OK, so I'm writing this novel in third person and it's talking about what the kids are doing. So my question is this: What should I call their parents? Right now I've been calling the mom and dad by their real names. But, that seems a little strange because it's basically the kid's POV, but third person. And saying her mom and her dad or his mom and his dad seems like it could get a bit annoying. So, what should I call the parents? Just Mom and Dad? Does it really matter? I'm not really sure what to do. Haha. I hope that made some sense.
I think just their names, with an occasional her mom and her dad. It's really up to you. I had that issue a while ago, and figured that going by their names was best for me. You could write a small portion with each and decide which one you like the most.
There once was a cat. He wasn’t particularly fat. Fuzzy was his favorite mat. And really, that was that.
Oh, but did you really think so? Keep reading, it’s just the start of the show! And as for how far this tale will go… Well, even the cat doesn’t know.
In my story I am writing from the point of view of a teenage girl. Whenever she is referring to her parents, or her parents do something, I usually say Mother or Father because that's what she calls them and it's her point of view.
ex. Mother washed her hands. Or. Father took the book from the man at the door.
"Mom" and "Dad" looks the most natural, especially if you're writing in third person limited. You essentially are writing the story from their point of view, so it would be odd if they were called by their names if the character thinks of them as "mom" and "dad".
It is a confusing issue...in my story, though it's fantasy, I vacillate between calling a character "Father" and his actual name. Since most of the characters know him by his actual name, I just took to calling him by his actual name all the time, and "Father" only in his child's flashbacks. But if yours is a teen-centered story, it stands to logic the characters would be "Mom" and "Dad" since it's from a teen's perspective and come on, teenagers don't think their parents even have names.
Ah, it is an empty movement. That is an empty movement. It is.
I'm not too sure if I read your question right, but here's my answer anyways.
If it's the kids parents you are referring to, call then "Mom" or "Dad". But if the kid is talking about someone else"s parents, maybe call them either by their first names or Mr. and Mrs..
Difficult questions but I have to agree with tori1234. I think with the friend's parents, usually I think "x's mum", rather than their name! And most people I know talk like that! In my story, which is first person from the POV of a teen, I use "x's mum" when the character is thinking about another character's parents.
NB: However, my other story (also teenage POV), which is science fiction in past tense, also first person, I'm using their first names. However, this is partially a character thing, and partially a setting thing, because it's the future.
