Names and Pronouns

I've been thinking about something that a lot must think about, at least those I've seen while doing research. And there's no sure fire rule to this, it seems. Unless it's out there and I'm missing it. 

Some say it goes on how it looks, you'll know. Aesthetics. 

Some say to put more descriptions covering up the "he did this, or she did that." 

Yeah, I can see that, too. If you describe what the character sees, implying they are doing the action that "she touched the soft dog" would tell, then yeah, you save having to use a pronoun or two. 

So you cut down. 

But what about going back to the name of the character? What if the reader forgets who you're talking about? 

Gary and I talked about this on yesterdays YouTube show. We came to the conclusion that it's a mixture of a few things. Asthetics, importance of using the name--like if the sentence deals with something important as apposed to she picked up this, or he sat down. 

We did, however, talk about maybe every paragraph you use the name once. Not as a solid rule, but more as a guidepost. 

I create short paragraphs sometimes, so in a case like that maybe ever two or three paragraphs. And just go from there. 

How many times do you use a pronoun before going back to the character's name? 

Let me know in the comments below, or on Twitter here. 

Hope to see you there. 

WCM 

And don't forget to catch Gary and my latest show on YouTube below. 

Let us know what you think.