CroZ

If a character has two different names - a nickname and normal name - do you get confused when the text jumps between the two different names. Like if he is only called 'skip' within dialogue, but called John for narrative/speech tags .etc.

Sorry if I'm not being very clear, I'm pretty darn tired.

Thanks

Quillqueen

Yes, nicknames are confusing. If I'm writing about a character with a nickname, then I use the nickname only in dialogue- and the reader will catch on, hopefully- and the original name in text. Or, specify in the beginning that he's always called Skip, and not John at all anymore, or, don't give him the second name at all, and just call him Skip, since that seems to be what you really want to call him.


Q

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kalibantre

Just specify it, it ma confise the reader initally but they'll get used to it.

You could have someone called john, skip and then have john's reaction to the nickname so the readers understand.

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Tim S.

Uuslly, if a character of mine has a nickname, it'll appear in text, and/or in the POV of the person that uses the nickname, but other than that, I use the chasracter;s original name. Plus, I fid it helpful to slip in a small reference to the nickname early on, that way readers won't be confused if they are unable to catch on.

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CroZ

So it will be okay just so long as I make sure to point out that John is nicknamed Skip?
How would you advise doing that? Simply by having another character call him 'skip' or by actually pointing out that he is nicknamed Skip? By doing something like: - Skip was his nickname/ he was nicknamed skip - not as weak as that but you know what I mean.

Basically I have four characters, each with a nickname, but I introduce them (although these arent the characters/nicknames/exact setting I'm using) as follows:

1. Sarah - Kat
"Where the hell is Kat!?" Gin yelled.
"I'm over here," the girl named Sarah - but nicknamed Kat - replied.

That's pointing it out

2. old Gin - Name not known

Nobody knows his name, so he's called Gin through the whole story until they find out his real name. So I treat him as though he's actually called Gin. He's called Gin because he's a drunk, Gin being his favourite drink - btw

Name already in place

3. Tom - Otaku
That's not meant to be an MGS rip off by the way, it's just a name I'm using for this post
Get's the nickname after the first chapter, after he starts talking about how anime and Manga inspired him to be a writer. Gin dubs him Otaku because Tom brings it up at every chance he gets - not literally of course. But anyway, he accepts the name because he knows arguing about it with Gin would only encourage him.

Edit: Oh, Otaku means anime/Manga fan.
Although as I said, he won't be called Otaku but something similiar once my brain starts working again.

So that's - reader is present when the nickname is made

4. Mark - Dud
This isnt an actual nickname. Gin just calls him the dud on numerous occasions because Mark never does anything, so it's really an insult not a nickname. No one else calls him 'the dud' other than Gin.
So when some dialougue says, "Where's the dud?" I'm hoping the reader can (eventually) tell it's Gin talking about Mark.


First mention is something like:
"Why'd you leave me here with the dud?" Gin said.
"Don't call me that," Mark mumbled.
(Sarah replies to Gin, ignoring Mark .etc.)

The nicknames are only used during dialogue, rarely actually, based on the number of times you would say your friends name when having a conversation with him.

Mike C

Nicknames don't confuse people, but bad writing does. If you can carry it off, it's not a problem.

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cbrmale

I've done two names with one character. Russian's often have formal names and informal names, so the girl was known either as Tatyana or Tanya. I've had feedback on the novel, but no comments at all on the two names. Like Mike said, just make sure it is written clearly.

New Moon

yes they usaully are, unless you make it very, and I mean very, clear.

suzakugaiden

Your reader should catch on eventually. Anyway, nicknames are realistic. I refer to my friends by their last names and first names about evenly, for that matter.

Actually, for some of them, I almost invariably use the last name. That's... sort of odd. I wonder why I do that... And yeah, this HAS cropped up in my story.

""I'm over here," the girl named Sarah - but nicknamed Kat - replied."

That's really clunky. Don't do this.

"Edit: Oh, Otaku means anime/Manga fan."

That's more of the English connotation. The Japanese connotation is "lifeless, pathetic freak." Which is why I think it's totally awesome and loolzery when people call themselves otaku.

sprout

I try to stay away from changing names scene to scene or whatever. It works if someone calls the person by their last name and another person calls the person by their first name, but that's about as far as I go.

Initiate

In my "Angels of Opesa" Novel - the main character who is named Gabriel discovers his true self - his inner being - and his true being. He goes thorugh a period of transition where people call him Christian but he still thinks "gabriel did this and that etc" then at the end of that chapter it switches to Christian did this and that etc.

Everyone who reads it hasnt been confused yet - so thats one way.