--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I do this a lot with names. I'll start…" description: "\"I do this a lot with names. I'll start with a name, and then for some reason he won't talk much, or he's older than I pictured him just because of a na..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/elmore-leonard-3471_always_i-do-this-a-lot-with-names-i-ll-start-wi_601490.jpg" --- # I do this a lot with names. I'll start with a name, and… ![“I do this a lot with names. I'll start with a name, and then for some reason he won't talk much, or he's older than I pictured him just because of a name I give him. So then I finally get the right name, and I can't shut the guy up. This always happens. There's always a character who gives me…” quote by Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/elmore-leonard-3471_always_i-do-this-a-lot-with-names-i-ll-start-wi_601490.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/elmore-leonard-3471_always_i-do-this-a-lot-with-names-i-ll-start-wi_601490.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/752/elmore-leonard-3471_always_i-do-this-a-lot-with-names-i-ll-start-wi_601490.jpg) > “I do this a lot with names. I'll start with a name, and then for some reason he won't talk much, or he's older than I pictured him just because of a name I give him. So then I finally get the right name, and I can't shut the guy up. This always happens. There's always a character who gives me trouble that way.” [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Changing a character’s name can dramatically alter how they are perceived and how they speak. **In simple terms:** Names shape character behavior and dialogue. Key Takeaway Choose names that unlock character voice. Themes writing character development identity Mood creative practical Type instructional reflective When to use this quote - novel writing - screenwriting - character workshops Key Concepts naming psychology storytelling Questions to Reflect On - How do names influence audience perception? - When should a name be changed for narrative effect? A Different Perspective Relying too much on names may limit character depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Reason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reason/) ## Related quotes > [“Who did this then? Give me names and I'll fix it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/l-a-casey/who-did-this-then-give-me-names-and-i-ll-fix-it/) [L.A. Casey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/l-a-casey/) > [“A name isn’t a person,” Ga said. “Don’t ever remember someone by their name. To keep someone alive, you put them inside you, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-johnson/a-name-isn-t-a-person-ga-said-don-t-ever-remember-someone-by-their/) [Adam Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-johnson/) > [“Life happens once. Get into character, and act the part you were given.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/utibe-samuel-mbom/life-happens-once-get-into-character-and-act-the-part-you-were-given/) [Utibe Samuel Mbom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/utibe-samuel-mbom/) > [I won't name any names but I'll name just one, David Dein.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/niall-quinn/i-won-t-name-any-names-but-i-ll-name-just-one-david-dein/) Niall Quinn > [I think there's a bit of me in every character. Basically it just depends on what happens with the character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morris-chestnut/i-think-there-s-a-bit-of-me-in-every-character-basically-it-just/) [Morris Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morris-chestnut/) > [Since you won't give me your names I'll call you Thing One and Thing Two.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/since-you-won-t-give-me-your-names-i-ll-call-you-thing-one-and-thing/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [There's this thing in TV that I find hysterical where the writers and creators will ask us if you want to know what happens…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-coon/there-s-this-thing-in-tv-that-i-find-hysterical-where-the-writers-and/) [Carrie Coon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-coon/) > [If you watch a movie, it never happens that you see a character that is in every single scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-huard/if-you-watch-a-movie-it-never-happens-that-you-see-a-character-that/) Patrick Huard > [Character gives us qualities, but it is in our actions — what we do — that we are happy or the reverse.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/character-gives-us-qualities-but-it-is-in-our-actions-what-we-do-that/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [“Gifting may gain a man a platform, but character is what gives him a voice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-boswell/gifting-may-gain-a-man-a-platform-but-character-is-what-gives-him-a/) Matt Boswell > [Building a character - nothing gives me more high than the process of exploring someone else's life on screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajkummar-rao/building-a-character-nothing-gives-me-more-high-than-the-process-of/) [Rajkummar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajkummar-rao/) > [Every character gives you something or the other, and you can't calculate it unless you are living the character. You learn something about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohit-raina/every-character-gives-you-something-or-the-other-and-you-can-t/) [Mohit Raina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohit-raina/) > [There are not many people who can create a character that gives an actor like me a chance to show what I can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-gladstone/there-are-not-many-people-who-can-create-a-character-that-gives-an/) [Lily Gladstone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-gladstone/) > [I love a character that gives me a chance to grow and do something different.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/halle-berry/i-love-a-character-that-gives-me-a-chance-to-grow-and-do-something/) [Halle Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/halle-berry/) > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) ## More by Elmore Leonard > [It took me 20 years to buy an electric typewriter, because I was afraid it would be too sensitive. I like to bang the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/it-took-me-20-years-to-buy-an-electric-typewriter-because-i-was/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [These are rules I've picked up along the way to help me remain invisible when I'm writing a book, to help me show rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/these-are-rules-i-ve-picked-up-along-the-way-to-help-me-remain/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“There’s something happening here, I know it. It’s right in front of my face, but I just can’t see it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/there-s-something-happening-here-i-know-it-it-s-right-in-front-of-my/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [The line of dialogue belongs to the character; the verb is the writer sticking his nose in.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/the-line-of-dialogue-belongs-to-the-character-the-verb-is-the-writer/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“I try to leave out the parts that people skip.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/i-try-to-leave-out-the-parts-that-people-skip/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I have fun writing. I don't make it a chore. I don't have to struggle with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/i-have-fun-writing-i-don-t-make-it-a-chore-i-don-t-have-to-struggle/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it. Or, if proper usage gets in the way, it may have to go. I can't allow…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/if-it-sounds-like-writing-i-rewrite-it-or-if-proper-usage-gets-in-the/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I don’t think writers compete, I think they’re all doing separate things in their own style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/i-don-t-think-writers-compete-i-think-they-re-all-doing-separate/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [After 58 years you'd think writing would get easier. It doesn't. If you're lucky, you become harder to please. That's all right, it's still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/after-58-years-you-d-think-writing-would-get-easier-it-doesn-t-if-you/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“He saw Harvey and Edgar catch each other's eye as he looked off toward the strains of "Alley Cat," Jesus, hoping they'd rush it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/he-saw-harvey-and-edgar-catch-each-other-s-eye-as-he-looked-off/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I'm not going to write for posterity. I'm going to write to make a buck.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/i-m-not-going-to-write-for-posterity-i-m-going-to-write-to-make-a-buck/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [“A wife's faithful to her husband, subject to him. It's in the bible.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/a-wife-s-faithful-to-her-husband-subject-to-him-it-s-in-the-bible/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Using adverbs is a mortal sin.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/using-adverbs-is-a-mortal-sin/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [Try not to write the parts that people skip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/try-not-to-write-the-parts-that-people-skip/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) > [I want the reader to know what's going on. So there's never a mystery in my books.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmore-leonard/i-want-the-reader-to-know-what-s-going-on-so-there-s-never-a-mystery/) [Elmore Leonard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) [Explore all 130 Elmore Leonard quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmore-leonard/) ## More Always quotes > [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/) [Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/) > [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/) [Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/) > [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/) [Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/) > [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/) [William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/) [Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/) [Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/) > [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/) [Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/) > [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/) [Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/) > [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/) [Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/) > [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/) [Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/) > [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/) [Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/) > [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/) [Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/) > [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/) [Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/) Browse all 36,048 Always quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I do this a lot with names. 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