I am writing a story and was wondering if last names were really necessary in story telling!. I included the main characters first and last name but i don't know if its necessary for other characters!. Thanks for the help!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
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Position:Home>Books & Authors> Are last names important in story telling?Question: Are last names important in story telling!? I am writing a story and was wondering if last names were really necessary in story telling!. I included the main characters first and last name but i don't know if its necessary for other characters!. Thanks for the help!.Www@QuestionHome@Com
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: To the author yes!. You always want to know your characters inside and out!. This means their first, middle, last name, likes and dislikes etc!. Having that detail behind the character you write will help bring them to life!. Now as for your story!. It depends on what depth your story is going into!. If it is a short story that doesn't get deep into the character's life then I would say it's not too important!. If you are going to be writing a novel, then yes it is important!. A lot of things about your character will come up in the novel; why not have a last name handy!? It helps the reader feel like they know the character if the last name is at least mentioned a few times!. That is for the main character at least!. As for secondary characters it depends on their significance!. Say you have a novel you are writing and your main character's name is Sandra Bertinsen!. She has a sister named Amanda Lovington who married Ted Lovington and took on his name!. This last name is important showing that her sister is married!. Sandra's love interest is Arnold Quincy!. Arnold's last name is important because he is the interest of our main character!. She has a maid/servant named Mattie!. Mattie doesn't need a last name because of her position in the story!. Her past is not important because she is barely a secondary character!. (That is unless you want to make her a confidante to Sandra!. Her best friend maybe!. Then you might mention her last name in passing but it is still not of much importance!.) So on and so forth!. I'd write a last name for even the secondary characters but that is me!. I'd probably never stick the last name in the actual story though unless it was crucial!.Www@QuestionHome@Com No, names usually signify the importance of a character!. If the character is really important, they can usually have a first and a last name, or multiple names!. If you are writing the story, than you can do whatever you want that you think sounds the best and conveys the meaning that you want!. Think of the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus, the Rich Man, even though he would be expected to be more important, does not have a name besides the Rich Man!. Lazarus, on the other hand, is poor and homeless, so you would think that he is less important, but in Jesus's parable, he is more important because he is the one that goes to heaven and is loved by Abraham!.Www@QuestionHome@Com well some people are details freaks and want to know little things like that!. i am personally not one of them!. but i dont think it would hurt to make up a name and add it in there!. but its not necessary Www@QuestionHome@Com No, not unless the character will play an important role!. Www@QuestionHome@Com No!. Main characters are the ones who usually have their last names spoken about!. Www@QuestionHome@Com I don't think so, unless family history plays an important role in your story!. Www@QuestionHome@Com |