Question: What would you do?

[PapaRomantic]

I'm looking for your opinions on how you would handle a particular situation. My current WIP is my take on the "I won a date with a porn star" trope. The story starts out with her being known as her porn star name. But as their relationship develops, she lets him know what her real name is. There are situations where he has sex with her as her porn star character, though they are not as numerous as when she's her real life self. Generally, sex with her regular self is much more romantic than when she's a porn star.

My question is this - would you keep her porn star name through the entire story, or would you alternate her names depending on which persona she is playing in particular scenes? I'm trying to name her porn star name in that persona, then switching to her real name in her regular person persona. My worry is that I'll confuse the readers. I have thought about writing a note to readers before the story begins explaining that sometimes the FMC will use different names in different situations. Generally I only switch names after a scene change - it's not like I'm jumping from paragraph to paragraph rapidly changing her name for no reason, though there is one scene when she comes home from the studio still in her porn star makeup and then goes to the bathroom to take her makeup off and comes out in her real life persona.

Thanks in advance!

 

[TheRedChamber]

Assuming that you are writing in either first person (from the male contest winner's PoV) or in close third, then it probably hinges on how the main character sees her. After she reveals her true name there's probably a period of some confusion from him - does he still see her as the big, vivacious sex symbol or has he seen the real person behind that persona. Presumably, if it's ultimately a sweet story, it's going to be the latter and soonish (but not immediately) after the name-reveal you're going to switch and not go back.

For 'the seeing her at home in her porn-star make-up' bit, you can potentially play with the names. "He came in to the kitchen and saw Candy. Not Susan, but Candy, complete with her six inch stillettos, belt-skirt and low-cut top that showed everything she had..." etc. You can also mess with the persona - she's on set as Candy, but is behaving like Susan in a break in the filming and it's messing with the MC's head.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I'm looking for your opinions on how you would handle a particular situation. My current WIP is my take on the "I won a date with a porn star" trope. The story starts out with her being known as her porn star name. But as their relationship develops, she lets him know what her real name is. There are situations where he has sex with her as her porn star character, though they are not as numerous as when she's her real life self. Generally, sex with her regular self is much more romantic than when she's a porn star.

My question is this - would you keep her porn star name through the entire story, or would you alternate her names depending on which persona she is playing in particular scenes? I'm trying to name her porn star name in that persona, then switching to her real name in her regular person persona. My worry is that I'll confuse the readers. I have thought about writing a note to readers before the story begins explaining that sometimes the FMC will use different names in different situations. Generally I only switch names after a scene change - it's not like I'm jumping from paragraph to paragraph rapidly changing her name for no reason, though there is one scene when she comes home from the studio still in her porn star makeup and then goes to the bathroom to take her makeup off and comes out in her real life persona.

Thanks in advance!

In WhoreBNB an older married couple hire two escorts and a vacation property combined from a website (hence the name of the story). I have the two escorts introduced as Candy and Charity - they adopt their own names (Sarah and Jess) only when they are alone and away from their clients, until… well spoilers.

No one complained it was too confusing. And I kept up the duality for most of its 30k words.

 

[dirk2024]

I suppose it depends on how frequently you make the change. It sounds like what you're doing here will work. I would not have a note at the beginning of the story explaining what you're going to do. It should be obvious.

Generally I only switch names after a scene change - it's not like I'm jumping from paragraph to paragraph rapidly changing her name for no reason,

 

[PapaRomantic]

In WhoreBNB an older married couple hire two escorts and a vacation property combined from a website (hence the name of the story). I have the two escorts introduced as Candy and Chastity - they adopt their own names (Sarah and Jess) only when they are alone and away from their clients, until… well spoilers.

No one complained it was too confusing. And I kept up the duality for most of its 30k words.

I appreciate this. It helps that the first time she tells him her real name doesn't happen until 14k words in. I think that might help the situation. Thanks!

