Referring to my character as 'the man' and 'he'?

Question: Referring to my character as 'the man' and 'he'!?

I normally introduce my characters' names in dialogue, when another character says it!. However, for the first chapter in my book, there is no dialogue so i'm left calling him 'the man'!. Should i continue to do this!? What do you think!?Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

It is generally considered (today) to be amateurish to refer to the character as "he" or "the man!." This was in fashion years ago; it's not today!.

Unless there is a strong justification for why the character should not have a name, go ahead and give him one!.

When you start the story, refer to him by name (Rick, Fernando, Dan, Ahmed, etc!.) Just name him as part of the exposition!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Use more descriptive words when referring to him!. If he wears red, he may be called, "Our crimson clad hero!.!.!." or!.!.!. if he's muscular, "the hulking behemoth!.!.!."

Calling him, "the man" (snore) is very uninteresting!. Use more descriptive words!. Go wild with what you call him!. Make him more interesting!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

If you have to keep it ambiguous early, perhaps use physical descriptors for your 'man'!. Yeah, any writing group or 'critter' will cut you down for repeating these things too much so I'd shake it up and get to his name soon as possible!.

IF it's in 3rd person subjective then you can keep it close in his brain and reduce the number of times others refer to him!.

It'll be a combo of POV and descriptors as others would see 'him'!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

do you want the man to seem mysterious!? if not then just introduce his name in an overview (like how shakespeare would do, for example)
but if i was you then i would leave it as 'the man'/'he' because it does create questions for the reader =D good luckWww@QuestionHome@Com

I find unnamed characters interesting, like in Invisible Man!. Www@QuestionHome@Com