How to Introduce a Character: 8 Tips To Hook Readers In

Great characters are the driving force behind any good story. While creating memorable characters throughout the course of a novel is a challenge on its own, introducing them can be just as tricky. After all, first impressions matter: the best character introductions will hook readers in, leaving them itching to know more.

While there's no single formula for introducing characters, there are certainly some common techniques and guidelines that you can keep in mind. In this article, we’ve compiled eight helpful tips that can help you nail your character introductions, with practical examples from successful novels. 

8 tips to introduce characters: 

1. Highlight a few telling physical details

In his staple course How to Write a Novel, author Tom Bromley explains how a character’s physical appearance is instrumental to their introduction. But just because it’s central doesn’t mean you need to lay it on thick; instead of presenting too many details, you’re better off highlighting a few telling physical traits that’ll stick in the reader's mind. 

Let’s take a look at the example Bromley presents in the course: the introduction of Robert from You Know You Want This by Kristen Roupenian.

“He was tall, which she liked, and she could see the edge of a tattoo peeking out from beneath the rolled-up sleeve of his shirt. But he was on the heavy side, his beard was a little too long, and his shoulders were slumped forward slightly, as though he were protecting something.”

Here, Roupenian is able to establish two particularly memorable aspects of Robert’s appearance — his tattooed arm, and his slumped shoulders. Roupenian further characterizes Robert’s slumped shoulders “as if protecting something,” which implies that there’s more to Robert than he’s letting on. Small details like this can go a long way in hooking your readers and encourage them to keep reading.

Aside from distinct physical characteristics, you can also introduce a character through their quirks...

2. Introduce some of their quirks

A similar technique you can use to make your character memorable from the get-go is to reveal some of their unique behaviors. This could be an odd ritual, a unique speech pattern, or a weirdly intense attachment to a particular object — a quirk can be anything out of the ordinary that will stick with the reader after they’ve left the scene. 

The character L from the acclaimed manga Death Note by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata is so memorable in large part thanks to his quirks. L doesn’t sit in chairs, he squats. He constantly bites his nails, holds objects with two fingers instead of his entire hand, and prefers to be barefoot whenever possible, even when it’s socially unacceptable. 

L’s strange habits suggest that his mind operates on a different wavelength than those around him, which helps contribute to his image as an eccentric genius. They signal that L isn’t bound by social norms or conventional thinking, which allows him to approach problems from unique angles and think outside the box.

Of course, you don’t need to give your character as many strange habits as L, but even one or two peculiarities can go a long way to help them stick in your readers’ minds. Your character’s quirks don’t need to be physical — a great way to incorporate some off-color thoughts and behaviors is through their unique voice.

3. Establish their unique voice

Another method to present a character is through their unique voice. Their humor, opinions, worldview, and the way they share them, all help to define who they are. 

To show what we mean by this, here’s the opening sentence from J.D. Salinger’s Catcher in the Rye, a story told entirely through the internal monologue of its protagonist, Holden Caulfield:

“If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth.”

Frequent swearing, long run-on sentences, references to pop culture — Holden’s internal monologue is filled with small details that give us greater insight into his character. This introduction paints him as young, blunt, and abrasive, with a cynical outlook on life shaped by his lack of worldly experience; it sounds like something straight out the mouth of a sarcastic teenager.

Relatability is key here — your readers don’t necessarily have to identify with your character, but incorporating a worldview that readers will recognize from people in their own lives will add a layer of authenticity to your character, which goes a long way in keeping your readers engaged.

While a character’s unique voice gives us insight on how they perceive the world around them, it’s their dialogue that shows us how they navigate and engage with their surroundings.

4. Show how they engage in dialogue

Dialogue is an indispensable tool for characterization — how your character chooses to communicate with others tells the reader a lot about their personality and how they interact with the world around them when it’s not just their own inner monologue or part of the exposition, so nailing those first few lines is essential. 

Take the opening exchange between Clarice Starling and Dr. Lecter in Thomas Harris’ The Silence of the Lambs: 

"Dr. Lecter, my name is Clarice Starling. May I speak with you?"

"You're one of Jack Crawford's, aren't you?" he said. "May I see your credentials?"

She handed him the credentials through the food carrier. For a second, she thought he might touch her fingers, but he didn't. He seemed to look at her, then at the card, then back at her—at her face and at her hands.

"Closer, please. Closer."

She moved closer to the bars, and as she did, she noticed his strange, maroon eyes.

"That expires in one week. You're not real FBI, are you?"

"I'm still in training at the Academy," she said.”

In this scene, Dr. Lecter’s dialogue paints a vivid picture of his character — intelligent, menacing, and subtly controlling. No word is wasted with Dr. Lecter. The way he speaks, the words he chooses, and how he treats Clarice all help to create an atmosphere of unease that establishes Dr. Lecter as a formidable presence that readers will be compelled to learn more about. 

Dialogue is a powerful tool to sculpt your character’s personality, so use it wisely. Try and focus on how their word choice, tone, and manner of speaking reflect their inner world. Consider how your character responds to others, and how much (or how little) they reveal about themselves in conversation. Every line of dialogue is an opportunity to hint at your character’s motivations, background, and the dynamics they will bring to the story.

5. Let their actions speak for themselves

They say actions speak louder than words, and this old adage applies to writing great characters as well — if you want to establish your character’s personality succinctly, introduce them through action rather than description. 

