: Re: Names and aliases This is related to my previous question. So, let's say I want the readers to not be sure of who my character really is. They'd know her as Olivia, but think she might be

The principle I use is: Reveal every significant thing that a viewpoint character knows.

If a viewpoint character knows her real identity, and would think of her using her real name, it would be misleading to withhold that from readers.

If a viewpoint character knows Olivia that is hiding her real identity, it would be misleading to withhold that from readers.

If you want to withhold important information from readers, keep us out of the viewpoint of anyone who would know the important information.

Or (and this can be trickier): Make sure the knowledgeable characters never have a reason to think about the information while we're in their viewpoint.

A final possibility: A first person narrator can withhold information for the purpose of surprising the audience. A first person narrator can be "unreliable" in that way. The author cannot.

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: If your series is designed so that a new reader could pick up any book, introduce each character as if you were writing the first book in the series. This does not mean using the same

: Re: Names and aliases This is related to my previous question. So, let's say I want the readers to not be sure of who my character really is. They'd know her as Olivia, but think she might be

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: I wrote a book, but changed my mind on the ending Does anyone with experience have suggestions on how best to go back, edit, and rearrange scenes and details? You know, without me dying in

: This tag should be used for questions about writing a play that is intended to be performed as a theatrical performance. You could use this tag when asking questions about transforming one

: There will be vs There is : When writing proposals for IT projects Please read following two sentence. There will be around 20 reports. There is around 20 reports. What is the correct / most

: If your series is designed so that a new reader could pick up any book, introduce each character as if you were writing the first book in the series. This does not mean using the same

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