Nicknames

You shouldn't change the name used from line to line just for variety's sake. It's a name - you don't need variety. (No need to fall into "Burly Detective Syndrome" with things like "the man," either.)

Yeah, unless it's other characters referring to him, either in dialogue or first/tight third POV, I wouldn't change it.

As long as it's clear that it's the same character, there shouldn't be a problem using both the proper name and its diminutive. I'd suggest having one be a default, though. Lends to continuity.

JimmyB27 said:

Yeah, unless it's other characters referring to him, either in dialogue or first/tight third POV, I wouldn't change it.

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This.

Stick to one name (or he) in narration, or readers get jarred. I know it feels samey to write, but it's not samey to read. In dialogue, your character can use any variety of names they want, including nicknames. If it's a name that hasn't been used for him before, though, you may need to make it clear they're referring to Nathan.

"Oy, Wanker," said the man, pointing at Nathan.

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This, like other aspects of writing can be used as a writer's tool. In my latest, the MC is Michael at school, Mike to his friends, and Mikey to his parents (now deceased). His boss calls him Mikey, and this contributes to the feeling that his boss is a surrogate father figure to him. When something like this is established, the nicknames can then be used to help show changes in relationships in the story without coming right out and mentioning them. They also can be used to show false familiarity as a warning or an irritation to the MC.

Lidiya said:

Ok, so if I mostly use Nathan I can still use Nate from time to time, and I just should...well mash them up for variety? Lol.

Thanks

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no. NO.

People gave you reasons to vary, such as having different people call him different things (a mom may call him Nathan as a teen, teachers might, but he will think of himself as "Nathan" or "Nate," not interchangeably, and his friends will likely call him one or the other.

What you call him can be used as a tool, because it can say things about the person addressing him and his life. But you don't just randomly call him one thing here, another there....THAT doesn't look "varied," it looks sloppy.

You can mix the names up in dialogue, depending on who's speaking to/about the character. The narrative should be consistent, although you can introduce change over time. If you have a Nathan, then a Nate, then a Nathan, it can make the reader start wondering if they really are the same person. You should be aiming not to jar the reader that way.