Can good characters make up for a slow starting plot

[Chronitis]

Currently in my comics (not yet ready for human eyes) I believe that the story is starting off rather slow. Do you think characters with strong personalities can make up for it?

[J.Lovelace]

Speaking for myself here - if there's a character that captures my attention, I would read the comic even if it would be 10 pages of the character just sleeping XD

[Daren]

Not completely, but good characters are essential.

I wouldn't read a comic if the plot is completely terrible, but if it has some promise as well as good characters, then I will read it.

[Shanny8]

Depends on how interesting the characters are...

[shazzbaa]

I think it depends on what you mean by "slow" -- if your comic is slow in a bad way -- an uninteresting start with no reason to care about what's happening, that takes forever to give readers an "in" to invest in the story and characters -- then it doesn't matter how quirky and interesting the characters might be if we can't really get into it. If the comic is slow in a not-bad way -- an intriguing start that shows you a reason to care but doesn't give you all the information right away, or a character-centric beginning that's not full of action -- then yeah, strong characters will absolutely help that opening work.

[punkarsenic]

Depends on how interesting the characters are...

well... if a characters not interesting theyre hardly a strong personality. so we can take that as a given.

personally, id stick around through a slow start for good characters and the promise of a good story. like if what i know youre plots gonna be excites me, ill wait for it.

however, i would recommend trying to avoid slow starts as much as possible (i say this from experience bc im. always. starting slow) because it makes the standard required for your writing, plot, characters, and art (especially) that much higher. usually beginning are slow bc of exposition and introducing characters - so look back at what youve got and consider how much the reader needs to know to start. for characters: name, face, goals. exposition is a lil harder but generally, leave as much as you can to be revealed, and hint dont tell. itll make things a lot quicker and give you shit to do when youre stuck, story wise.

[DMBrigman]

Well, if the story is so slow we can't even see how interesting the characters are then you should rethink things. If not a lot happens plot wise but the characters are lively and we get to see who they are as people then it isn't too bad. I read comics and watch shows solely because the characters are interesting, there is no need for world saving plots and lots of other stuff happening for me.

[Michelle]

If by "slow" you mean your comic doesn't start off with a ton of in-your-face action, then that can be ok. My comic starts off kind of slow in that there's no dramatic action til page 6 or so.

But if you mean "slow" as in there's not a whole lot going on but monologues and scenery-chewing, then that's more of a problem. Characters are interesting when we can see how they react to situations-- whether that's a crazy fight scene or getting some important news over the phone. But I think most people are gonna be pretty bored by stories that kick off with a character staring into space and having a 5-page inner-monologue while they brush their teeth. :u

Also as a general rule, I think it's best to establish the inciting event for your story within the first 10 pages. If 10 pages go by and I still can't tell who the character is and what they want, then the pacing is too slow.

[JuJu_Be]

ugh i have this problem too, my beginning to my comic is trash XD
but i even if i cant get away with it 100% i think that their snappy dialogue might be just enough to get someone to keep reading for a just few more pages.

[joannekwan]

As I write stories with very little action I get what you mean. Like my newest series is technically a horror/suspense and it's all about build-up. So far with 16 pages, I've sprinkled in a couple ominous things but nothing that'll get the heart racing. I'm relying a lot on intrigue and the characters I've presented so far to keep the audience's interest.

To me though, strong characterization is the most important thing in a story. Like why would I read about an adventure if I don't feel for any of the characters at all? Good characters can make up for more than a slow start. Sometimes they're the only thing that drives me to keep reading a story.

[WhatAHero]

pfffft if interesting characters came second to the pacing of a plot's exposition my comic would probably be dead in the water by now.

in all seriousness good characters can pretty much carry the beginning portion of a story because readers adjust to the world you're trying to create through them first. take as much time as you need, if your character and premise are interesting or relateable enough you'll more than make up for slow pacing at the start.

[J.Z.Castillo]

I feel like characters need to be interesting regardless of how fast the story moves. My comic has a pretty slow start up until chapter 4 but I have received comments from readers saying that they are engaged with the characters already. I did not set out to write characters to make up for the slow moving beginning of the story but because in the long run these characters will be in the story for a while so people have to like them... also, it's so much sweeter killing them afterwards MUAHAHAA (jk, some of them won't die but they sure as hell will get hurt)

[hushicho]

I think good characters are always going to be more important than action, in most cases. If I have an investment in the characters, at least they've spoken something to me and connected with me -- and I've connected with them -- in some way. I have a stake in seeing their chronicles unfold, if I care about the characters.

It's honestly a worse problem, in my experience, when the characters are just poorly-written or not compelling at all. The best story in the world will be challenged to transcend terrible characters, while a mediocre story with really great characters can be much more enjoyable for the characters alone. It's usually the characters that carry any story anyway; there's far more need to have the characters be strong because, on the whole, it's characters that move a story and characters are the reason to read a story.

[thischickdoesart]

Yeah, it's possible....
But I have to ask, what makes a character with strong personality? Or interesting? Or compelling? It's going to be different from reader to reader if that definition is based on face value. How does that character connect to the plot?

I just personally wouldn't advise using a character as a crutch for an issue with the plot. I think it would be better to address the pacing of your plot if you feel it's unnaturally slow.

[thischickdoesart]

Also as a general rule, I think it's best to establish the inciting event for your story within the first 10 pages. If 10 pages go by and I still can't tell who the character is and what they want, then the pacing is too slow.

I couldn't agree more. I learned this the hard way back in the day when I was doing entries for manga contests and the page limit was 15-20 pages. A story thrives or dies based on pacing.

[Cherry_sama]

Well, considering my comic, I'd be hypocritical if I said "no". XD

[jennula]

For me, good characters are the main reason I keep reading a comic, so if the characters capture me, I don't care if the pacing is a bit slow :3
My own comic's first chapter pretty much starts with 6 pages of talking heads inside a truck, and people stuck around somehow (I've learned to make those dialogues more snappy in coming chapters though) XD

[isabelleArne]

I don't care if the pacing is a bit slow

it's rather good to hear because honestly for my comic too the begining is rather slow, but more than that I really take my time for al the comic ... Anyway I think it's always good to have well writen and interesting characters, if you build you story well, i think people won't mind it to be a bit slow.

[jurinova]

Good characters can definitely keep a story interesting but slowness isn't automatically bad either. After all pacing is actually quite a subjective thing and what some people consider slow might not seem like that to others. Of course it's important to grab readers attention right at the start but cramming the beginning with too much information or action isn't always the best way to go. If it's a character driven story then getting to know the characters before anything big happens can actually be a good choice because then the reader will be more invested in what happens to them.

One way to make the beginning interesting is to add a small intro scene that will capture interest and provide information. Movies do this so often and it makes the viewer invested right at the start. After the intro the pacing can slow down and the viewer will not lose interest because the intro gave them something to look forward to.

[JamesMulhollandFilm]

Usually with a story, I come for the plot and stay for the characters. So usually I like stories that start face (even just the first few pages) and then it can slow down and get me invested in the characters. In saying that, I'm currently writing a Graphic novel and the opening 5-6 pages are mostly silent with barely any dialogue or action. It's showing a characters life after an unknown incident and before the real story begins. I feel that's the best way to tell this story so really, use your gut instinct to tell yourself are you bored reading what you're writing. If you are, then a reader might feel that. Hope that helps.