Nameless protags??

DrunkenLilacs · Aug 12, 2011

Didn't know if this should be in the Sandbox but...

I'm resurrecting an old WIP written in two POVs and the protags are nameless--their names aren't mentioned in the story at all because the absence of their names are part of a big theme in the story. It also shows how much you can really know/get to know a person without knowing their name.

Anyways, I was wondering: would this be annoying? Would it be stupid? Would it be confusing?

But I was thinking that they'll have nicknames in the place of their real names, something that the protags can call each other? Something that describes these protags' characteristics/personalities. Do you think that the nicknames will work?

A recommendation would be good, too, if anyone knows novels where the protagonist's names aren't mentioned.

Thanks for reading! Help? Opinions?

chocowrites · Aug 12, 2011

Read SURFACING by Margaret Atwood. Nameless MC, and from what I've seen of your writing style, you'll love her beautiful prose

It's adult, not YA, however.

I'm playing around with a similar idea in my WIP, actually. Currently all the supporting characters are nameless but have nicknames. This might just be laziness on my part, however, so I don't know if I'll keep it that way.

ceenindee · Aug 12, 2011

That's cool! The only time I had a nameless MC was because I never thought of anything.

The first rec I thought of was Invisible Man. Notes from Underground is about a nameless character too, but I haven't read that one. I'll try to think of others.

Becca C. · Aug 12, 2011

The Astonishing Adventures of Fanboy and Goth Girl by Barry Lyga is an example of a YA novel with an almost nameless MC. You don't know his name throughout most of the novel -- his mom says it once, but if you don't read super carefully you won't catch it. The only name he's really given, Fanboy, is a nickname from the goth girl in the title. I really liked not knowing his name. It really ties into his personality, and even when you hear his name that one time it still doesn't feel like his name because he hates it so much. So it feels like the reason he's not really named is because he hates who his parents tried to make him with that name. I love it. It's an awesome book and you should totally read it.

Liosse de Velishaf · Aug 12, 2011

The nicknames could absolutely work. Plenty of people nowadays have relationships (mostly online?), where they don't know the other person's real name. As long as the nicknames fit, I don't think it would be a huge problem.

bethany · Aug 12, 2011

There's a main character in my first novel, Handcuffs, who is never named. I had quite a bit of fun writing it.

missesdash · Aug 12, 2011

It's like you're reading my mind. I've been toying with this as well. I think my next Male mc will be nameless.

I like the idea when the tone is detached

flarue · Aug 12, 2011

I think as long as you have something that identifies them (like the nicknames), it's fine. Just make sure that the readers can figure out who they are, if they're in scenes with other characters.

Cyia · Aug 12, 2011

The MC of The Historian (not really YA, despite her age) was never named beyond being "the girl".

Perks · Aug 12, 2011

It requires a confident stride, but it can be an excellent way to go, if it suits the story. I think it only works when you don't have to do any linguistic contortions to avoid naming your people.

Bracken · Aug 12, 2011

DrunkenLilacs said:
Didn't know if this should be in the Sandbox but...

I'm resurrecting an old WIP written in two POVs and the protags are nameless--their names aren't mentioned in the story at all because the absence of their names are part of a big theme in the story. It also shows how much you can really know/get to know a person without knowing their name.

Anyways, I was wondering: would this be annoying? Would it be stupid? Would it be confusing?

But I was thinking that they'll have nicknames in the place of their real names, something that the protags can call each other? Something that describes these protags' characteristics/personalities. Do you think that the nicknames will work?

A recommendation would be good, too, if anyone knows novels where the protagonist's names aren't mentioned.

Thanks for reading! Help? Opinions?

In Cormac McCarthy's The Road, none of the characters are named. Of course, there aren't many characters: it's a post-apocalypse tale about a boy and his father on the road, and the few other living people they encounter.

If the protags in your story have "nicknames", then it's pretty much as if they have names. You won't encounter the challenges you would if you actually left them completely unnamed.

DrunkenLilacs · Aug 13, 2011

Okay, God, I was freaking out 'cause I'd totally forgotten that I'd actually have them called by something. Thanks for the recs guys! Definitely checking out all of the ones I haven't read before

Alouette · Aug 13, 2011

Just to add - Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier and The Blood of Flowers are both great books where the protags weren't named. It didn't reduce my enjoyment of the books at all.

DrunkenLilacs · Aug 13, 2011

God, Rebecca was amazing, but I'll have to check out the Blood of Flowers. Thanks Alouette!

Lovely Decadence · Aug 13, 2011

I say go for whatever works in your story. If it doesn't feel right to suddenly given them names and it feels more natural to leave them nameless, I say go for it so long as it doesn't get confusing (which considering they have nicknames it probably won't). Depending on the piece I often have nameless characters who ultimately don't get named until far into the story or towards the end. A lot of times it just doesn't feel organic to drop their names in and it ends up feeling heavy handed if I do. In a short story I wrote and my wip, the main characters didn't have names until they were directly asked for, but it didn't come off as weird or confusing that the reader doesn't know their names.

Jehhillenberg · Aug 13, 2011

I've read books with nameless protags. They were okay. But names are extremely important to me and some help define people. I personally prefer names. But if it works for the story then I'm for it. I'm open.

JeanniGrace · Aug 14, 2011

If it works for your book, go for it. The Invisible Man and Breakfast At Tiffany's (the book) come to mind as having nameless protagonists. I do agree nicknames are essentially the same for the purpose of a book, but you don't have to give them proper names. They could be Red cause they have red hair and never have to have a real name.

Nameless protags??

DrunkenLilacs

Growing tipsier as we speak

chocowrites

scaredy cat

ceenindee

Becca C.

Liosse de Velishaf

bethany

:)

missesdash

You can't sit with us!

flarue

Dreaming of Waltzes & Fantasy Lands

Cyia

Rewriting My Destiny

Perks

delicate #!&@*#! flower

Bracken

DrunkenLilacs

Growing tipsier as we speak

Alouette

bad apple

DrunkenLilacs

Growing tipsier as we speak

Lovely Decadence

Jehhillenberg

N/A

JeanniGrace

Word Nerd