Hello, everybody. I seem to be having a problem with one of my characters. He goes by two names, and different people address him differently. His real name isn't discovered until it reaches the 3rd quarter of the story, and I was wondering how I should address him in the prose apart from the quotes. What would be the least confusing method to readers?
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Very good question - I'm having a similar problem at the moment too (characters who are called different things by different things by different people, with no set base name). I'd say that if there is one name that the character identifies with particularly, or which the majority of characters call him, then run with that one.
Who's viewpoint is he being seen by in the prose? If the prose is from the standpoint of someone who knows him as "Solomon Grundy," then address him as that.
If the viewpoint's from sinside his own head and he knows his own name, address him as that. Or if he doesn't think of himself by his own name, then address him as whatever he thinks of himself as.
It's just important to be on the level.
If the viewpoint's from sinside his own head and he knows his own name, address him as that. Or if he doesn't think of himself by his own name, then address him as whatever he thinks of himself as.
It's just important to be on the level.
My main character adopts an alias about halfway through the first volume. I always refer to her by her original name (so the alias is used only in dialogue). I thought this would be a problem, especially when reaching the point that some characters call her by her original name and others by her alias, but it has worked out OK. Readers could not possibly be confused, and it doesn't sound bad in a paragraph. I think consistency is what's most important.
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My first idea here would be to have the characters in the book be just as confused as the reader. have them correct themselves when addressing the person, or even when just thinking about that. Do this for a couple of pages and then finally switch to just the new name.
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In one of our paranormal series, some of the characters are very long lived---well beyond a normal human life span. So, they often have to adopt additional identities. Older people know them as one name, and younger people as another. We solved the confusion by having the MC actually correct the speaker, "Oh, I'm known as XXX now." Of course, if the confusion in identity is part of the mystery and you're going to spring a traitor or some such on the reader, then I wouldn't worry much about letting the reader know. All you have to do is have one person "in" on the secret, so they can callously laugh about everybody being fooled.
For the purpose of the character identifying HIMSELF, he needs to pick a name and have at least ONE confidante who allows him to "be himself"---especially if all the names are on the table. It can just be a quick sentence, and it'll be enough to carry the reader forward.
Hope that helps.
For the purpose of the character identifying HIMSELF, he needs to pick a name and have at least ONE confidante who allows him to "be himself"---especially if all the names are on the table. It can just be a quick sentence, and it'll be enough to carry the reader forward.
Hope that helps.
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