Quick question to writers on my flist
Need a little help, please? For my lgbtfest assignment, I'm writing a coming-out story from the POV of the gay character using 3rd person limited. What I'd like to know is what's the best way/usual way of referring to other characters in the narration. That is, when I refer to my main character's parents in the narration do I say:
(a) "Frank and Wendy and Marion were eating breakfast at the table."
(b) "Dad and Mom and Aunt Marion were eating breakfast at the table."
So far I'd managed to avoid this question by dealing only with siblings and cousins. But my main character (oh, forget it, it's Cameron Mitchell) would never address his parents as Frank and Wendy, never think of them by their first names. They're "Mom and Dad" from his POV, within dialogue. However, it's still 3rd person, so does that give me the leeway to use first names within the narration?
What do you guys think?
(a) "Frank and Wendy and Marion were eating breakfast at the table."
(b) "Dad and Mom and Aunt Marion were eating breakfast at the table."
So far I'd managed to avoid this question by dealing only with siblings and cousins. But my main character (oh, forget it, it's Cameron Mitchell) would never address his parents as Frank and Wendy, never think of them by their first names. They're "Mom and Dad" from his POV, within dialogue. However, it's still 3rd person, so does that give me the leeway to use first names within the narration?
What do you guys think?