Introducing a character is one of the most important moves you’ll make in a story—but it’s also one of the easiest places to fall into the trap of info-dumping. You know, those big blocks of backstory that grind the story to a halt. The good news? There are better ways. Here are seven tips to help you introduce your characters in a way that feels natural, engaging, and keeps the story moving.
1. Show Them in Action
Instead of listing traits or telling us who a character is, let us see it. Are they rescuing a cat, dodging phone calls, charming a room, or flipping out over a typo? Their actions in their first scene should tell us more than a paragraph of description ever could.
- Think James Bond: we don’t get his resume—we get a chase, a poker game, and a cool head under pressure. We know who he is by what he does.
2. Use Dialogue to Reveal Personality
A few lines of dialogue can do a ton of heavy lifting. How someone speaks—formally, sarcastically, nervously, bluntly—immediately gives us a sense of who they are.
- A single, well-placed line like “I don’t argue. I just explain why I’m right,” tells us way more than “She was confident and opinionated.”
3. Anchor Them in the World
Let the setting do some of the work. Is your character totally at home in a bustling café, or awkward in a luxury boardroom? How they interact with their environment can reveal status, personality, and values.
- Someone who rolls their eyes at a five-star restaurant tells us something different than someone who nervously scans the menu for prices.
4. Drop Hints, Not History
You don’t need to give us the whole backstory up front. Instead, leave breadcrumbs. A scar they touch but don’t talk about. A photo tucked away in their wallet. A name they hesitate before saying. These small moments raise questions—and curiosity.
- Curiosity keeps readers hooked. If you tell them everything up front, there’s no reason to keep turning pages.
5. Let Other Characters React to Them
Sometimes the best way to understand someone is through the eyes of others. Does the room go quiet when they enter? Does someone light up—or tense up—when they arrive?
- Reactions give readers social context. If five different people treat your character like a threat, we instantly know they’re a big deal.
6. Use Specific, Telling Details
Skip the generic “tall, dark, and handsome.” Instead, give us something we can picture—and that says something about who they are.
- “Her blazer was crisp and tailored, but her bag overflowed with receipts and candy wrappers.” That kind of detail reveals personality and contradiction without spelling it out.
Final Thought
A great character introduction doesn’t slow the story—it is the story. Focus on action, voice, and the little things that hint at something bigger. Trust your reader to fill in the blanks, and they’ll follow your characters anywhere.
