Midge Raymond has excellent advice on naming your characters. You can find her blog here. Romeo and Juliet–classic examples. 
Midge will be teaching a workshop on marketing and will also take part in a panel on branding at Claim Your Story II, October 4.
Q: What is your best advice for writers in 20 words or less?
A:Write what you love, and don’t worry about the market for your work until you’re finished writing.
Q:What inspires you?
A: The world around me has always been my biggest inspiration —it’s an endless source of material,and I’m endlessly curious about human beings and what makes them tick. Paying attention is what leads me to story ideas, and it’s also where I get fuel for the emotions behind the writing, for example, by witnessing something either troubling, or beautiful, or bizarre.
Q: Where is your favorite place to write?
B: My very favorite place to write is the Whiteley Center on San Juan Island, where I did a residency last year. I got more work done there in ten days than I had throughout the entire year. Otherwise, I’ll write anywhere; it’s finding the time that’s my challenge! I love to take a notebook somewhere, like Lithia Park, to explore the beginnings of a story. When I’m at the end, in a revision stage, I like to print everything out and go to a cafe with my pages and a red pen. Otherwise I’m happy if I can find the time to sit on the sofa or at the kitchen table with my laptop.
Q:How do you see the future of publishing?
A: I am very optimistic about the future of publishing. Despite all the disruptions to traditional publishing, there are also wonderful new opportunities that allow self-published authors and small presses to thrive.
For more insights and inspiration from Midge visit her here.
Please contact the conference coordinator Jessica Morrell for details.
Write true. Write free. Write now.
Because we all have a story in us.
When: October 19th
Where: Lithia Springs Resort, Ashland, Oregon
This will be the first annual Claim Your Story mini conference. I currently coordinate and teach at two other conferences, Summer in Words held every June is Cannon Beach, Oregon and Making it in Changing Times, held the last Saturday in January each year in Portland. I’ve been teaching writers since 1991, have written books for writers, work as a developmental editor and writing coach, and in all I do encourage people toward expression and creativity. Because as Murial Rukeyser said, “The universe is made of stories, not of atoms.”
Stay tuned to this site for the schedule, interviews and updates.
Keynote speaker: Lidia Yuknavitch
Claim Your Story 