First impressions are important, but especially so in storytelling. You only get one chance to introduce your reader to your protagonist. Unlike the real world, you’re not likely to get a second chance to say hello.
In a post on The Script Lab, David Young identifies 8 ways you should definitely not use to introduce a character.
- You don’t show demonstrate their importance to the story.
- You don’t get your reader excited about the character.
- You don’t explore the character’s needs, flaws, or point of view.
- You don’t connect the character to your theme or the central struggle of the story.
- Your character simply isn’t interesting.
- Your character has no flaws.
- You don’t depict your character consistently.
- You don’t introduce the character properly at all.
