Answer me this? Does the guy pushing a broom in the corner of the coffee shop need a name? Or can he just be the guy pushing the broom, a part of the setting?
I recently read a post about problems associated with the inclusion of too many characters in a story. I agree, it’s a problem. I’ve read some books that have quickly become DNF. So many characters were introduced in the first chapter, sometimes in the first few pages, that I could not keep them straight. Instead of enjoying the story, I spent most of my reading time flipping back and forth, trying to grasp who was who. Annoying with a capital ‘A’.
When I read a book, what I want is this - to follow a small, significant, memorable cast of characters. A few extraneous bodies can drift in and out of the story, contributing here and there, providing the contribution is necessary and moves the story forward. If the contribution isn’t necessary, then neither is the character.
Here’s what surprised me about the post, and I can’t remember where I read it. I commented that not every character needs a name. The author of the blog replied as follows - every character needs a name, no matter how insignificant, because readers identify more easily with characters who have names. I was sort of stumped by her response and/or she may not have understood my comment. I don’t need readers to identify with characters other than my primary and secondary characters. This is the slippery slope that leads to so many characters a reader had difficulty investing in anyone at all.
Let’s say a waitress makes an appearance in a scene. Unless the name on her name tag is significant to the story, do you, the reader, need to know her name? Or can she be nothing more than the waitress - a part of the setting, same as a plate of eggs? What about the hostess, or the bus boy? Do they need names? I view these walk-on characters as color noise. These characters are not white noise, rather, they help set the scene, add realism, depth and dimension. These unnamed and unsung tertiary characters help to place the protagonists in time and space, like a compass or a GPS or a map.
I don’t think they need names. What do you think?
Contest Winners - and dear ladies - I am so thrilled with your responses that I have two, count ‘em, two Honey Dust winners! Yay! And I have a new list of Steampunk to read.
Before I name the lucky winners, I have to add that I am leaving on vacation for 2-3 weeks. I will mail your prizes as soon as possible. If I have time, it will be Saturday. Otherwise, it’ll be when I return. Thank you all so much for entering and for your wonderful Steampunk recs. And yeah, Leroy Jethro Gibbs said it! Can you believe it?
Winners! Oh gosh, I wish you could all be winners but these are the names drawn at random from the virtual hat -
Two winners of the Honey Dust:
Cynthia Garcia
Beckey White
The winner of the Steampunk watch:
Mary Preston
Congratulations! Watch for an email from me.
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THANK YOU SO MUCH.!!!
Thank you so much..
I agree about the gentleman pushing the broom. If you get too many characters in a book it can confuse some readers.
As my father always tells me K.I.S.S. it (keep it simple…) !!
Some characters need just what they are doing unless you are trying to engage that character in a conversation or that person is part of the story as a whole
Example;
Leland walk in the bar, impatiently waiting for this mystery lady that emailed him…
Lets just say that this mystery lady is the bartender, you are going to want that persons name… Otherwise if bartender isn’t the mystery lady then she is just the bartender..
I hope that explains what I am trying to say.
You’re welcome Beckey and Mary. Yeah, I get it, Becky.
Here’s my opinion - when reading a story if you give a character a name, they’d better have a significant role in the story. If they’re not important to the plot I don’t care about their name. If I have to continuously flip pages to figure out characters I’ll toss the book and I won’t read the author again. I only want names to those I’m investing in.
Hee heee heee…..people sometimes get a little bit crazy about the “rules and regulations” from the Official Author Handbook. Oh wait. There isn’t an Official Author Handbook. And I’m not sure who is actually making up the asinine rules and regulations. Every character needs a name? Bull puckey. Characters can be part of the flavor of a setting, just like you said.
Susan and Bill sat in the booth, there was a crackling tension in the air between them, it was interrupted when the busboy slammed through the door to the kitchen with his load of dirty plates. The waitress, her tag said Adele stepped up to the booth.
“Can I get you anything else,” she asked?
I think the difference is whether there is a significant interaction of one of the characters is the type of person who would note the name of each person s/he interacted with. You don’t ever need to hear the waitresses name, but if there is an interaction it personalizes it. Sadly, names convey stereotyped information about people’s status and personalities. Agnes and Gladys are often seen as unattractive. Trixie is a gum-snapping big haired blonde like Flo in Alice.
