![Smith147](https://selfpublishingguru.com/images/player/000default.jpg)
: Re: Referring to a character in 3rd person when they have amnesia A section of a story I am writing is being told in third person from the perspective of a character who does not know anything
Use the name others use for her.
It's pretty standard that, if a patient can't be identified, a placeholder name gets assigned. Jane Doe (in the US anyway) is a very common one (John Doe for males).
If this continues longer than a few days, the hospital staff (or the people wherever she finds herself) will come up with a nickname for her. Or your main character may make up a name for herself. Sometimes this is just a first name. Other times it may be a first and last name, for legal purposes.
If you don't want to show the reader any name, you can refer to her as "the woman" or something similar. Some stories do that. It's not my style, but it works.
Or you might use a nickname that isn't a real name. For example: "5B" (the room she's in) or "Yosemite" (where she was found) or "Redshoe" (what she was wearing when found).
Humans always assign names to people, even if they're not accurate, complementary, or real names. Give her something that has little to nothing to do with her real identity and go with it.
More posts by @Smith147
![Smith147](https://selfpublishingguru.com/images/player/000default.jpg)
: Can someone publish a story that happened to you? Can someone take a story that happened to you, without your knowledge, and publish it? Using your name and specifics, and take the copyright
![Smith147](https://selfpublishingguru.com/images/player/000default.jpg)
: How can I make an eldritch abomination out of humanity? The fanfic I'm writing is so that I may get into the swing of literature. A test story if you might like in the Mass Effect Universe.
Terms of Use Privacy policy Contact About Cancellation policy © selfpublishingguru.com2024 All Rights reserved.