When mentioning characters besides the protagonist, they can be referred either by first name or last name. Are there any rules or customs related to whether to refer a charater by first or last name? For some of the characters in my WIP, I can't decide whether to refer them by first name or last name.
First Names Versus Last Names
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What kind of POV are you using? If it's first or third limited, the answer is easy. Use whatever name the POV character would use for the other characters.
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I guess it depends on how the other characters would call him. I have friends that I call by their last names and friends I call by the first names.
Here's the rule I follow. If the character is a friend or acquaintance of the main character, I use the first name. For all others, including non-friend colleagues, those involving a professional relationship (e.g. lawyer), or strangers, I use the last name (unless two strangers with the same last name). Is this sensible?
I was given some great advice when I started revising my current WIP. If the character is minor (only apprears in a couple of scenes or less) use their last name. Otherwise, call them whatever the other characters would call them.
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There isn't any rule except realism. How would you addres the person under similar circustances?
WannabeWriter said:
There isn't any rule except realism. How would you addres the person under similar circustances?
I think do it the way WannabeWriter said above.
You could have a character referred to as their last name by the narrator, up until a point where the character says 'Mr Dingle is too formal; call me Fred', and then the narrator calls him by his first name (because now the main character, or POV character, does).
You could have a character referred to as their last name by the narrator, up until a point where the character says 'Mr Dingle is too formal; call me Fred', and then the narrator calls him by his first name (because now the main character, or POV character, does).
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How personal is the character? If they are a friend, wouldn't you use their first name? If they were in a position of prestige wouldn't you use their last name? A novel tends to follow real life, so what would be appropriate off the page is probably correct on the page, but then again, in the end, it's all up to you. Read the passages out loud and see how they roll off the tongue.
Sometimes, it can go either way. I have a character who is not a friend of the main character, but his occupation is not a prestigious one (e.g. maintenance worker). I plan to use the last name for him just because he's not an acquaintance.
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Look at X-Files. They are FBI agents they all call each other by thier last names. Even Scully and Moulder. I still don't know what Skinner's first name is.
Look at Vanity Fair, sorry I don't know any of the names. The MC's friend who marries the prick and it's the prick's friend who loves the MC's friend. Well the friend calls him by his last name to keep him distant.
Do whatever feels natural.
Look at Vanity Fair, sorry I don't know any of the names. The MC's friend who marries the prick and it's the prick's friend who loves the MC's friend. Well the friend calls him by his last name to keep him distant.
Do whatever feels natural.
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