This is a lot like the Quick [name_m]Poll[/name_m] Thread and Quick Question Thread, but less fusty/streamlined of a process. I don’t know if this will catch on, but the goal is to be able to state a problem you’re having with your writing and then people can chime in with answers, and people can also state their own problems. Like so (with example names so I don’t have to say Person A, Person B, etc):
[name_f]Adelaide[/name_f]: I really like the name [name_f]Jane[/name_f] for a certain character, but I’m worried that it doesn’t fit the vibe of the story, which is sort of Victorian-steampunk. Suggestions?
[name_f]Briana[/name_f]: I think [name_f]Jane[/name_f] is very Victorian! I wouldn’t worry about it!
[name_m]Cassian[/name_m]: I think that it could definitely work, but you may want to consider if it matches the names of the other characters.
[name_f]Delilah[/name_f]: There’s a character who I’m realizing may be autistic, but I’m not and I want to write them sensitively.
[name_m]Cassian[/name_m]: I’m autistic and could answer quick questions, and here’s a good website to reference as well.
this is a question more about writing/word choice, so maybe a little boring
im struggling with the introduction of a character, mostly because he is mysterious and suspicious of everyone, and wouldn’t be the person to quickly reveal his name, so im forced to refer to him with descriptors until I can find a natural way for him to share his name. (the POV is third person but limited, so the narrators can only tell the story with information which they know)
so this character is around 20 years old—technically, an adult, so not a “boy”. but, im worried that describing him as a “man” would give the impression that he’s much older, especially because the characters describing him are 18 and 19, respectively. but calling him a “boy” (especially when one of the POV characters is also male) feels condescending because, as I said, he’s technically an adult. I could go with “guy”? but that doesn’t really match the tone ive been using.
more rambling
not to mention, there’s the added layer of how I wouldn’t hesitate to call a character who was exactly the same but female a “girl” because she’s close enough to the POV characters’ ages that I feel like that would be the natural descriptor, which brings up the issue of how adult women are called “girls” as a way to infantilize and discredit them, but I digress
the epithet ive been using for the character is “the masked man/boy” because of how he keeps his face covered… which means I can’t even describe him physically as a way to establish that I don’t mean “man” like an old man.
idk, this feels like a quick problem but it definitely doesn’t have a quick explanation lol
What’s the time in your work? For example, if it’s before 1930, you could use youth, as in the masked youth.
If it’s today, my students use “man,” (as in “my man”), cuzzo, bra/bro/bruh, dude, guy.
It really does depend on whose POV it is that you’re writing from. Limited 3rd person sounds as if there’s still a viewpoint character, rather than an objective narrator, so just use what you think that specific character would say.
I’ve run into this exact issue before since I write characters around this age lol and I still never know exactly what to do. I’d say either stick with “boy” (since “man” would make me think of a much older character) or bypass the issue with a different epithet? Depending on the character/circumstances, maybe he could be wearing an outfit that looks pirate-ish and your POV character could (for example) call him “the pirate” until his name is revealed. [name_m]Or[/name_m] the thief/knight/spy/merchant etc depending on his vibe and appearance. This could also provide the reader more info to shape their first impression of the character:)
