Writing Question

[OriginsoftheJedi]

So this doesn't only apply for writing on here, as this is mainly for a novel I'm writing, but I have a question that I've had a hard time finding a good, solid answer to.
How does one go about introducing your main characters in a non-cliché, but descriptive fashion, while still sounding professional?
I have one intro in particular that I never can find myself happy with.

 

[Grrwunhoooll Agaburry]

Hmmm. Depending on the environment is how i write my intro. Or ill start out with my thoughts if i dont know the environment.

 

[Sabena Shai]

How does one go about introducing your main characters in a non-cliché, but descriptive fashion, while still sounding professional?

The best intros, in my opinion, are essentially Establishing Character Moments. Hopefully, you've already fleshed out your main characters - as that is required.

And as the TV Tropes page says, this moment does not need to be flashy, grand, or anything super spectacular. This moment just has to demonstrate the key character quality(s) of this character.

Ned Stark's introduction in A Game of Thrones was excellent, in my opinion. It showed how deeply he valued honor - and that it might not be a good thing to be so beholden to such honor. This is important since all of Ned's strengths and weaknesses hinged on his view of honor - and they all play a critical role in the book.

 

[Beowoof]

A good way to introduce your character is to not even bother introducing your character! As you move the story along, you'll probably just insert pieces of your character's personality without even bothering to think over it.

For example, perhaps your character is a nicotine addict. But, instead of saying that in the beginning, just write him smoking on several occasions throughout your story. The reader will figure it out! And you'll never be cliche this way.

Make the reader learn about your character like you learned about your friends. You never really know your friends until you've spent time around them. Your character should be the same way!

 

[Rika]

There's nothing more boring than reading a stock description about a character. How much does it really matter what parts of them sparkle? I've found that physical descriptions are best snuck in or addressed only when necessary to something happening in the story. Psychological descriptions are often best done through the character's thoughts and their actions. Simply saying:

Sam is intelligent, quirky, and has a great sense of humor

sounds more like you're filling out a dating profile than actively trying to establish a character. I'm too snarky at the moment to think of good examples.

 

[Gir Quee]

Along with what Beowoof was saying, I'd chalk it up to the old mantra "show, don't tell" thing. Think about the reader slowly getting to know your character as a new friend. They won't know everything about them at once, but they will start to a get for their personality soon enough through that character's actions.

 

[Artemis Vahl'Nyx]

What they said! Also, remember to focus on the small details as well as the big ones. Is your character supposed to be a regular-ish teenager from a semi-to-fullout-poor family? Then, when describing his room, don't make it so the room has a bunch of posters or trophies or other stuff that a family like his wouldn't be able to afford. While those are considered 'typical' teenager things, they wouldn't always fit in with what kind of home a character might have. Maybe he has a photo of his family in an old, broken frame (that he got at the thrift store), or he has an old stuffed animal on top of his single bookshelf (which has, like, two books on it that he owns, and, like, five or six library books) that belonged to his grandmother or grandfather or something. There was a really good post on another site about this sort of thing. If I ever find it again I'll link you to it. It talked all about keeping the small details in line with the larger ones.

 

[OriginsoftheJedi]

Thanks for all your great answers. I'll try starting to implement these as I continue to write, delete, write, and delete again. If anyone has any other suggestions or tips, please do keep the river flowing.

And [member="Drapeam Nyx"], are you a mind reader or something? You somehow knew the main character was a male teen from a not poor, but not rich family. Jedi much? ;-)

 

[Jsc]

I once started a story at the very end. An old man returns to a familiar white planet and buries a box with four items in it. Then he smiles, mentions a woman's name in reflection, and departs back into the sky. It is written for tone and atmosphere.

I then introduce the protagonist as a much younger man walking on the same planet. He has a new name, the environment is wildly changed, and yet I still imply that they are the same person. Just years, (and perhaps even worlds and conflicts,) apart.

The audience sees two characters and must now ask themselves how this person came to be just one. Now all my roleplays and goofy adventures are just the crunch in the middle. It is my favorite method so far because it always gave me something to shoot for. I never have to ask "Where does this character go now?", because I always know where they end up. Right back at the start.

*wink*