“How do you introduce characters?”
This question made me stop and think. I never really thought about the nuances of introducing characters. I just did it, and I teach students to do it through description and other methods. It seemed like a natural flow in writing.
But it’s not so simple for everyone, especially young writers.
So what’s the answer? Well, there are a few answers, actually. When it comes to presenting characters, whether in the introduction or further into the story, there are several strategies writers can implement.
Here are three techniques young writers can try.
(Taken from my response to a parent in a Facebook group.)
Introduce the character by saying something interesting or memorable about them.
– Elyse was the class bully and everyone was afraid of her.
Use an action to introduce the character, so when the audience meets the character for the first time, they’re doing something.
– Elyse, the class bully, snatched the book from my hands.
Explain the character’s reaction (especially emotionally) to something that happens.
– I looked across the room and saw Elyse, the class bully, turning boiling with anger.
Notice the type of information in each sentence and how the sentences are structured.
– Name
– Who they are
– Quality OR Action OR emotional state
Of course, these aren’t the only ways to introduce characters, nor do these sentences have to be written exactly like this. However, for a young writer who’s not sure about what to do, this is a great place to start.
