First Person -- when give your character's name?

Kryianna · Dec 26, 2007

I'm doing my first read-through and edits of my NaNoWriMo novel, and I found that I don't give my MC's name until 2k words in. It's written in first person, and there isn't any convenient dialogue at the beginning that I can slip her name into easily. She doesn't think to herself, so I don't really have the option of doing a "Think, Jane, you know better than that" either.

Is it ok to be that far into the story before saying what her name is? What is normal?

Sassee · Dec 26, 2007

If it works, it works. Readers would pick up on the name before they started reading anyway, due to the blurb on the back of the book (assuming you want the thing published and actually do that).

Mine's in first person as well, but someone calls her by name within the first page.

DeleyanLee · Dec 26, 2007

My MIP is in first person as well, and it's about 1.5K before there's reason for him to give his surname as an introduction. Of course, he's a detective, so it was bound to happen at some point. His first name doesn't come into play until the last scene of Chapter 2, when his brother addresses him during an argument.

Personally, I don't think it should be forced. Forced is worse than waiting and making it flow. And, frankly, no one's going to read the book without having some sort of introduction into it (cover letter, synopsis, back cover blurb), so I don't think it's a major problem.

Good luck on your book.

Kryianna · Dec 26, 2007

Thanks, folks!

nonamesleft47 · Dec 26, 2007

I have close to the same problem that keeps bouncing around in my head. I go 90,000 words without ever naming my MC and actually I'm still debating the need for a name. It's first person as well and there really isn't any reason for it other than he has limited contact with anyone who doesn't call him honey, sugar muffin, a$$hole, ect.

a_sharp · Dec 26, 2007

My WIP is first person and the guy's name doesn't appear until he introduces himself to the female MC about 1/3 through chapter 2. I think it works.

In The Gathering by Anne Enright, the first person narrator finally names herself on page 11, toward the end of Chapter 2. The book won the 2007 Man Booker Prize.

Bring it up when it fits and not before then. No need to force it, but don't wait too long.

Nakhlasmoke · Dec 26, 2007

Hmm just checked now, because I never even thought about it. MC's name is mentioned about 1400 words in, in conversation.

I don't think it feels strange though. I'm sure the betas will give me a clip about the ears if it irritates them, and I'll fix it if need be.

geardrops · Dec 26, 2007

I think Palahniuk went a lot more words without naming the narrator in Fight Club.

In fact, I believe he went all the words without naming the narrator.

You'd be surprised how few details people actually care about.

blacbird · Dec 26, 2007

Then there's Melville:

"Call me Ishmael."

caw

PeeDee · Dec 26, 2007

We don't discover the narrator's name until the end of book four of Gene Wolfe's Long Sun quadrology of books.

Do what you gotta do.

PeeDee · Dec 26, 2007

blacbird said:
Then there's Melville:

"Call me Ishmael."

caw

A very fine point.

johnzakour · Dec 26, 2007

Writing pulp I usually have the obligatory my "name is Zachary Nixon Johnson..." statement very early on. For me the tricky part is fitting in his description. There wasn't any in the entire first book. Then in second book one of the editors said, "It might be nice if we knew what Zach looks like."

So yes you can often get away with saying very little.

Don't force it when it comes it comes.

HeronW · Dec 26, 2007

I don't like to keep reading and be left in the dark for pages and pages until I find out a name. Age, detailed characeristics, profession, these can wait but a 'hey you' or 'whasername' with the agnstmobile runing--I identify better if I have a name to go with the drama.

Could your MC read an email, snail mail, memo from work, note from a friend, electric bill, something to say her name?

Moon Daughter · Dec 26, 2007

I don't think the name is extremely important to learn right away. My MC's name (the ms is in first POV, too) isn't mentioned until the second chapter.

Stijn Hommes · Dec 26, 2007

It sounds like you slipped the name at a logical place in the narrative.
Run it past some betareaders. If they don't complain, I wouldn't change it.
It flows - don't fix something that isn't broken.

WendyNYC · Dec 26, 2007

Personally, I like to know the character's name sooner rather than later. But if it works, it works.

wayndom · Dec 26, 2007

Len Deighton wrote a whole series of first-person spy novels, in which the narrator never gives his own name. You understand that it's because he's a spy, and he doesn't give any details that would reveal his identity (where he lives, what brand cigarettes he smokes, etc.), but the narrator never explains that.

Movies, being what they are (i.e., not first-person), had to name the character, so he became Harry Palmer. But there was something charming about reading a whole book told by a shadow.

wayndom · Dec 26, 2007

Kryianna said:
She doesn't think to herself, so I don't really have the option of doing a "Think, Jane, you know better than that" either.

"I sorted through the envelopes in my mailbox, selecting only those addressed to 'Jane,' since that's my name."

Susan Lanigan · Dec 26, 2007

In any of my published stories in first person (I think pretty much all of them are) the name is revealed through another character directly addressing the narrator, towards the end of the story. The one exception to this is a story I wrote about a historical figure. Maybe I was holding back because her name was also Susan and I don't like talking to myself!

johnzakour · Dec 26, 2007

WendyNYC said:
Personally, I like to know the character's name sooner rather than later. But if it works, it works.

I feel the same way, I like to know whom I am dealing with sooner than later as I feel I can relate to the character better if I have a name for them.

Still there are a lot of ways of executing ideas.... (That's why bookstores are so big!)

ORION · Dec 26, 2007

First sentence. "My name is Perry L. Crandall and I am not retarded."

JBI · Dec 26, 2007

It isn't until midway through his monologue that Malloy realizes his name is in fact "Malloy" (though critics are undecided if his name really is Malloy or not).

But then again, when do we get the Unnamable's name? or do we?

katiemac · Dec 26, 2007

Sometimes, after publishing, the marketing takes care of this for you. The back of the book might reveal the character's name, so your reader will go in with more information from the start.

Still, it's hardly a tactic to rely on.

Stew21 · Dec 27, 2007

Within the first couple pages for my first person character. His boss calls him Bastien (his last name) then in IM (he logs in as ebast80), then his mom calls, we find out his name is Eric.

Sooner rather than later works for me too.

Shady Lane · Dec 27, 2007

Let's see...

Page 2 in the WIP.
Page 4 in the last ms.
Page 3 in the one before.

So I guess I generally do it pretty early.

First Person -- when give your character's name?

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