Hey, awesome contest and hop (The Hop For Red October) at my blog. Hope you will come by to enter.
Fangs, Wands and Fairy Dust
@fangswandsfairy
steph@fangswandsandfairydust.com
LoL. I’d actually be annoyed if they gave the guy pushing the broom a name if he doesn’t play a significant part in the story. There’s a difference if the name is mentioned to show that the lead character is familiar with him, but if it’s just a random person, then no. I consider it a part of the setting. I mean if the person sees a stray cat on the sidewalk, will that cat also have a name? How can he even know the name of the cat? Ridiculous. Some writers take characterization overboard I guess.
The only reason to name a character is to push the plot forward. Does the reader need to know that name? Is it a hint/clue to something important?
If the character isn’t going to do more than push a broom in the story and appears briefly, why burden the reader with a name?
XXOO Kat
Holly Lisle claims that you should name your characters in order of importance. 1st Name -significant character. Surname added- better be damn important. So, I don’t want to know every TD&H in the story, just the ones that matter. If you name them, they better matter. JMO. Great topic!
Hi Rachel. I love Holly Lisle. Her newsletter today was fabulous - about reading nonfiction - which is my reading genre of choice. I agree, if you name a character, it should be because he or she matters.
Yes, Delilah - a stray cat is a scene-setting cat. He doesn’t need a name. Just passing through.
Hi Steph. I think Adele is important if her name contributes something. You’re right, we associate certain things, feelings with certain names and if that’s important to the story, then yes, by all means, name that character!
I like that, Penelope, characters as flavor. Excellent analogy.
I’m the same way, Amber. If an author makes me work that hard, the book is DNF and I won’t buy another from the same author; Leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I agree, if a character isn’t relevant to the plot, they don’t need a name.
I’ve always wondered this…Like you, I’ve read books where the author names everyone. But to me, no. It’s only important if the main character needs to mention them again. IE. the lawyer’s secretary (or the police flunkie or whomever) wouldn’t realistically say, “Oh, hey. Mike. Miss Smith called you again.” Because obviously the secretary isn’t going to say “That waitress called.” IRL they’d be referred to by a name, if indeed it is a known name. You know? Unless it is just a passing waitress they probably never see more than once in their whole little lifetime. You know what I mean? Regular customers are sometimes that friendly with their waitresses.
I mean a lawyer’s secretary *would* give a name to the person on the phone. Sorry about that. (gotta proofread better)
Julianne, you could say something like…”Hey Mike, the manager down at the corner bakery called. He says you left your wallet on the counter.” But I agree, naming a tertiary character is only important if they are going to contribute something to the story.
Characters like that don’t need names! The reader doesn’t need to know and doesn’t care, and why should the writer go to the effort of thinking one up? this last one is particularly important for me. I write high fantasy, so I can’t just call the innkeeper Bob or Sam, I have to make up a name. Far too much effort if his name doesn’t matter.
I’m not so fussed with how many characters there are in the books I read. High fantasy frequently has a cast of thousands (e.g. The Wheel of Time, which is just about THE most epic fantasy around and has easily 100+ characters with names). But I also know writing something on such a grand scale is not a smart move for a debut author. I have 4 primary characters and a handful of secondary characters with names. Everyone else is just a label. The coachman, the groom. Here’s a thought. My character interacts with a groom in the middle of a thunderstorm. She doesn’t know him, and since she’s an escaping fugitive, she doesn’t want to talk to him. I could give him a name, but there’s no feasible way for me to communicate that name to the reader.
Ciara - perfect comment. Sometimes a groom just needs to be a ‘groom’ with all that implies. That is his name. He’s the groom. He plays a roll that readers can easily grasp. He does not need a name.
I agree. Too many names, too confusing.
This was a hard lesson for me to learn. I had large casts when I first started writing. It took me awhle to realize “broom pusher” works just fine even though I knew the guy had just managed to get his wife and four children over the border and his mother-in-law was dying of cancer. *g* Since it didn’t matter to the story and he wasn’t going to show up again, I didn’t need to share his name with readers. I totally agree with you. Tertiary characters are setting.
Hope you have a wonderful vacation!