of all time?

“Becoming,” “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings,” Of Thee I Sing: A Letter To My Daughters,” “Beloved,” and “How Stella Got Her Groove Back”

Do you have any advice for anyone looking to write a children’s book?

To write a good children’s book, you must be a creative writer with a big imagination that kids can relate to!

You can purchase I Like Being Brown now at the Dorrance Bookstore.

Have an educational children’s book you’d like to publish? Contact us!

The post Author Spotlight: Malissa Parks, “I Like Being Brown, This Family & Hero 44” appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

With the arrival of the autumnal equinox this week, the weather will be getting colder and days will be getting shorter. But fear not – the fall season is the perfect season to sit down and write! Open your laptop or notebook and get back into writing mode with these autumnal writing prompts. 

1.) Coffee shop meeting

Your character’s usual coffee shop is closed due to some unforeseen circumstances, so they decide to go to one down the street instead. Someone is waiting for them. What happens next?

2.) Leaves change

Your character looks outside their window to discover that all the leaves in their neighborhood have changed color except for one tree, which is still green. How do they react? What do they do?

3.) Spooky secret

A character comes across a dark secret about their family or friend of theirs. What do they do?

4.) Scenery

Practice descriptions of scenery by writing about an autumn scene in your own life. Describe a chilly morning or breezy evening from your point of view. Use the five senses – show, don’t tell!

5.) Football game

Travel back to high school or college and have your character go to a football game. 

6.) Animal life

Autumn brings plenty of animals out as they forage for the winter season. Describe them – maybe even assume their point of view!

7.) Pumpkin person

Who is that person sitting on a park bench with a pumpkin on their head?

8.) A day in the leaf

What happens to a single leaf when it falls from a tree? Give a leaf a name and follow it around for a day.

9.) Haiku

Write some autumn themed haikus. A haiku is a poem consisting of 17 syllables, with three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables respectively. Haikus traditionally evoke seasonal imagery, so it’s only fitting!

10.) Camping trip

What happens when a group of characters goes on a fall camping trip?

Already have an autumn story written? Contact us!

The post 10 Autumn Writing Prompts appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

Gordon Dorrance, a member of the family that owned Campbell’s Soup Company, created a better way to publish in the early 1900s. His journey began like many other authors – with a great sense of frustration from rejection.

While in the process of editing his first manuscript, The Pocket Chesterfield, he found himself at a creative crossroads with Scribner’s. Dorrance had a difficult decision to make – either sacrifice his creative vision and cower to the publishing company, or chart a new path. To the benefit of many today, Gordon Dorrance chose to chart a new path, and found a better way to publish.

In the spirit of American entrepreneurism, Gordon Dorrance opened his own publishing company. In 1920, he was able to publish his own book under the Dorrance imprint. Dorrance’s brave move to go on his own changed the publishing world forever. He went against the grain and gave hope to people everywhere. Aspiring authors were no longer held by the whims of the select few publishers who held the keys to the literary kingdom, deciding who will, and who will not, pass. 

Over the next several decades, the Dorrance Publishing Company would build a reputation of trust, publishing a multitude of genres. Poets found their voice. History was kept honest as more and more autobiographies found themselves bound in leather and readily available. Now, the everyday man or woman could share their story, and have it for future generations to enjoy.

Dorrance Publishing itself found its way into literary history with work such as The Bonapartes in America, which was published in 1939, and Away From the Here and Now by Clare Winger Harris, a pioneering science fiction author, in 1947.

In 1955, Dorrance published a volume of poetry titled Ommateum by A.R. Ammons. This publication catapulted Ammons’ career, and he went on to win the National Book Award in 1972 and the National Book Critics Circle Award in 1981. 

In 1973, Dorrance published The Navajo Code Talkers by Doris A. Paul, which would achieve much success. Today, it remains the single most comprehensive historical account of the contribution of the Navajo Americans during World War II. Now with more than 50,000 copies in print, The Navajo Code Talkers was one of the first published efforts to tackle the fascinating subject of how Navajo Marines developed a code based on their own language. It was adapted into the film Windtalkers in 2002.

Thanks to Gordon Dorrance’s pioneering spirit and that light bulb moment that he had more than 100 years ago, Dorrance Publishing continues to illuminate the path for people and make their dreams of being a published author a reality.

Make your dreams come true by contacting us today!

