Referring to characters

[limebirdvanessa]

This is an issue I am stumbling over in my NaNo, but I'm posting it in general writing questions because it's a general question!

I'm getting into a pickle about how to refer to characters in my novel. I don't mean what the characters call each other, I mean what I call them. Specifically I have two police officers who feature quite heavily, and I started off by referring to them by their formal police names, e.g. 'Inspector Henderson arrived at the station...". Then later those same officers are in a social setting and calling each other by their first names, and so it feels wrong for me to refer to them by their formal names, but if I suddenly switch to referring to them by their first names, will it confuse the reader? Equally, it doesn't feel right to refer to them by their first names when they're in their formal settings.

Any thoughts? There's probably some generally accepted rule about this sort of thing that I don't know about!

[yrdeni]

I'm also interested in advice on this - I suffer from the same trouble. Thanks for raising it, Vanessa!

[bonusparts]

I think it depends on who's got the perspective. I usually think of how characters are addressed vocally (though this does not always ring true). For example, a lawyer would probably refer to the cops formally, as would someone to treat them with respect (a bystander, perhaps, or child). A Mafia goon would likely refer to them by surname only, no title or similar honorific. If they're close (they've been partners a while, they're romantically involved, or they're just of similar age or worldview), they'd probably refer to each other by their first names.

For keeping them straight, I'd suggest dropping in moments where they're referred to in multiple ways:
"I'm Detective Rollins," Henry said, and nodded toward Jack a moment after. "This is my partner, Detective White."
Does that make sense?

[4amWriter]

Are you ever in their heads?

[limebirdvanessa]

Nov 16, 2012 19:31:30 GMT bonusparts said:

I think it depends on who's got the perspective. I usually think of how characters are addressed vocally (though this does not always ring true). For example, a lawyer would probably refer to the cops formally, as would someone to treat them with respect (a bystander, perhaps, or child). A Mafia goon would likely refer to them by surname only, no title or similar honorific. If they're close (they've been partners a while, they're romantically involved, or they're just of similar age or worldview), they'd probably refer to each other by their first names.

For keeping them straight, I'd suggest dropping in moments where they're referred to in multiple ways:
"I'm Detective Rollins," Henry said, and nodded toward Jack a moment after. "This is my partner, Detective White."
Does that make sense?

So are you saying that, for instance, once we've clearly established that Detective Rollins and Henry are the same person, it's fine to just refer to him as Henry throughout? (Obviously other characters might still call him Detective Rollins depending on who it is).

[limebirdvanessa]

Nov 20, 2012 9:33:18 GMT 4amWriter said:

Are you ever in their heads?

I think I'm in their heads when they're speaking to each other, but are you asking that question to mean that when I am writing the descriptive bits, I should refer to characters in the same way as they would be referred to by whoever's POV I'm writing from? (Or am I missing the point!)

[bonusparts]

Nov 20, 2012 13:25:51 GMT limebirdvanessa said:

Nov 16, 2012 19:31:30 GMT bonusparts said:

...For keeping them straight, I'd suggest dropping in moments where they're referred to in multiple ways:
"I'm Detective Rollins," Henry said, and nodded toward Jack a moment after. "This is my partner, Detective White."
Does that make sense?

So are you saying that, for instance, once we've clearly established that Detective Rollins and Henry are the same person, it's fine to just refer to him as Henry throughout? (Obviously other characters might still call him Detective Rollins depending on who it is).

That's what I usually do, yes. Of course, write what "sounds" natural, too.

[4amWriter]

Nov 20, 2012 13:29:03 GMT limebirdvanessa said:

Nov 20, 2012 9:33:18 GMT 4amWriter said:

Are you ever in their heads?

I think I'm in their heads when they're speaking to each other, but are you asking that question to mean that when I am writing the descriptive bits, I should refer to characters in the same way as they would be referred to by whoever's POV I'm writing from? (Or am I missing the point!)

Haha. I just meant whether or not you are in their POV...do we get their thoughts, ideas, dreams, etc. throughout dialogue and narrative?

I ask this because if we're getting their thoughts (in their heads), then your reader is going to know them more intimately, and therefore you will want to refer to them by a first or last name eventually, not just their professional titles.

[4amWriter]

Nov 20, 2012 18:55:23 GMT bonusparts said:

Nov 20, 2012 13:25:51 GMT limebirdvanessa said:

So are you saying that, for instance, once we've clearly established that Detective Rollins and Henry are the same person, it's fine to just refer to him as Henry throughout? (Obviously other characters might still call him Detective Rollins depending on who it is).

That's what I usually do, yes. Of course, write what "sounds" natural, too.

Yes, I agree with this too.

[ottabelle]

Nov 20, 2012 13:25:51 GMT limebirdvanessa said:

Nov 16, 2012 19:31:30 GMT bonusparts said:

I think it depends on who's got the perspective. I usually think of how characters are addressed vocally (though this does not always ring true). For example, a lawyer would probably refer to the cops formally, as would someone to treat them with respect (a bystander, perhaps, or child). A Mafia goon would likely refer to them by surname only, no title or similar honorific. If they're close (they've been partners a while, they're romantically involved, or they're just of similar age or worldview), they'd probably refer to each other by their first names.

For keeping them straight, I'd suggest dropping in moments where they're referred to in multiple ways:
"I'm Detective Rollins," Henry said, and nodded toward Jack a moment after. "This is my partner, Detective White."
Does that make sense?

So are you saying that, for instance, once we've clearly established that Detective Rollins and Henry are the same person, it's fine to just refer to him as Henry throughout? (Obviously other characters might still call him Detective Rollins depending on who it is).

yes.