Monday, May 14, 2012

License Plate Characterizations

I don't want to overload you on the videos all at once, so today I'm giving you a break, but my third video of humiliation will be up Thursday. For those who don't know, Leigh Moore and I were doing a 30K in 30 days challenge, and if you missed a day, the penance was posting a Hacky Sack Club video. So that's what that's all about.

Anyway, on the other things. In my extended absence, I saw a plethora of great license plates that I've been dying to share with you. I'll just mention a couple with today.

The first is one I saw on a black BMW:

MR WNDFL

The second is from a black sedan with tinted windows (seriously):

HYRD GUN

On this last one, my first question is "Who would advertise that on their license plate?" and next "How did it get through the DMV?"

Anyhoo, that said, I've been thinking a lot about characterization as I've been working on my latest manuscript, and I'm finding that little details like these can really make your characters pop. With these license plates, I get an immediate image of these people. Granted, they may or may not be correct, BUT it's a start for making them real.

I know I've asked the question before, but do you know your character's personalized plates? And what about the car they would be on?

16 comments:

LTM said...

yeah... I was looking for a video, Missy! :D That's OK--LOL!

Mister Windful? Windfl. And first I read that as Hard Gun. LOL! Uhh... no. I don't think these are real.

Did I tell you back in the day, when I lived in this apt bldg w/a bunch of singletons, one of the guys had a personalized plate that said "L8TR DUD"

Yep. Dud. :D LOL! ((jugs)) ~NTM

Old Kitty said...

I don't have a car and don't know how to drive so all my characters tend to use public transport! Oh dear! But I love these number plates! I used to go out with someone who liked to while away his driving monotony when in Europe by guessing which country the number plates are from! Take care
x

MikeS said...

I do describe my MCs car, but he would never stoop to own a conceited, vanity plate.

Anonymous said...

Hi Janet! I don't see too many personalized license plates around here.

Susanna Leonard Hill said...

My characters are all WAY too young to drive :)

Golden Eagle said...

Not really--my characters tend to live in worlds where public transportation is common, private vehicles are non-existent, or they're high-up officials and get chauffeured places. :P

Stina said...

I'm betting the last one belongs to someone who is the opposite to a hired gun. He probably didn't even get into the military or police academy. ;)

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

Most of my characters aren't old enough to drive...

I'm thinking the second plate belongs to a guy with big guns (muscles).

Theresa Milstein said...

So... did you ask for their phone numbers? Can't let men like that get away!

Lily Whalen said...

I'm thinking the first plate stands for either 'Mr. Windfall' (in which case, yes - why advertise?) or 'Mr. Wonderful' (in which case, please read 'Mr. Big Ego')...

Laurel Garver said...

That first one could be read as "Mr. Windfall," as in I made a lucky guess in the stockmarket and wow, check out my prize.

Anyone driving around advertising himself as "Mr. Wonderful" should be driving an electric car. Gas guzzling is not wonderful. ;-)

Victoria Dixon said...

Oy, Mr. Wonderful, I hope you're married to Mrs. Mdst or MrsHumbl. There's only so much room for ego in a family.

You know, I wonder if the Hyred Gun guy isn't an air gun painter. LOL But imagine what sort of issues that license might land a naive trio of characters in. ;D

Hmmm. Jie's license plate might be fmlyman. I need to think about what upcoming characters would have....

Missed Periods said...

All I know is that I would never cut HYRD GUN off.

Miriam Forster said...

No cars in my pre-industrial fantasy world, sadly. But I did once see a glossy mint green sports car with spinners on the tires and a license plate that said MYOBSSN. Sigh...

Congratulations on being blitzed in RAOK, btw!

Anonymous said...

My personalized plates would say WRMHOLE andne on a Ford Galaxy.

Romance Reader said...

LOL! on the Hired Gun Guy advertising on his plate!