Wry Ramblings From A Hot Wing

[Jason Rimbaud]

16 minutes ago, Jeff Burton said:

Me and @Jason Rimbaud have started a book club, no need to worry about the name or the details but here is the first pick

A oldie by our own dear @Krista  now I don’t have all the details yet but if you haven’t read this you should.

Totally ignore all the recent comments on chapter 11.

And yes @Jason Rimbaud I totally threw you under the bus by posting it in your thread.  I can’t take all the sniper shots. 😉

I've already started Chapter One and invited a few friends to join in. 

PS: The book club is called The Sacred Knights Of Trolling Krista, to become a member is easy, just read with us, comment at overkill, and show love for the Fabulous One. 

[Jeff Burton]

2 minutes ago, Jason Rimbaud said:

I've already started Chapter One and invited a few friends to join in. 

PS: The book club is called The Sacred Knights Of Trolling Krista, to become a member is easy, just read with us, comment at overkill, and show love for the Fabulous One. 

We are so getting hurt 😂

[Jason Rimbaud]

I have a question for all writers and readers. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Because I was thinking of this last night, and I need to know just how messed up my brain is.

And before we begin, this is not a dig against authors who do this. This is just my cringe moment every time I see this in the text. 

An Example of my pet peeve...

"Alexander (Alex) Scott and Matthew (Matty) Douglas, fell in love under an olive tree in the middle of an Alaskan winter in the summer of 1876." 

Why name him Alexander if you are going to refer to him as Alex the entire time? I desperately do not like shortening names in real life. If you are going to refer to him as Alex, all the other characters are going to refer to him as Alex, then name him Alex. Stop giving me another name to remember. 

I also do not enjoy when they name him Alex, and then people call him "A".  If you feel like you must give him a nickname, make it memorable, or be creative. In my fictional story, Alex's nickname is GutterPants. You hear that name and you automatically want to hear the reason Alex is called GutterPants by Matty. Right? 

In my current story, one of my characters goes by Five. His name is Nelson Miles Moore the Fifth. And because there are so many Nelson's in his family, everyone calls him Five. That's how he is introduced to other characters, and refers to himself as Five. 

And if I use a nickname in my story, for example, Jason is refered by his friends as Jaye. I'll write it thusly.

"Come on, Jaye. Just give me the money," Five declared as he held out his hand. 

Jason shook his head. "Not even if your toes were on fire." 

I never refer to Jason as Jaye in the narrative. I only include it in the dialogue. Some of you go back and forth between Jason and Jaye willy nilly and it's rather jarring for my tiny brain. 

Does this bother anyone else or am I just completely crazy? 

By the way, I know I'm crazy but I'm wondering if I'm completely crazy. Or does anyone have other things that irritate them in narrative vs dialogue? 

 

 

[CassieQ]

There's nothing wrong with giving a character an interesting nickname.  However,  I would think it pretty normal for someone to call Alex "A" as well.  It's a lot less of a mouthful than "Gutter pants".  But I do agree that nicknames should be dialogue only.

[CassieQ]

Also think it works for Matty to call Alex "Gutter Pants" and maybe more casual acquaintances to use "A".  I'm a sucker for close friends or partners having affectionate names just for that person.  

[Jason Rimbaud]

2 hours ago, CassieQ said:

There's nothing wrong with giving a character an interesting nickname.  However,  I would think it pretty normal for someone to call Alex "A" as well.  It's a lot less of a mouthful than "Gutter pants".  But I do agree that nicknames should be dialogue only.

How can you not like the name GutterPants? . And it's supposed to be a mouthful, all the best names are. 

1 hour ago, CassieQ said:

Also think it works for Matty to call Alex "Gutter Pants" and maybe more casual acquaintances to use "A".  I'm a sucker for close friends or partners having affectionate names just for that person.  

I don't mind "pet names", my husband calls me the really bad word that starts with "C", every morning. It makes me blush almost every time. I call him f face. Cute pet names are fun, aren't they? 

[BendtedWreath]

8 hours ago, Jason Rimbaud said:

Why name him Alexander if you are going to refer to him as Alex the entire time? 

For the same reason I go by Bennie or Ben rather than the full Benedict. Benedict is my birth name, I introduce myself as Benedict and go by such at work, but everywhere else, it's Ben. 

[CassieQ]

8 hours ago, Jason Rimbaud said:

How can you not like the name GutterPants? . And it's supposed to be a mouthful, all the best names are. 

I do like the name GutterPants.  It implies a funny story and a shared history.   But most nicknames are a shorter version of a full name.  Alex for Alexander,  Sam for Samantha,  Rob/Bob for Robert, Cassie for Cassiopeia, etc.  I think A for Alexander would make more sense than for Alex, but whatever works.  I would stick with GutterPants myself. 