Cormac McCarthy’s introduction of Anton Chigurh in No Country for Old Men is an excellent example of this idea put into practice. The scene describes Chigurh’s escape from police custody (warning: it’s a violent one):

“[The deputy] was slightly bent over when Chigurh squatted and scooted his manacled hands beneath him to the back of his knees. In the same motion he sat and rocked backward and passed the chain under his feet and then stood instantly and effortlessly. If it looked like a thing he'd practiced many times, it was. He dropped his cuffed hands over the deputy's head and leaped into the air and slammed both knees against the back of the deputy's neck and hauled back on the chain. They went to the floor. The deputy was trying to get his hands inside the chain but he could not. Chigurh lay there pulling back on the bracelets with his knees between his arms and his face averted.”

Even in handcuffs, Chigurh is able to calmly and ruthlessly choke the life out of the deputy. Chigurh’s calculated brutality speaks volumes about his character — his cold efficiency, lack of remorse, and the lethal threat he poses.

By introducing Chigurh through action rather than dialogue, McCarthy sets the tone for his role as a chilling antagonist, compelling the reader to keep reading in order to see what other heinous crimes Chigurh will commit now that he’s free.

Chigurh’s actions in this scene feel so chilling thanks to the way McCarthy chooses to describe them. Your word choice goes a long way, so let’s explore how you can use vivid descriptions to really hook your readers.

6. Use vivid descriptions

Your choice of adjectives goes a long way in shaping the reader’s initial perception of a character, as your choices offer great insight into their appearance, personality, and demeanor. A well-chosen adjective can convey a wealth of information quickly, making the character more memorable in the minds of your readers. 

Just take the opening line of The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett: 

“When Mary Lennox was sent to Misselthwaite Manor to live with her uncle everybody said she was the most disagreeable-looking child ever seen.”

Describing Mary as “disagreeable-looking” is a great way to quickly convey both her appearance and hint at her personality. It also contributes to the whimsical narration style of the story as a whole.

For another example, let’s say you want to describe a large man. Keeping in mind the “show, don’t tell” rule from earlier, here’s an example of how your choice of adjectives can impact the way a character is perceived:

“Every patron waited with baited breath as the sound of hammering footsteps stopped and the door swung open violently. In its place stood a hulking mass of a man. His monstrous frame prevented any light from escaping through the open entranceway, leaving just the dim candle light of the bar to illuminate his animalistic features.”

The adjectives we used here help paint the picture of this man as large, intimidating, and beastly in nature. There are plenty of more basic words we could have used, but utilizing powerful adjectives with specific connotations paints a more vivid picture that will get readers invested in your character. 

Vivid descriptions will make a character stand out, but you can also use a character’s introduction to weave in elements of worldbuilding to captivate your readers on both your character and your story’s unique setting.

7. Meld worldbuilding into their introduction

When you have a great idea for an intriguing setup, setting, or magic system, it can be tempting to skip over your main character’s introduction so you can jump straight into worldbuilding. But don’t put the cart before the horse — your protagonist is the emotional hook and the eyes through which your readers can experience the wonderful world you have crafted, so try to incorporate those elements into their introduction to get readers hooked on your protagonist and your world.

Take Rincewind’s introduction in Terry Pratchett’s The Colour of Magic for example:

“Rincewind was not a hero. He was a coward, a thief, and a little man who was not very good at magic. He worked at the Unseen University, which was something like a university in some of the more civilized parts of the Discworld, except it was invisible. It was not the sort of place that you would expect a hero to come from.”

In just a few lines, Pratchett has established Rincewind’s personality and occupation, his role as an unlikely hero, and some interesting details about the world. By incorporating aspects of worldbuilding into Rincewind’s introduction, Pratchett gets the reader interested in the Discworld, and how we can expect Rincewind to play a role in the story going forward.

If you want to try this approach for yourself, try revealing some details about the world through your character’s thoughts, actions, or dialogue; use their background, occupation, or surroundings to hint at the broader context of the story. This will both ground your character in the world and help readers absorb the setting organically, without overwhelming them with exposition.

Which brings us to our last tip…

8. Tap into their backstory

Crafting an engaging backstory for your character is an excellent way to endear them to your readers; a character like Carl Fredricksen from Pixar’s Up is so beloved in large part thanks to his heartbreaking backstory.

The film opens with a beautiful montage of Carl’s life, and his relationship with his wife Ellie. The two share a lifelong dream of visiting Paradise Falls, but after years of saving for the trip, Ellie tragically passes away before they can go. Carl is left heartbroken, and determined to fulfill their dream in her memory.

A well-crafted backstory like this one will provide context and motivation for a character’s actions, making them more relatable and intriguing. 

You don’t need to dive too far into a flashback to engage readers with a backstory — small hints at their past can be just as effective. For example, this is how Harper Lee introduces Atticus in To Kill a Mockingbird:

“Atticus was feeble: he was nearly fifty. When Jem and I asked him why he was so old, he said he got started late, which we felt reflected upon his abilities and manliness.”

At this point, we already know that Atticus is a competent lawyer from a well-established family in the local area, which begs the question — why did he get started late? Subtle allusions to a character’s complex past will leave the reader wanting more from your characters.

It can be tempting to gush about every little detail from your character’s past, but try to restrict yourself to information that will ultimately be relevant to your character’s story arc and the plot development. 

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There you have it — eight tips to help you captivate readers with an engaging character introduction. Hopefully, now you're more equipped to craft introductions that will make your characters leap off the page and into your readers’ hearts.