The Bobs

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When you're an editor of a small press, you've got to be strong.  You can't be namby pamby or wishy washy.  That's not going to help your writers.  Be courageous and direct in your interactions.  Remember that your primary obligation is to the creation of the best story possible.  

That's why yesterday I had to come down hard on character names with The Thirdlanders.  After the fourth Thirdlander brought me a storyboard featuring a character named Bob, I made an announcement.  "No one will have a character named Bob in their book. We create characters that we care about.  We're not here to make fun of our characters with ridiculous joke names."  (Apologies to all the great Bobs I know and love). 52 eyes grew wide with disbelief and 26 mouths gaped in horrified O's. Someone broke the silence with, "How about Billy?"  

"No.  No Billies.  I don't like that either.  Spend 2 minutes thinking of an interesting name.  How about that?"  Thus ensued a litany of ridiculous names that I put the kibosh on.  The Thirdlanders were amused and surprised, just the way I like them.  Some new names were invented yesterday:  Jeter, Curry, Squish.  This is what I'm talking about.