How To Introduce Your Character In 3 Steps

How to introduce your character in 3 steps

A friend of mine was the source of this very pertinent question. So I decided to write a blog entry about it. Because how do you introduce your character without sounding fake ?

Remember that, in real life situation, no one calls you by your name. Have you noticed that none of your friends is adressing you by your name, unless they're trying to get your attention or that something serious is happening ? That should be the same in your story : find a situation where it is relevant to use names. Or stick to nicknames, which is a more common way to address your friends.

Use another character. If you can’t come up with a situation, you can always rely on a side character to introduce your MC. It’s also the perfect way to describe your character rather than simply using mirror, which is convenient yet very cliché. But the fun thing to do is to make several characters talk about your MC : their opinion might go in different directions due to their relationships, their own sensibility and attention to details. It’s also a good way to breath life into your side characters so please consider that option seriously.

The reader doesn’t need to know everything, especially on the very first page. Unless the info is relevant to the plot, there is no need for the reader to know MC’s favourite food or eye’s color. If you’re on character-sheet-side (which I’m not btw), you should be careful about wether the reader the story will progress or not. Try to be balanced !

What I really want to stress in this article is the importance of action when introducing your character. You want the reader to know your character is courageous ? Put them directly into a situation where they can show courage. You want to describe their hair color ? What about that moment when the light is flickering in a way that gives their hair a peculiar effect that catches the eye of another character ?

Don’t worry, your creativity will always find a way ~

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Arranged Marriage Tropes

The Reluctant Pair

Neither of them wants to be there. They're totally against the idea of being forced into this situation, maybe they had plans for their own future, or they're just stubborn about being told what to do. But then surprise, they start catching feelings. It’s the slow burn we all live for.

Enemies to Lovers

This is the ultimate trope. They start off hating each other’s guts, refusing to even look at each other. Every interaction is dripping with sass, sarcasm, and all kinds of tension. But then, somehow, the sparks turn into a fire of a different kind. They go from "I can't stand you" to "maybe I like you more than I thought."

The Fake Marriage

This one’s gold. They both agree to pretend to be the perfect couple just to get their families off their backs. Of course, faking love gets tricky when you actually start to feel something. It’s all "pretend to hold my hand" until their hearts decide it’s not so pretend anymore.

The Love Triangle

The classic dilemma. One character’s already in love with someone else, or someone new shows up just as the arranged marriage is about to happen. Cue the inner turmoil, awkward run-ins, and the big decision, who will they choose?

Cultural Clash

They come from totally different worlds. There’s misunderstandings, awkward moments, and all kinds of learning curves as they figure out how to make it work. It’s not just about learning to love each other, but also learning to respect their differences. Bonus points for growth.

Family Drama

The families are pulling all the strings here, putting a ton of pressure on the characters to get married. Maybe one’s doing it out of loyalty, maybe the other’s feeling trapped. Either way, it’s a balancing act between family expectations and their own desires. Cue the emotional drama.

These tropes are like comfort food, familiar but so satisfying. Whether it’s the enemies-turned-lovers drama or the slow realization that they’ve fallen for each other, these stories are all about the rollercoaster of emotions. You start off thinking, “They’re never gonna work,” and by the end, you're rooting for them to make it.

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