100 Things You Should Know About Writing (Part 2)

33) How to Introduce Characters

I'm moving this chapter up ahead of schedule. Firstly, because I can. Secondly, because I got this question this morning and answering it in the comments would take too long. And I don't like making people wait if I can help it.

This was the question: "I'm actually not sure if you've done this yet, but it would be cool if you wrote something on how to introduce a character in their daily life (as it leads up to the incident that changes the story and brings the goal to view) in a different, non-cliché way."

This is a great topic because introducing characters the right way is something that all writers should know. I once wrote a section on Hooking Readers (Part 1, Section 9) that is relevant to this, so if you haven't read it yet or need a recap, please do check it out.

Character introductions are crucial moments in a story, especially if we're still at a point where the inciting incident and the setting of the main character's goal hasn't happened yet. At this early stage of a story, it's important to grab the reader's attention from the get-go and to keep that attention.

This is what the hook is for. 

However, that section is more focused on hooking readers in for the purposes of creating and maintaining tension. Today, I'm going to concern myself more with the characters themselves. 

In other words, this section is about the craft of introducing the character on their own merits, and also to set up a strong character arc that can help carry a story.

This is the section you need to read if you're creating a slow-burn-tension novel, i.e. one that seems to start off slowly, but then has its tension growing as the story progresses.

Not all characters have exciting lives from the start. This much is true. However, writers writing such characters always run the risk of the story starting off in some boring—I daresay cliched—way. You know those story openings.

I woke up and got out of bed, catching sight of myself in the mirror and sighing. Although my long golden locks and blue eyes were somehow perfect despite my waking up moments ago, I was a total hag. Oh yeah. I guess right now is as good a time as any to introduce myself. My name is Name Surname and I'm so many years old.

If you've introduced your character this way, don't.

But if that's not the way to introduce the character, what is? The truth is there are many ways to introduce a character, which is probably why the "Hi, I'm Name Surname" introduction ranks so highly on most people's list of pet peeves. That said, there are a few techniques to keep in mind when introducing a character to ensure that the introduction feels fresh, makes enough of an impact, and engages the reader with the main character and the story. These techniques should preferably be used together and as close to the same time as possible.

Always start your character off somewhere interesting.

In other words, create a situation that reveals something about the character. That something should either intrigue the reader or make them relate to the character. Or both. Preferably both.

A character's morning routine generally isn't interesting. Unless, for example, there's something off-kilter about what that routine entails. The first chapter in my YA Fantasy, The Vanished Knight, has a bit of a morning routine in its first chapter. There are a few huge differences from the usual cliché introduction, though.

1) It doesn't reveal Callan's looks as much as the fact that she's trying to hide them.

2) Although she's done this whole routine before, it's not her daily one.