How many ways...

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How many ways can I name Terri's future version, without actually calling her Terri?

Doppelganger
Lexi's mother
the other...

The problem with having a conversation between two versions of the same person is that how do you help the reader tell them apart.

Any suggestions?

Comments

prefixes?

could you prefix them like:

"FT" Future Terri

"PT" Present Terri

hth

Sammi

One way...

is through word choice. As we "age" our vocabulary tends to change. Also, even if we know words - our choice of which to use is colored by our experiences. You could have one "incarnation" speak with a more mature voice. Also, if it's in first person - just pick one incarnation. Then it's:

"well, I guess you might have a point." she said.

"Of course I do." I replied.

That kind of thing works - when there's two talking. You just have to make it clear which of the incarnations have POV.

Another way to handle it, is to have the two versions discuss what to call each other. For example... Were I to meet my teen self, I'd expect to be addressed as Ms. MacGregor and I'd call her Ann. (Okay, this isn't fully true. I didn't go by Ann or Annette as a teen. *sighs* And, I've not transitioned as yet, so the younger me would probably use Mr. X.... and I'd use "his" boy name. *sighs*). Just depends on the age difference, and whether the younger Terri was brought up to be "formal" to adults.

Obviously, the two of them - when alone - have no trouble. It's only others interacting with them, and the readers, that get confused. So, you could have a 3rd person get exasperated by both of them responding when the name's called and let this 3rd person decide... "Enough of this. From now on, YOU are Terri and YOU are Ter." or some such. The one getting the "name" would be the one the 3rd person knows better.

My 2 cents... Good Luck.
Anne

terri vs terri

over time people come to be called things that aren't their name... like sugar pants, sweetums, fuzzy wuzzy... I'm sure there is a knickname floating out there.

Dayna.

Hmm, a dilemma

The Alternate? Although this one would actually fit our Terri better, seeing that Lexi's mother was Original, or Initial, from a cretain POV.

Of course, if we go by calling them titles like this, maybe we could call them Terri the Mother (Lexi's Mom) and Terri the Changer (she defied her fate as a vortex and changed it).

Faraway


On rights of free advertisement:
Big Closet Top Shelf

Where you can fool around like you want to and most you get is some bemused good ribbing!

Faraway


On rights of free advertisement:
Big Closet Top Shelf

Where you can fool around like you want to and most you get is some bemused good ribbing!

Often,

What is done in stories like this is to emphasise the vocabulary differently. "Terri Now" would speak in brackets, and "Terri Then" would speak in curly brackets. Or one is italicised and the other is normal.

{"It's your fault."}
["What do you mean, my fault"]


I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.

Thank you All for the help.

I have read all of the comments so far and I have contimplated this and your suggestions have helped. I know now what I will do.

Lexi has always referred to her as 'Mother' and so will I.

Ally Kat


"If there are any Psychics in the room, Please raise My hand." - Emo Philips, Comedian

Glad to see you back!

Glad to see you back!


I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.

Maybe

Same person different version. Terri with a (y)?

Very cool story. I was able to keep up as I was able to read it through start to finish.

Can not wait until the next edition
THANK YOU

James