Jaycee Woods

When doing initial drafts, I usually don’t even name the main characters. Why? I don’t know who they are yet. As a placeholder, I may give a temporary name from a listing of popular baby names. By the time, I start editing I get serious about naming characters as I have started to have a feel for who they are.

My draft story “Divine Gift” is about an empty nest foster father; his two foster sons are away at college. One day a runaway teen knocks on his door in need of shelter. The raw draft is 76k words across 12 chapters.

No names for the foster father came to mind so I asked Copilot for some help. While Copilot made some errors, I was happy with the brainstorming aid.

Question: Give me names of famous literary foster fathers besides Jean Valjean in Hugo’s Les Misérables.

Certainly! Besides Jean Valjean from Victor Hugo’s “Les Misérables,” here are a few other memorable literary foster fathers:

Matthew Cuthbert from L.M. Montgomery’s “Anne of Green Gables”: Matthew’s kind and gentle nature endears him to Anne Shirley, whom he and his sister Marilla adopt.

Silas Marner from George Eliot’s “Silas Marner”: Silas, a weaver, experiences a transformation when he adopts an abandoned child named Eppie.

Pap Finn from Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”: Although not a positive example, Pap is the biological father of Huck Finn and plays a significant role in the novel.

Mr. Murdstone from Charles Dickens’ “David Copperfield”: Mr. Murdstone becomes David Copperfield’s stepfather after marrying David’s mother, Clara.

These characters navigate the complexities of fatherhood, adoption, and love in their respective stories. If you’d like more recommendations or details about any of them, feel free to ask!

Question: Tell me more about Silas Marner.

Certainly! Silas Marner is a novel by George Eliot, published in 1861. Let me share the intriguing tale of this friendless weaver:

Setting: The story unfolds in the early 19th century. Silas Marner, a weaver, belongs to a small Calvinist congregation in Lantern Yard, a slum street in Northern England.

False Accusation: Silas is unjustly accused of stealing the congregation’s funds while caring for the very ill deacon. Evidence points to his guilt, and his best friend, William Dane, seems involved.

Betrayal and Isolation: Silas’s fiancée breaks their engagement, and he leaves Lantern Yard, shattered and heartbroken. He settles near the rural village of Raveloe, living as a recluse and weaving linen.

The Stolen Gold: Silas adores the gold coins he earns and hoards. One foggy night, Dunstan Cass steals his two bags of gold. Silas sinks into depression.

Redemption: The arrival of an abandoned golden-haired baby girl, Eppie, changes everything. Silas raises her as his own child, finding redemption through love and connection.

The novel delves into themes of faith, betrayal, and the transformative power of human relationships.

Learn more: 1. en.wikipedia.org  2. pressbooks.howardcc.edu  3. www.sparknotes.com  4. www.sparknotes.com  5. www.enotes.com  6. www.goodreads.com  7. www.britannica.com  8. www.goodreads.com

Question: What is a nickname for Silas? Sy?

Certainly! A common nickname for Silas is indeed “Sy.” It’s a simple and practical way to address someone named Silas.