1. lisalou4

    lisalou4 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2017
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0

    Names in story

    Discussion in 'Character Development' started by lisalou4, Apr 4, 2017.



    If you read about a person...say Sarah
    What if there is another Sarah in your book.
    Sarah is a popular name. In my school class we had 4 Sarah's .3 Richard's and 6 Andrew's
    I know about 10 Sarah's.
    Normal person know folk with normal names.
    Yes or No
     
  2. Apollypopping

    Apollypopping Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2017
    Messages:
    235
    Likes Received:
    187
    Location:
    Australia
    I would avoid it unless its required for the plot or used for humor.
     
    Tenderiser, BayView and lisalou4 like this.
  3. ChaseTheSun

    ChaseTheSun Senior Member

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2017
    Messages:
    257
    Likes Received:
    244
    In real life, I can distinguish between different Sarahs by their physical features, accent/voices, environment and social context. These are all cues my brain learns and then relies upon subconsciously to associate the appropriate memories, feelings and experience with the appropriate Sarah. This is a subconscious ability upon which we all rely to ensure our brains feed us the appropriate and correct information to tell us which Sarah we are thinking about/looking at/talking to.

    When reading a book about fictional characters, a reader doesn't have all of these cues to help them keep track of different people who share the same name. When reading, our biggest identifying signpost is the characters name. This is why most people advise not even using similar names (Tom and Tim, Allie and Ellie, etc) within a book because of the readers inevitable confusion.

    Just because something is realistic in life doesn't mean it should be in your book.

    The only exception would be if your piece is non-fiction and the instances about which you are writing do actually have people with the same name.
     
    BayView and lisalou4 like this.
  4. rktho

    rktho Contributor Contributor

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2017
    Messages:
    1,549
    Likes Received:
    398
    I have a few minor characters share names with other minor characters or a major character to emphasize that it's generic. Example: the main protagonist's friend Gazi has a dad named Nat, which is also the name of the protagonist's uncle, who plays a larger role. Gazi's last name, Arkaesi, is also very generic, and my characters employ it as a pseudonym a few times. (Gazi, though, is not a terribly common name.)
    I also have characters use Zahn as a pseudonym, but the only character whose name is actually Zahn is a relatively minor (but important) character who comes into play late in the novel and appears only in the first book.
     
    lisalou4 likes this.
  5. lisalou4

    lisalou4 New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 7, 2017
    Messages:
    2
    Likes Received:
    0
    Thanks for that suggests and ideas
     
  6. SethLoki

    SethLoki Retired Autodidact Contributor

    Joined:
    Jan 1, 2011
    Messages:
    1,566
    Likes Received:
    1,655
    Location:
    Manchester UK
    Wait, there's one more: That literary leviathan of another time Dr. Zeuss I recall once had characters with identical forenames.. what were they? Erm, Thingy, yes they were both called Thingy–no, not Thingy—it's coming to me now. How could I forget, we're talking his defining Magnum Opus here too. How remiss of me. I've got it.

    The Cat in the Hat.

    Sub-starring

    [​IMG]
     
    lisalou4 likes this.
  7. Norita Sieffert

    Norita Sieffert New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2017
    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    3
    You can also introduce the character by their name and then add something unique about them. Going on into the story you use that unique thing to further distinguish the characters. For example, if you have two women by the name of Sarah, you can weave into your story that one of the women has big hair. From that point on, you find a way to bring in the hair when that Sarah is the one being mentioned. Or you begin to call her by a nickname that lets the reader know you're discussing the Sarah with the big hair.
     
    lisalou4 likes this.

Share This Page

  1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
    By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
    Dismiss Notice