In the manuscript for ‘Thief,’ a large fortified structure constructed by persons unknown is central to the events that unfold. The name for that structure that I’ve used the past year (‘the Spire’) never fit perfectly, and that minor failure itched like a half-healed sunburn. The itch needed to be addressed.

First, I searched for alternates to the noun ‘Spire.’ While I liked the evocative power of ‘Spire,’ I wanted something more tangible, descriptive and (of course) concrete.

All of these had the solidity I wanted, but no glamor. I tapped my pen against my mouth (terrible habit when you’re holding an uncapped Sharpie) and I came up with more options.

My interest was pricked by ‘needle.’ Vivid noun, but I felt like it needed an adjective or modifier of some sort. More scratching on paper with my Sharpie and I had another list.

‘Redemption’ refers to the Bay the former-Spire watches over, ‘Dominion’ the principal military power of the colonial period, and Vernus was the name I’d settled upon for the man who discovered the ‘Spire.’ Many of the place names we take for granted (Virginia, Jamestown, Columbia) honor individuals. ‘Vernus’ Needle’ didn’t exactly fall sweetly from the tongue, though. More tapping of my pen against my mouth. Sharpe’s Needle, now… that sounded better. Switching the name from ‘Vann van Vernus’ to ‘Sir Sydney Sharpe’ is easy enough, this early in the game.

And the itch I’d felt to revise that name vanished.