 

[PapaRomantic]

Assuming that you are writing in either first person (from the male contest winner's PoV) or in close third, then it probably hinges on how the main character sees her. After she reveals her true name there's probably a period of some confusion from him - does he still see her as the big, vivacious sex symbol or has he seen the real person behind that persona. Presumably, if it's ultimately a sweet story, it's going to be the latter and soonish (but not immediately) after the name-reveal you're going to switch and not go back.

For 'the seeing her at home in her porn-star make-up' bit, you can potentially play with the names. "He came in to the kitchen and saw Candy. Not Susan, but Candy, complete with her six inch stillettos, belt-skirt and low-cut top that showed everything she had..." etc. You can also mess with the persona - she's on set as Candy, but is behaving like Susan in a break in the filming and it's messing with the MC's head.

It is MMC in first person, so it's his perspective. It will be a (hopefully) sweet story submitted in the Romance category. I think the reader's ability to get through without much confusion is dependent upon the setting - for instance, she asks him to come to watch a shoot at the studio so he can see that sex for porn stars is mechanical and not romantic in the least, so she'd definitely the porn star name for that setting. It's designed for him to be more comfortable with what she does for a living. But I can also see him having fun when they are playing with each other at home and he could easily drop on her porn star name from time to time if a scene calls for it.

Thank you for your input!

 

[PapaRomantic]

I suppose it depends on how frequently you make the change. It sounds like what you're doing here will work. I would not have a note at the beginning of the story explaining what you're going to do. It should be obvious.

I agree with you that it should be obvious. But I also know I will get someone that will mention they couldn't keep up with the two names. I think you are correct in saying that a pre-comment night not be the best way to go.

Thanks for your input!

 

[SimonDoom]

I would use the porn star name until the real name is revealed, and from then on stick to the real name. This avoids confusion, and it also tracks the arc of the story as she becomes more of a real person to him.

Precedent for this: In The Fellowship of the Rings, Aragorn is called, and referred to, as Strider, until the Council of Elrond, where his identity is fully revealed, and from then on he is referred to as Aragorn.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I agree with you that it should be obvious. But I also know I will get someone that will mention they couldn't keep up with the two names. I think you are correct in saying that a pre-comment night not be the best way to go.

Thanks for your input!

Does this help? From A Hard Day’s Night…

—

Mimi got out of bed. Well she didn't really, Mimi didn't actually exist. Her name was Lauren. It's just the customers expected a certain type of name if you were an Asian girl. Even if you were from Trenton, not Bangkok. Even if you had majored in English at Rutgers. She even mimicked how her yaai spoke most of the time she was working. Apparently Jersey accents weren't that sexy.

 

[AStrangeDesire]

I would use the porn star name until the real name is revealed, and from then on stick to the real name. This avoids confusion, and it also tracks the arc of the story as she becomes more of a real person to him.

Precedent for this: In The Fellowship of the Rings, Aragorn is called, and referred to, as Strider, until the Council of Elrond, where his identity is fully revealed, and from then on he is referred to as Aragorn.

^ I agree with this. It makes sense, especially if the 'name reveal' is meaningful and memorable. Which I suspect it would be

 

[EmilyMiller]

I agree with you that it should be obvious. But I also know I will get someone that will mention they couldn't keep up with the two names. I think you are correct in saying that a pre-comment night not be the best way to go.

Thanks for your input!

And this from the aforementioned WhoreBNB…

—

— Chapter Three : Sunday —​

Sarah woke, the Summer sun streaming through the blinds. 'Fuck! What time was it?' she thought, rather panicked.

She shook Jess's arm. "Didn't you set an alarm? You normally set an alarm."

Jessica looked at her blearily. "Yeah, I did, go back to sleep."

"No you didn't." Sarah almost fell out of bed, reaching for her phone. "Look, it's nearly 10:30am," she said, holding the screen up.

"Fuck!" said Jess.

"Yeah," replied Sarah.

At least there were no messages, she consoled herself. Maybe Scott and Jackie had slept in too.

Getting dressed quickly, and feeling both kinda disheveled and a little gross, the two women left their room. Sarah and Jess were no more; Candy and Charity were now on duty.

