Mandy Eve-Barnett's Blog for Readers & Writers

I used this prompt at my writers sharing meeting. It was such fun. The name conjured up an image of the character for all the participants and then we wrote a short story with our character as POV.

It was a great exercise and was followed by a discussion on finding character names to suit not only their personality but era, geographical location and status.

Why don’t you try? Then share in the comments.

This is my story:

“My Lady, your guests are in the library. Shall I bring tea?”

“Thank you, Holmes. Yes, tea would be nice. Use the floral tea set and a few fancies as well.”

Henrietta watched the butler walk away in his usual stately manner. She remembered her younger days, when she glided along these corridors, slender and nimble and full of energy. Alas no more, age had made her portly and she knew the whispering of the under maids. She overheard two of them jesting and calling her ‘widdle waddle’. If she were vindictive she might have dismissed them but she felt the nickname described her well – mores the pity.

As she opened the library door, a cacophony of chatter washed over her. The village fete committee of ten robust middle aged women greeted her and a couple even curtsied. Henrietta stifled a chuckle and sat at the oak desk. One woman stood.

“Lady Waddle, we are so very appreciative of your most kind offer of your grounds for this year’s village fete.”

“It is my absolute pleasure and please call me Henrietta, if we are going to work together, I would rather we were all comfortable.”

A sigh of relief circled the room and smiles greeted her announcement.

Henrietta smiled too , she may be the Lady of the Manor but she wanted to have fun as well as any other.