How to write a missed introduction?

[stickygirl]

It happens to me often enough that I don't think it's unusual nor odd - but then I remember Oliver Sachs with his face blindness, and comments made by folk like yourself, and that's when I think, oh wait, it really can be more difficult than noise in a room or too many introductions all at once (which is why at conferences everyone has a name badge).

You certainly don't need a badge to experience face/name blindness or any other number of quirks, but it is a question of degree, how you deal with the problem emotionally and how that problem sits amongst all the other ones. I guess what I'm saying is it depends and it's a spectrum with all the perdy colours.

These days in social settings I am completely 'out' about my name deafness and will just say it like it is "You must forgive me - I am one of people who is crap with names" to which someone at hand will almost certainly chip in with "Yea, I'm like that too." If people are honest and up front, which is a better strategy than bluffing, then it can be used as an ice-breaker in conversation. The other person might think you're odd but that's better than rude.

That would be my advice to the OP - don't make a big deal, say it and move on. Readers can form their own opinions.

 

[Britva415]

"Hi, I'm Adam."
"Hi, I'm Lisa."
Except Lisa was distracted and didn't catch Adam's name. How would I write that?

This. Happens to me all the time! The issue is Lisa is distracted and replies instinctively, only to realized that she is now in a conversation with him and too embarassed to ask for clarification. Sort of a tip of the tongue 'he just said his name, what was it?' type of scene. However, when I wrote it, actually writing his name there makes it obvious to the reader that his name is Adam and it just didn't seem to work. Overthinking?

Edit: The not knowing his name becomes relevant later in the story.

To be clear:

You haven’t said what person-voice you’ll be writing in.

If first person, then this question makes sense. Are you writing this in first person rather than third person?

And with Lisa as the first-person narrator?

You never came out and said these things clearly, so, just checking.