Introducing Characters - Writers Forum

S1E9A8N5 · 10-13-2006, 05:02 PM

I remember someone saying when introducing characters, be creative. Don't just write the characters names out. Have a character call out there name etc.

But how do you really do that? When you’re starting your story, novel etc... Say you have two people, a son and a father running through the woods... How do you differentiate between the characters without writing there names down telling the reader who they are?

mwd · 10-13-2006, 05:16 PM

If you're writing in third person it is perfectly acceptable to introduce a character with their name.

It's also perfectly acceptable not to use their name.

It's completely up to you. The most important thing is that you do it smoothly. Trying to force these kinds of silly rules on yourself makes your writing awkward.

Write it the way you want.

FrankBlissett · 10-13-2006, 08:04 PM

You can easily research this by going over to the short-story section of these boards. Or better yet, check out published fiction.

Personally, I don't mind introducing characters with their name.

In the example you gave, it seems to me that if you start with that much action you needn't distinguigh them by name or relationship yet. Simply describe their appearence actions. ie "The lanky young man limped through the briars. Close behind, a greying man with a scruffy beard nudged him to hurry along."

If you want the reader to know their relationship early on, you could start by taking a more detatched look at the action:
"The trees swayed under a stiff spring breeze. Underneath, the thick briars pulled at Jim's clothes and stuck his arms. Behind, his father nudged him along with a whispered 'hurry up'."

-Frank

mwd · 10-13-2006, 10:02 PM

Oh, and don't take my word for it. Here are some examples...

Quote:

IT WAS Joe Dillon who introduced the Wild West to us.

Quote:

MRS. MOONEY was a butcher's daughter.

Quote:

THE bell rang furiously and, when Miss Parker went to the tube, [...]

Those are opening lines from short stories in Dubliners by James Joyce. And here's some Kafka:

Quote:

One morning, when Gregor Samsa woke from troubled dreams [...]

And probably the best known of all...

Quote:

Call me Ishmael.

bob rulz · 10-14-2006, 03:45 AM

It works either way. It depends mainly on the quality of your writing on whether it sounds forced or not. mwd hit the nail on the head by saying that worrying about it and asking yourself this question will probably make the writing in question more awkward. I tend to use it either way, depending on whether I want the reader to know their name yet or not. Generally I just say the name outright if I'm not worried about the reader knowing their name yet or not. However, either approach works. This is just what I do.

FrankBlissett's examples are pretty good (even if the first one is a bit too heavy on the description) and his second example is generally what I use. Simple and straight-to-the-point without making it seem forced.

Fantasy of You · 10-14-2006, 08:08 AM

Not naming characters is very rarely a hook, and usually just annoys. If you have no reason for keeping your character's identities a secret, beside from the 'I want a character to shout them so I can start using their names from then,' don't do it. Just tell us there names when they come.

S1E9A8N5 · 10-14-2006, 10:21 AM

Thanks for the advice.

Quote:

Not naming characters is very rarely a hook, and usually just annoys. If you have no reason for keeping your character's identities a secret, beside from the 'I want a character to shout them so I can start using their names from then,' don't do it. Just tell us there names when they come.

That's the reason why... I did want one of the characters to shout the others name. I think it fits but I see what you all mean. Thanks.