I recently introduced a new character into my novel and the first name that popped into my head happens to be the name of a friend-of-a-friend. Additionally, this friend-of-a-friend is pretty well known as a magazine writer/ TV writer and radio presenter. And it's quite an uncommon name, so it would seem to me that - should my novel be published - people would immediately know that I had named this character after her, and maybe wonder why, or look for elements of her in the character.
But of course the name is so perfect for some reason and I can't make myself think of her any other way. So my solution for now is to continue writing her with that name, and then do a find and replace at the end with some other name.
I did something similar earlier on in the novel where (and this is somewhat sillier, but still a legitimate concern), I named a new character without thinking and then remembered that it's the same name I have always had in mind for my son, if I ever have one. Of course I may never have a son, but I certainly didn't want to have to forfeit the name because I'd already used it in my novel (the character is not a very nice person).
Have you ever done something like this?
But of course the name is so perfect for some reason and I can't make myself think of her any other way. So my solution for now is to continue writing her with that name, and then do a find and replace at the end with some other name.
I did something similar earlier on in the novel where (and this is somewhat sillier, but still a legitimate concern), I named a new character without thinking and then remembered that it's the same name I have always had in mind for my son, if I ever have one. Of course I may never have a son, but I certainly didn't want to have to forfeit the name because I'd already used it in my novel (the character is not a very nice person).
Have you ever done something like this?