 

[anthrodisiac]

If it's MMC first person, always his POV, then it should start out with her porn name, and once she tells him her real name, stick with that.

Except for the following:

• The first couple times he mistakenly calls her by the name he's used to, showing he's still adjusting to the period of change.
• In dialogue, if he's around people where she doesn't want them to know her real name and he's referring to her.
• If he wants to dissociate Susan from her porn life, he could refer to her as Candy when she's doing sex scenes and he's trying not to think about Susan doing those things.
• If you want, you can have it that when she's in "porn star mode" he refers to her "Candy persona."

Something like:

I watched Susan's face shift, and Candy bubbled to the surface.

I wouldn't worry about it being confusing. Readers are generally a smart bunch, so as long as you handle it well enough, you should be fine.

 

[AStrangeDesire]

If it's MMC first person, always his POV, then it should start out with her porn name, and once she tells him her real name, stick with that.

Except for the following:

• The first couple times he mistakenly calls her by the name he's used to, showing he's still adjusting to the period of change.
• In dialogue, if he's around people where she doesn't want them to know her real name and he's referring to her.
• If he wants to dissociate Susan from her porn life, he could refer to her as Candy when she's doing sex scenes and he's trying not to think about Susan doing those things.
• If you want, you can have it that when she's in "porn star mode" he refers to her "Candy persona."

Something like:


I wouldn't worry about it being confusing. Readers are generally a smart bunch, so as long as you handle it well enough, you should be fine.

Like dating two for the price of one?

I kid

Seriously, the idea of getting it wrong a few times after he finds out, adds a nice touch.

 

[SmilingLez]

I would use each name when applicable, it keeps your story cohesive and consistent. If you want, you can always add a paragraph where the MC discloses how she chose her porn name.

 

[PapaRomantic]

I would use the porn star name until the real name is revealed, and from then on stick to the real name. This avoids confusion, and it also tracks the arc of the story as she becomes more of a real person to him.

Precedent for this: In The Fellowship of the Rings, Aragorn is called, and referred to, as Strider, until the Council of Elrond, where his identity is fully revealed, and from then on he is referred to as Aragorn.

I see the reason why you would say that, and it's very logical. The only issue I have with that is that she's never going to completely give up her porn star image and the work she does as an adult actress. I will certainly take this advice under advisement as I finish the story. Thanks for your input!

 

[PapaRomantic]

^ I agree with this. It makes sense, especially if the 'name reveal' is meaningful and memorable. Which I suspect it would be

I think it's fairly significant, because it reveals her increasing trust in this person from outside the industry getting information nobody else knows.

 

[PapaRomantic]

And this from the aforementioned WhoreBNB…

—

— Chapter Three : Sunday —​

Sarah woke, the Summer sun streaming through the blinds. 'Fuck! What time was it?' she thought, rather panicked.

She shook Jess's arm. "Didn't you set an alarm? You normally set an alarm."

Jessica looked at her blearily. "Yeah, I did, go back to sleep."

"No you didn't." Sarah almost fell out of bed, reaching for her phone. "Look, it's nearly 10:30am," she said, holding the screen up.

"Fuck!" said Jess.

"Yeah," replied Sarah.

At least there were no messages, she consoled herself. Maybe Scott and Jackie had slept in too.

Getting dressed quickly, and feeling both kinda disheveled and a little gross, the two women left their room. Sarah and Jess were no more; Candy and Charity were now on duty.

I don't think I'll have too many opportunities to be as cut and dried as this, other than the aforementioned moment when she goes into her bathroom as the porn star and emerges as the regular girl. But the story is not finished yet, so who knows - maybe something like this will pop up.

 

[EmilyMiller]

I don't think I'll have too many opportunities to be as cut and dried as this, other than the aforementioned moment when she goes into her bathroom as the porn star and emerges as the regular girl. But the story is not finished yet, so who knows - maybe something like this will pop up.

