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Greetings.
Is there some advice on the above subject with regards to identifying a lone person in a story?
My initial character is alone for several hundred words. For the reader to connect with the character, they'll need a name. The story is a fantasy novel, so name tags, credit cards, etc can't be used to help reveal a name.
Question - Is this one of the times that "telling" is preferred over "showing"?
Thanks in advance. Carl
Comments
If it's 1st person and you want to avoid 'My name is x,' you could introduce the name through a memory or through the character talking to his/herself.
Obviously, I do not know what type of fantasy world he inhabits but:
A "wanted" notification? Perhaps, a tombstone - could be intriguing as to how/why his name is on it? A note or letter left to him? A saddle bearing his name branded into it? Maybe he is tattooed and his name - or a symbol depicting his name - is in a visible part of his body (face, forearm etc)?
I agree, Lou - several hundred words could be just three or four paragraphs, after all. The anonymous person has a major part to play in setting up tension in a story.
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