Since he does not have the novelist's space to gradually develop character, Wolff feels that it is very important for him to have a substantial understanding of what the characters' lives and histories are so that he will be able to present a consistent, convincing portrayal from the inception of the story. "I spend months on each story I write," Wolff states, "and through many, many drafts I discover who my characters are .. . I have to spend a lot of time with my characters, trying things out." One of the features of a character's personality which Wolff regards as important is his or her name. "When you name someone, that's a holy act," he says. "You call some essence into existence by the very name." The eponymous protagonist of "The Other Miller" might have been quite different if, as Wolff notes, he was called "Billy Lee...