[Jason Rimbaud]

14 hours ago, BendtedWreath said:

For the same reason I go by Bennie or Ben rather than the full Benedict. Benedict is my birth name, I introduce myself as Benedict and go by such at work, but everywhere else, it's Ben. 

First off, I don't need you coming into my area bringing reason and logic into my silliness.  

Secondly, if we were friends in the fake world of real life, I would call you Benedict, because I think that name is hot. Ben makes me think of a grizzly bear, and Bennie, makes me think of the faith healer on TV. Neither of whom I'd want to become friendly with. But Benedict sounds sophisticated, like a warm blanket on a hot summers night. . 

[Jason Rimbaud]

6 hours ago, CassieQ said:

I do like the name GutterPants.  It implies a funny story and a shared history.   But most nicknames are a shorter version of a full name.  Alex for Alexander,  Sam for Samantha,  Rob/Bob for Robert, Cassie for Cassiopeia, etc.  I think A for Alexander would make more sense than for Alex, but whatever works.  I would stick with GutterPants myself. 

True story, my nickname is GutterPants. And while you might believe it is for unsavory reasons, the truth is even crazier.

And would you full name be Cassiopeia? I've always thought of you fondly, I have a picture of you in my mind that I don't need to be altered. But if Cassiopeia is your birth name, in that picture you will now have a crown and a scepter.  

[CassieQ]

46 minutes ago, Jason Rimbaud said:

And would you full name be Cassiopeia? I've always thought of you fondly, I have a picture of you in my mind that I don't need to be altered. But if Cassiopeia is your birth name, in that picture you will now have a crown and a scepter.  

Cassiopeia is my full name.  And I have been called Cassie Queen by other members, so I deserve the crown and scepter.  

[BendtedWreath]

4 hours ago, Jason Rimbaud said:

But Benedict sounds sophisticated, like a warm blanket on a hot summers night. . 

To be fair, most of my exes called me Benedict in bed. 

[Jason Rimbaud]

Just now, BendtedWreath said:

To be fair, most of my exes called me Benedict in bed. 

I'm sorry in advance, I'm so very sorry...

I'd call you daddy!    .  

[CassieQ]

14 minutes ago, Jason Rimbaud said:

I'm sorry in advance, I'm so very sorry...

I'd call you daddy!    .  

*very slowly, very carefully, puts her shipping goggles on*

[Jason Rimbaud]

10 minutes ago, CassieQ said:

*very slowly, very carefully, puts her shipping goggles on*

I thought you were involved with the Parent/Teacher/Association, why do you need shipping goggles? And is that mandatory equipment for a shipper? Asking for a friend.  🤩

[CassieQ]

17 minutes ago, Jason Rimbaud said:

I thought you were involved with the Parent/Teacher/Association, why do you need shipping goggles? And is that mandatory equipment for a shipper? Asking for a friend.  🤩

Not mandatory.   Highly recommended. 

[Jeff Burton]

3 hours ago, BendtedWreath said:

To be fair, most of my exes called me Benedict in bed. 

I can see the appeal of this. 😂

[Jeff Burton]

3 hours ago, Jason Rimbaud said:

I'm sorry in advance, I'm so very sorry...

I'd call you daddy!    .  

I now need to create a super villain named Lord Benedict because that “daddy” turned into “daddy Benedict” which turned into “father Benedict” which made me think of a priest that said “kneel before me my son.” Which turned into Lord Benedict because the dialogue now includes “I SAID KNEEL!” with angry Palpatine finger lighting.

No joke this is how story ideas evolve in my head, Just one word and we end up here.

Edited January 13 by Jeff Burton

[Krista]

On 1/11/2026 at 3:37 PM, Jason Rimbaud said:

I have a question for all writers and readers. I'd love to hear your thoughts. Because I was thinking of this last night, and I need to know just how messed up my brain is.

And before we begin, this is not a dig against authors who do this. This is just my cringe moment every time I see this in the text. 

An Example of my pet peeve...

"Alexander (Alex) Scott and Matthew (Matty) Douglas, fell in love under an olive tree in the middle of an Alaskan winter in the summer of 1876." 

Why name him Alexander if you are going to refer to him as Alex the entire time? I desperately do not like shortening names in real life. If you are going to refer to him as Alex, all the other characters are going to refer to him as Alex, then name him Alex. Stop giving me another name to remember. 

I also do not enjoy when they name him Alex, and then people call him "A".  If you feel like you must give him a nickname, make it memorable, or be creative. In my fictional story, Alex's nickname is GutterPants. You hear that name and you automatically want to hear the reason Alex is called GutterPants by Matty. Right? 

In my current story, one of my characters goes by Five. His name is Nelson Miles Moore the Fifth. And because there are so many Nelson's in his family, everyone calls him Five. That's how he is introduced to other characters, and refers to himself as Five. 

And if I use a nickname in my story, for example, Jason is refered by his friends as Jaye. I'll write it thusly.

