March 16, 2026
When you are writing scenes with more than two characters, how do you help the readers keep track of who is speaking?
I avoid it when I can.
Especially at the beginning of a story. Call me a coward. Or skilled at manipulating my stories until the readers (and me) are more comfortable with the cast of characters.
See, it’s hard to write a conversation between more than two people. When we talk to each other, we rarely take turns. Two people do most of the talking, with others trying to find opportunities to get a word in. The speakers may shift to another pair over the pair, but it’s rarely an equilibrium when there are over two.
Even with only three participants, the problem becomes how to keep one of them from being a silent observer, not a speaker with a distinct point of view. Identification is also a sticky point. The standard pronouns – he, she, they – can become useless for identification, and using names, repetitive.
We have adapted in our everyday speech.
Many of us attempt to draw others into our discussions. It can be done with simple body language: making eye contact can be the encouragement needed to draw someone in, or asking a simple question – “What do you think?” While these tactics work in real life, they can be difficult to translate into the written word.
I’ve gotten better at multi-person chats, but I still find it a challenge. In my current WIP, I have a scene with five people. Trying to make sure they all had a speaking role was nearly impossible. Two of them faded into the background most of the scene. (In fact, I am considering deleting one of them. He doesn’t add much to the story.)
How do I help readers keep track? I give each character a distinct role and personality. For example, one is the protagonist, the other the love interest, a third the antagonist. Using physical attributes is another way to distinguish each. The combination is the most effective way for me.
Oh, I should mention Harmony Duprie’s method. Throughout the series, she names everything. When she doesn’t know someone’s name, she’ll number them.
Outside, Oak Grove enjoyed a pre-Thanksgiving cold snap, but inside, the room was stifling from the warmth of all the bodies. The Chief of Police sat at one end of the table, with Officer—excuse me—
Agent Felton seated right beside him. I don’t know how we all missed the signs that he was a Fed. Freddie came next and then Officer Smith. I sat on the other end, with Mr. Stangel beside me. Other men, including a couple more FBI guys up from Pittsburgh, stood around, leaning against the walls. I wondered if anyone was left to chase down the reports of backfires and kids skateboarding in front of the stores downtown. I started calling them by numbers in my head, because I hadn’t caught all the names.
How do other authors solve the issue?
I’m sure there are other methods that have been developed. What do our other authors use? To find out, follow the links below.
And, as always, please stay safe until the next time.
Goal update: I’m at 45,200. I thought I was close to the end, but the story threw a curve at me. Now I have to rethink my ending.
When you are writing scenes with more than two characters, how do you help the readers keep track of who is speaking?
In real life, multi-person conversations are messy. I think that reducing them to he/she said devalues them as a tool to advance the plot. They can reinforce personality and provide information or backstory that would otherwise have to be dumped.
It can be fun to sit back and watch a conversation in real life, even if you can’t hear the words.