The Right To Write

Introducing Characters

As requested by Hannahlindsay72604!

Introduce Character Based On Their Relevance. I mean this in two ways: the order in which they are introduced, and the way they're introduced. Let me break it down. 

It's best to open your point of view with the main character, or a character very closely associated with the plot, because you want the reader's main connection to be with him or her. And introducing that character first paves the way to a successful connection. So introduce them in accord to their relevance. We don't want to know about the irrelevant hotdog man (Yes, he is going to be a recurring theme) before we even know who the main character is.

Now, the more important your character is to the storyline, the more detail you should put into his introduction. Go into depth about their pasts, appearances, and personalities according to their importance. Don't put pages of background into a character that'll only serve one chapter.

Also, introduce characters based on where they need to be. Meaning, introduce them when they are actually associated with the plot. Why introduce the hotdog man in the first chapter when his real importance comes far into the fifteenth chapter. If your character is needed at the given time, introduce him. If he is not needed in the given time, wait to introduce him. It's that simple.

Remember the Variations of Introduction. How do you introduce your character? You definitely do one way or another. I just want to note that there are more than one way to introduce and develop them: description, thoughts, actions, and dialogue.

And there are three components to their development: background, appearance, and personality. Best to use everything you can get to give your reader a well-rounded look at the characters.

Don't Overload Backstory. You should include a character's backstory, but don't patch every detail onto their introduction. Save their full background for the rest of the novel. Letting your character unfold his far better than packing every detail onto the first pages. To give you an idea, give the readers a basic outline of their past, a concise idea of your character's key turning points. Then, as the novel unfolds, sprinkle details of their past.

If your character's brother got killed in a car crash, keep it at that. Don't go on to say it was a pink beetle at five in the morning on the date 1993. And don't give them details on the after effects and situation itself, save that for another time.

Some writer's may argue that many classic books and successful novels stuff introductions into the beginning, but times change. There's so much competition, you must strive to capture readers from the very beginning. Readers can, ever so easily, put a book down, and forget about it. Coating your book in overwhelming premature development is one of the ways to do it.

Waste Not, Want Not. I've learned this the hard way. Never include what you can exclude. If one of your side character's roles can be replaced by another character, don't bother introducing him, or don't bother including him to any extent. Characters are fun to introduce, but if they have no purpose in the first place, why are they there? It's easy to think that their role is necessary, but make sure no other character can take up their role before investing yourself in this thought.

If you decide this character plays a tiny role, don't introduce him like a side character, introduce him like a cameo. Meaning, don't go into depth about his character, or any backstory in general. If he's there to serve tiny purpose, then let him serve his purpose, no need for excess detail. The only reason you need to include backstory is to validate his motives, so unless your cameo's motives are to be questioned, backstory needs no appearance. 

Pace Your Introduction. Ahem, this is a touchy subject, because I am an extreme violator of this rule. Never introduce more than three characters in the first few pages, or else you'll have your reader running for the hills, unless you're amazing at diversifying your characters at first sight. And believe me when I say that is not easy.  

You think this will straighten out throughout the course of the whole novel? It won't. Instead, you'll have your readers confused about who is what and what is who throughout entire novel. So make sure your characters can distinguish one character from another from the beginning. I've set a set rules for myself: introduce a maximum of three characters per chapter, that rule has proved a miracle to me.

Set a Certain Mood Around Each Character. Before introducing a character, think about how you want your readers to feel about him. Do you want a haughty air about him? Then do that, carefully pluck out adjectives and select a careful word choice to build up to his haughty air. 

He may have an authoritative air. Then pack description into his firm stature, strong tone, stone-hard face, and stubborn attitude. All you need to do is determine the mood circling your character before you introduce him or her.