November 2009

Nicknames for Nino

My dog’s name is Nino. Lately, I have been calling him Lunar Module, much to the bewilderment of Nino, myself and my husband. The nickname Lunar Module came out of Lunar, which came from Lou Face and Lulu, which came from Lou, which came from Scooby Loo, the Brazilian version of Scrappy Doo, Scooby’s little nephew. Before that, his nickname was Bo.

Come here, Lunar Module, time to eat. Lou Face, do you want a bone? Scooby Loo, where are you? Hey there, Bo.

I don’t know where these nicknames come from. I don’t consciously think them up; they just tumble out of my mouth one day and then they stick. I like some of them (Lulu and Bo), some confuse me (Lou Face?), and some annoy me very much (Lunar Module, and the subsequent Lunar Landing and Lunar Moth). But I find myself saying the nicknames no matter how much I like or dislike them. Anyway, none of them last for long. The current name always sparks a new name, which sparks a new name, which sparks a new name.

The process of nicknaming Nino feels a lot like writing a story. Ideas spring up spontaneously, and one idea leads to another. Each thing builds on the last. In a first draft, a lot comes from the subconscious, and it isn't always clear at first (or ever) what something means. That's okay.

Some of the ideas that appear during a first draft are wonderful, some are confusing, and some are stupid or annoying. That is the nature of a first draft. But the point is to keep going no matter what; keep writing and trust that the story is leading you somewhere. It is not your job to judge or try to make sense of everything. Your job is simply to follow the pull of your story while trying to not take yourself or your writing too seriously.

When you are writing a first draft, be playful. Let strange ideas come up, then let them be, at least until you’ve completed the first draft. Have a little fun. Okay, Lou Face?