So let's say you have a character, and that character has a name. At some point within your story, you're going to have to introduce this name to the reader. Your characters' names are a very important part of distinguishing who is doing what within the story. Before we really get to know these characters, we simply need to know who they are. Each character should be clearly identified before you get too in depth with the story. And each time a new character comes along, we should be given their name as soon as possible.
Ok, I realize this sounds like a no-brainer, and most of the time this will be pretty easy to do. But there are some things that could complicate it, and there are also ways to have fun with it.
How you go about writing your story will have an impact on where and how you'll need to introduce your main character's name. If you're writing in third person, it will most likely be very straightforward: "Bobby walked into the classroom." There--you've stated the name and introduced your character. If you're writing in first person, however, it may not be so simple. Just having a sentence within the narrative that says, "My name is Bobby," will most likely feel awkward to the reader.
Using dialogue is an easy and natural way to introduce any character's name. Maybe another character will call out your first person narrator by name. Maybe he'll need to introduce himself to someone. This will also work when you meet other characters along the way. If your narrator already knows a character, he could use their name when saying hello. If he doesn't know this person, then they can introduce themselves to each other.
FUN TIP/ WHAT I'VE DONE (yes, both!): Keep your main character's name a secret until an important moment occurs, such as when when your love interests meet (I love doing this!). That way the reader gets to learn both characters' names at the same time. Here's how my two characters meet in Uneven Lines, and it's the first time I used each of their names:
“Hi. Jordan?” He smiled,
looking down at the floor and then back at me. I was done for. I was probably
drooling. “I’m Tom. Your geometry tutor?”
Oh, right.
Say something. “Hi,” I finally managed to choke, but I sounded like a frog
croaking.
This is actually not the first time that I've saved the
first person narrator's name for the moment when he/she meets the love
interest. I just think it's a fun, cute way to introduce your characters. :)
Do you find introducing your characters' names easy or a bit more difficult? How do you usually introduce a first person narrator?
Good tips! I never really thought about it. I usually write third person so we know who is who straight away, and in my first person novella the second line is the MC's name because someone is yelling at him. But I like the idea about love interests.
ReplyDeleteNice tips for sure!! I struggle with character intros.
ReplyDeleteI don't usually write in first person but when I did, I used the dialogue technique to reveal the MC's name. Great tips!
ReplyDeleteEverything I've written has been third person, so it hasn't been too difficult.
ReplyDeleteOoooh, I like that tip! I've never thought of that before, definitely going to keep that in mind.
ReplyDeleteGood tip. Usually though, I name them right up front.
ReplyDeleteGreat tip. I rarely write in first person, but when I do, I have someone else say the character's name . . . so I've never introduced my main character in a conversation like that. I'll have to try it. :)
ReplyDeleteI write a lot of short stories, and quite a few of them don't name the main character, or indeed any of the characters. Not intentionally, it just never comes up! But you can get away with a lot more in a short story.
ReplyDeleteAnnalisa, writing A-Z vignettes, at Wake Up, Eat, Write, Sleep
I used to go to a writing group and one time we gave each other a first line as a prompt for that weeks writing at home. My prompt gave me 2 names and a setting , which felt very limiting and I resisted the man's name 'Frank' My solution was to have the other name, Jackie, leave him in the 1st paragraph and also leave the place...it also led to a short discussion on how names get dated.
ReplyDeleteI write in 3rd person limited, so readers know their names right away. BUT, I do like to have them meet in interesting ways. In my steampunk series, the two main characters first meet when one of them tries to scam the other one.
ReplyDeleteGreat tip and I love your introduction that you shared. My books have all been in third person so it hasn't been an issue but this is something to file away for the future.
ReplyDeleteGood tip! It's always kind of awkward.
ReplyDeleteIn my latest WIP, I managed to intro the MC's name (first person male POV) at just the right moment. I'm so proud of accomplishing this monumental task! You don't want it to sound forced or planned, but natural.
ReplyDeleteThe first time a name's mentioned, I try to make it come as naturally as possible. I have written in first person and I agree it can be tricky to reveal that MC's name.
ReplyDeleteIt can be hard to make it truly flow in a story, I like your advice!
ReplyDeleteGreat advice! Thank you!!!
ReplyDeleteI have a story I wrote recently where I held off on revealing the one character's name until I was well into the story. If you've ever read Vintage, A Ghost Story, the MC's name is never revealed. The story works though and I didn't even realize it until a review pointed it out.
ReplyDelete~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
Member of C. Lee's Muffin Commando Squad
Story Dam
Patricia Lynne, Indie Author
I like writing in first person, so yes, this is definitely something I have to keep in mind. Great advice; I find the best way to accomplish this is through dialog. I've read a lot of novel openings (first 20 pages) for writing contests, and it's amazing how many people don't tell the reader what their main character's name is!
ReplyDeleteI also like writing in the first person. That's a good idea, Sarah!!!
ReplyDeleteAnother fun way is when the character hates their own name, and has internal dialog about it.
ReplyDeleteYou also bring up a point of, perhaps, why there are so few books written with my Lenni-Lenape people as characters. We don't reveal our name. Even our parents and siblings would rarely know. The Name Giver gives us a name (one that has never been used before), and we alone know it, sharing perhaps with only one other person in our whole lives. We just refer to each other by relationship. I guess that would be difficult in fiction! I never thought about it before.
J here, stopping by from the #atozchallenge 2015!
Great post. I'm following you on your listed social media sites.
@JLenniDorner
I write in the third person, but while I find it easy to introduce my MC's name, I did find it more difficult to introduce their friends. In real life, I'll just think, 'I'll call Emma today,' but if I wrote that in my story, the reader would be thinking 'who's Emma?? Why is she important?'...and then you have to try and explain who they are, but without info-dumping. Great post btw :)
ReplyDeleteNice.
ReplyDeleteI love that embarrassment!
Heather