Question about names

[carlyt]

Hi there,

I'm afraid I'm not that young but I'm new to writing. This is one of the few discussion forums I've found for writers to ask questions. As many of you probably have much more experience than me (and certainly opinions), here's my question:

(This assumes you're writing your fiction in the third person. The main character is a "she" and she has a sister).

These two characters have some interaction with their mother and father. Is it better to write ""blah blah", said her mother" and "their father took the rubbish out", or to refer to the parents by their first names e.g. ""blah blah", said Pat" and "Michael took the rubbish out", , even if the girls / women only call them Mum and Dad?

Thanks!

carlyt

[Nyx]

Hello carlyt:D

Welcome to YWO BTW.

So as for your question, if you're writing it from third person and your main character calls the parents mom and dad, then write them as mom and dad. If your main character addresses them as *insert names here* then write them as that. That's how I would do it but someone might suggest something else:)

[Andy]

Since this is a duplicate thread, and both threads have replies, we'll use this one from now on:

New (but old) person has writing question (http://www.youngwritersonline.net/showthread.php?t=741)