"Come on, Jaye. Just give me the money," Five declared as he held out his hand. 

Jason shook his head. "Not even if your toes were on fire." 

I never refer to Jason as Jaye in the narrative. I only include it in the dialogue. Some of you go back and forth between Jason and Jaye willy nilly and it's rather jarring for my tiny brain. 

Does this bother anyone else or am I just completely crazy? 

By the way, I know I'm crazy but I'm wondering if I'm completely crazy. Or does anyone have other things that irritate them in narrative vs dialogue? 

 

 

If it is in first person and the Narrative voice prefers their name shortened as a character dynamic introduced in the writing, then it should be consistent. Pet names, nicknames, etc, otherwise I think should be spoken in dialogue and shouldn't bleed out into the narrative POV.

But yeah, I'd rather be consistent with names. For example if you begin to shorten the name later in the writing, but didn't in the early writing. Or, if you switch up the nickname later than what it was earlier. Alexander -- Alex -- A. 

I think it was Stephanie Meyer that went three books calling all the Cullens by their full names and then all of a sudden we started shortening some of them. Like Jasper became "Jazz," or "Jas," and Emmett became, "Em.." I want to say. There were others. It irked the hell out of me when I read it. 

It is rather common for characters to be given shortened names or nicknames though. Clarissa to Clary, Isabella to Bella, Alexander to Alex/Alec, Christopher to Chris/Topher. If consistently done I don't really have an issue with it. Especially in first if the narrative is from a friend that would honor the nickname over their given one. Third, I'd say if nicknames started popping up in the narrative writing, it could get a bit confusing. 

Edited January 13 by Krista

[Jason Rimbaud]

27 minutes ago, Jeff Burton said:

I now need to create a super villain named Lord Benedict because that “daddy” turned into “daddy Benedict” which turned into “father Benedict” which made me think of a priest that said “kneel before me my son.” Which turned into Lord Benedict because the dialogue now includes “I SAID KNEEL!” with angry Palpatine finger lighting.

No joke this is how story ideas evolve in my head, Just one word and we end up here.

I do apologize in advance. 

Can I play the whomever is kneeling? 

[BendtedWreath]

35 minutes ago, Jason Rimbaud said:

Can I play the whomever is kneeling? 

I'm going to have to read this. 

[ReaderPaul]

2 hours ago, Krista said:

If it is in first person and the Narrative voice prefers their name shortened as a character dynamic introduced in the writing, then it should be consistent. Pet names, nicknames, etc, otherwise I think should be spoken in dialogue and shouldn't bleed out into the narrative POV.

But yeah, I'd rather be consistent with names. For example if you begin to shorten the name later in the writing, but didn't in the early writing. Or, if you switch up the nickname later than what it was earlier. Alexander -- Alex -- A. 

I think it was Stephanie Meyer that went three books calling all the Cullens by their full names and then all of a sudden we started shortening some of them. Like Jasper became "Jazz," or "Jas," and Emmett became, "Em.." I want to say. There were others. It irked the hell out of me when I read it. 

It is rather common for characters to be given shortened names or nicknames though. Clarissa to Clary, Isabella to Bella, Alexander to Alex/Alec, Christopher to Chris/Topher. If consistently done I don't really have an issue with it. Especially in first if the narrative is from a friend that would honor the nickname over their given one. Third, I'd say if nicknames started popping up in the narrative writing, it could get a bit confusing. 

On another site the main character in a a story I am reading keeps running into supporting characters named Michael.  One of them tells him to start calling him "Mike" after 30 chapters, and another became "Michael Noah" to distinguish from other Michaels.  Unusual situation, but an unusual story.  The alternate names need to fit the story and situation.

[Jeff Burton]

8 hours ago, Jason Rimbaud said:

I do apologize in advance. 

Can I play the whomever is kneeling? 

 

7 hours ago, BendtedWreath said:

I'm going to have to read this. 

If I ever work out a suitable plot then yeah lol.

[Jason Rimbaud]

8 hours ago, Jeff Burton said:

 

If I ever work out a suitable plot then yeah lol.

Okay, I'll help. 

@Lee Wilson is the priest, I'm on my knees, do I need to draw a map?   . 

[Jason Rimbaud]

13 hours ago, ReaderPaul said:

On another site the main character in a a story I am reading keeps running into supporting characters named Michael.  One of them tells him to start calling him "Mike" after 30 chapters, and another became "Michael Noah" to distinguish from other Michaels.  Unusual situation, but an unusual story.  The alternate names need to fit the story and situation.

That would get confusing as hell. It must be a hellva plot point to cause that much confusion. 

One story I read some thirty years again, don't remember the story, but I remember this, all the main characters, like fifteen of them, had names beginning with the letter "G". I was driving insane, true story, I was normal until that book series, now, well, I'm like this.