I admit that the Beta-reading stuff sounds interesting, although I have never felt the need for one. If what I wrote is bad beyond correction, then it’s bad and that’s it, it is what it is; and if it’s good, then great. My main objective is that I am satisfied with the result, and I have never had problems in that aspect.

And as for the names, I have the habit of researching everything that catches my attention, a taste inherited from my mother who is a university professor. I even have an encyclopedic collection of 15 volumes that was my Wikipedia when I didn’t have internet, inherited from my mother as well.

Seeing the origins, evolution and etymology of certain things and concepts is quite inspiring. If I have at least one concept, say: a character who is from Scotland or a similar place, I look up common Scottish names and their meanings, and from there choose the one I like best, and with what I get I can delve into the character’s personality and/or background based on their name. Even if I don’t find what I’m looking for, I can get information that I can use for something else, I always find more than what I’m looking for.