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Q&A Is it OK to rename characters?

In my current story, a kind of spy girl has name A, but at various times goes by B, C, D, and E. I always refer to her as A in prose, and other characters call her by whatever alias she is using at...

posted 7y ago by Amadeus‭  ·  last activity 5y ago by System‭

Answer
#4: Attribution notice removed by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-19T22:13:11Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/30940
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T07:11:26Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/30940
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by (deleted user) · 2019-12-08T07:11:26Z (almost 5 years ago)
In my current story, a kind of spy girl has name A, but at various times goes by B, C, D, and E. I always refer to her as A in prose, and other characters call her by whatever alias she is using at the time.

> "Nice to meet you, Betty," Joe said, extending a hand.
> 
> Alice took his hand and gave it firm single shake. "Likewise, Joe. Shall we get to work?"

I prefer this to reinforce for the reader that A is constantly aware she is playing a role and always deceiving everyone around her, even if she winds up in some intimate situation with one of them.

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2017-10-20T15:16:08Z (about 7 years ago)
Original score: 3