The post A Brief History of Dorrance Publishing appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

In Dorrance’s long history, many different authors have come through our doors. One author who stands out is Clare Winger Harris, a science fiction writer in the 20th century. Harris is credited with being the first woman to publish under her own name in science fiction magazines. In 1947, she published an anthology of her science fiction stories with Dorrance when we were known as Dorrance and Company in Philadelphia.

According to a book collector and Harris’ Wikipedia entry, Harris was a housewife in Ohio who had the dream of being a science fiction writer. She published a romance adventure novel titled Persephone of Eleusis: A Romance of Ancient Greece in 1923. However, her science fiction dreams could not be ignored. 

An admirer of science fiction pioneers Jules Verne and HG Wells, she submitted and published science fiction stories in pulp magazines Weird Tales and Amazing Stories in the 1920s. Her first short story, titled “The Runaway World,” was published in Weird Tales in July 1926. In December 1926, she submitted a story for a contest being run by Amazing Stories editor Hugo Gernsback. Harris’s story, a space opera about Martians who steal earth’s water titled “The Fate of the Poseidonia,” placed third. Harris would go on to write for these cult-favorite magazines and eventually published her anthology of science fiction stories in 1947 with Dorrance titled Away From the Here and Now.

Little is known about Harris’ life, but according to census records and an interview with her grandson it is known that Harris and her husband divorced after their kids were grown. Clare then moved to Pasadena, California to live out the rest of her life until her death in 1968.

Crucial to Harris’ life as a writer was the fact that she was a woman. At the time of her writing in the 1920s-1940s, it was common for female science fiction writers to adapt gender neutral pen names out of a desire to be taken seriously as writers, as well as to not be ignored by the male-dominated world of science fiction. Clare Winger Harris chose to use her full name on all her publications. She is the first American woman to use her actual name for science fiction. Because of this, she is seen as a pioneer for women in science fiction by feminists and science fiction hobbyists alike. 

Away From the Here and Now, Harris’ anthology published by Dorrance, contains eleven stories that were previously published in the magazines Weird Tales, Amazing Stories, and Science Wonder Quarterly. Dorrance is proud to have had a small part in the career of such a pioneer!

Sources:

Post by Jeanie St. James in Book Collectors Facebook group

Clare Winger Harris – Wikipedia

Away From The Here and Now – Worthpoint

AbeBooks

Have a science fiction anthology YOU would like to publish? Contact us!

The post Blast from the Past: Science Fiction Pioneer Clare Winger Harris appeared first on Dorrance Publishing Company.

The following are some of the most popular forms of poetry:

Rhymed Poetry

As opposed to free verse, poetry can follow a specific rhyme scheme. Popular rhyme schemes often involve rhyming words at the end of a line. Some specific poems, such as the limerick mentioned above, stick to certain rhyme schemes.

Free Verse

Free verse poetry does not follow any rhyme scheme or set meter. Sometimes called blank verse, these poems often follow natural speech rhythms, yet are still written in stanzas and lines. Free verse poetry is actually a more modern invention, with origins in France.

Elegy

An elegy is a poem written to mourn the death or loss of a person. They are often written in elegiac couplets, meaning stanzas containing two lines, although today any poem with reflective, melancholy themes is said to be an elegy. The tradition of elegies dates back to the 7th century B.C. in Ancient Greece.

Acrostic

An acrostic poem is a poem in which the beginning letters of each line spell out a word pertaining to the subject of the poem itself.

Haiku

One of the more famous and well-known poetic forms, haikus are three-line poems. The first line of a haiku contains 5 syllables, the second contains 7 syllables and the final also contains 5 syllables. Haikus are of Japanese origin and traditionally discuss nature and the seasons. Nowadays, one can find haikus written about a wide variety of topics.

Limerick

A limerick is a short, humorous poem that is five lines long and uses the rhyme scheme AABBA. According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, the dominant meter is anapestic, with two metrical feet in the third and fourth lines and three feet in the others. Anapestic foot consists of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable. 

Pastoral

Pastoral poetry centers on nature and man’s relationship with the natural world. It idealizes rural life and places utmost importance on nature. The tradition of pastoral poetry dates back to the Ancient Greeks.

Sonnet

The sonnet is a fourteen-line poem written in iambic pentameter. They can utilize several different rhyme schemes. Sonnets are typically thought of as pertaining to romantic themes, due to the influence of William Shakespeare’s sonnets, but they do not necessarily have to be about romantic relationships.

Have a book of poems you would like to publish? Contact us!

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