Making a big deal out of revealing a character's name
Does there always have to be a big, showy production about the revelation of a character's name?
I was thinking that I'd just slide the name in quietly, in an off-hand manner. Probably the reader might not even realise that they're even reading the protagonist's name there. Is that a good idea? Or is too extreme?
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It depends on context. Why has the character's name never been mentioned? Why does no one know it? What label, nickname, or epithet are you using to describe the character instead?
I would mention that as a reader, I'd be surprised and maybe do a double-take or two to wonder why more of a big deal wasn't being made at the reveal. If the other characters have been desperately trying to establish the person's name and it shows up and there's no fuss, that won't work. But if you can make it work, go for it.
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