This isn’t the point at which their names are revealed that’s earlier and pertinent to the plot.

 

[BeechLeaf]

But I also know I will get someone that will mention they couldn't keep up with the two names.

Yes, definitely. There are dumb bunnies among the readership, and they will complain of confusion. But do not write for such dull elves: write what works for you, and keeping both names in play should work.

 

[PapaRomantic]

If it's MMC first person, always his POV, then it should start out with her porn name, and once she tells him her real name, stick with that.

Except for the following:

• The first couple times he mistakenly calls her by the name he's used to, showing he's still adjusting to the period of change.
• In dialogue, if he's around people where she doesn't want them to know her real name and he's referring to her.
• If he wants to dissociate Susan from her porn life, he could refer to her as Candy when she's doing sex scenes and he's trying not to think about Susan doing those things.
• If you want, you can have it that when she's in "porn star mode" he refers to her "Candy persona."

Something like:


I wouldn't worry about it being confusing. Readers are generally a smart bunch, so as long as you handle it well enough, you should be fine.

These are all good points. He doesn't want to dissociate her form her porn life - it's actually more of her wanting to disassociate from her porn life whenever she's with him because she finds sex when you're in love to be better than sex when it's your job. It's something they've discussed - she's naturally worried that a lot of men outside the industry would not be okay with their girlfriends still performing. They do set one boundary in which they both readily agree.

The way I have the story planned for now is that the porn character will never completely disappear, though it will be changed in structure and will become something in which they both can participate.

Thanks for your comments!

 

[PapaRomantic]

I would use each name when applicable, it keeps your story cohesive and consistent. If you want, you can always add a paragraph where the MC discloses how she chose her porn name.

Oooo, I kind of like that potential discussion! Her porn name is Bianca Bellissima. Her real life name is Hannah Janssen. I wanted them to be very different to help with the confusion issue.

Thanks for the comment!

 

[SmilingLez]

Oooo, I kind of like that potential discussion! Her porn name is Bianca Bellissima. Her real life name is Hannah Janssen. I wanted them to be very different to help with the confusion issue.

Thanks for the comment!

You are most welcome

 

[PapaRomantic]

Yes, definitely. There are dumb bunnies among the readership, and they will complain of confusion. But do not write for such dull elves: write what works for you, and keeping both names in play should work.

We'd hate for any part of writing to be dull and boring, wouldn't we?

 

[ShelbyDawn57]

I'm looking for your opinions on how you would handle a particular situation. My current WIP is my take on the "I won a date with a porn star" trope. The story starts out with her being known as her porn star name. But as their relationship develops, she lets him know what her real name is. There are situations where he has sex with her as her porn star character, though they are not as numerous as when she's her real life self. Generally, sex with her regular self is much more romantic than when she's a porn star.

My question is this - would you keep her porn star name through the entire story, or would you alternate her names depending on which persona she is playing in particular scenes? I'm trying to name her porn star name in that persona, then switching to her real name in her regular person persona. My worry is that I'll confuse the readers. I have thought about writing a note to readers before the story begins explaining that sometimes the FMC will use different names in different situations. Generally I only switch names after a scene change - it's not like I'm jumping from paragraph to paragraph rapidly changing her name for no reason, though there is one scene when she comes home from the studio still in her porn star makeup and then goes to the bathroom to take her makeup off and comes out in her real life persona.

Thanks in advance!

In the story I’m working on, Steve transitions into Sabrina. The story is told in first person, and depending on how Steve/Sabrina is presenting, they will refer to the other persona in the third person.
Sabrina says, “Steve doesn’t get back until Sunday.”
Steve says, “I’ll tell Sabrina you said hi.”

It works as ling as you keep it straight and make it clear who’s talking.

 

[anthrodisiac]

Honestly, the biggest thing is how does the MC think of her? It's first person, so you treat narrative voice very similar to dialogue. You want to hew to what he is mentally referring to her as. That's the main consideration for each reference to her. In that moment, is he thinking of her as Bianca or Hannah?