How do I introduce my main character? That's kinda what I'm having trouble with

[skicoak]

for more of a hook of some hook.

Hmmm... Not really my genre, so I'm probably gonna just be prone to deal in tropes/cliches.

But off the top, I'd suggest moving the meet cute to the first scene while she has the dogs, then when we come out of it, you have a character//Trevor wondering what her name is...so will the readers. Then when she gets to Helen's door... Revel her name there. It'll get more of a focus now.

If it's a comic, maybe even avoid showing her face for a few scenes. Focus on the pink clothing theme, and introducing the secondary cast... Revel her face at the ribbon cutting with her introduction by the mayor.

You'll be staggering the audiences ability to form a visual picture but you'll be highlighting her dialogue with her social circle.

Just some thoughts.

[GamerPrincessXI]

Thank you so much. This is great!

[Okaishy]

Damn, yours is a lot more detailed than mine!

[GamerPrincessXI]

Thank you. I try. I've been writing on and off for years. Now, I want to make another comic. My First Comic was rushed...Nova & Max, Like I had no idea what I was doing. This one, the one I'm currently writing for the third time is worth it. @skicoak , @realdualdragons, and @Okaishy Thank you for your wonderful and overall helpful advice. I really needed it.

[GamerPrincessXI]

Also I like your character sheet too. I can relate to some of the words. XD, you have been very helpful and kind.

[nostalgicroxas]

Drop them straight into the action of not the main/central conflict, but in a stepping stone. For example, don't have her lift the relic off the trap pedestal that triggers the boulder to chase her; start with her already running from the boulder and cursing.

[GamerPrincessXI]

I tried this last time and people hated it.

[Tanako]

first of all, why do you keep rewriting it? wow thats stressful. i'd probably lose my mind and walk away from it. you dont want to do that honestly. i'd say take a step back then come back to it.

at times like this its probably a good idea to read a novel and see how they introduce their main character. and from there that should give you an idea.

As an artist i am against going back and working on your story/ comic all over. its time consuming and when you are done there is a chance that you probably will not be satisfied with it. re drawing or editing a couple of pages is good but the whole thing is a NO NO. lol

well my advice is, pick up a book you like and study it. that should help.

[Okaishy]

Aww it's nothing

[GamerPrincessXI]

I needed to step out of my comfort zone. I'm not use to criticism when it comes to my work. So, if I have to start over again I would. Although, if I had a choice I would have stuck to the first one.

[Tanako]

I'm not use to criticism when it comes to my work

I use to be this way a very long time ago then I realized I had nothing to lose. I can honestly say I understand how you feel. sometimes I still get slightly irritated when someone makes a comment I don't like about my story or my character but I tell myself maybe its good they feel that way because whatever they have to say, positive or negative, will get people curious and most times that curiosity makes them click on your page to see what that person is talking about which is also form of advertising so tey not to let it bother you. whats the worst that could happen? they don't read it

I needed to step out of my comfort zone

This is good. i'm glad its working for you. the last time i tried that i regretted it and lost interest QUICK, lol

[GamerPrincessXI]

I'm just wondering how this rewrite translates to comic from.

[Tanako]

Not quite sure where you were going with this but isn’t it similar? I mean, in order to start a comic it starts with a written idea doesn’t it?
So you could say it’s a yin and yang situation. I used comic as a reference because that’s what I’m use to doing and before I start my comic, I first of all, write down my ideas. Let me know if I explained your question. Or maybe I’m off topic. Dunno

[indigodrawing]

I mean there are so many ways you could do it there's not really any answer somebody can give that would be more or less correct for any given situation.

Star Wars didn't introduce the audience to Luke Skywalker until nearly a third of the way through the film, for crying out loud!

[joannekwan]

Star Wars didn't introduce the audience to Luke Skywalker until nearly a third of the way through the film, for crying out loud!

Well in Luke's case, there was more story and world to establish first. He is but a piece in a far larger plot.
Whereas for a romance/drama/slice-of-life set in a contemporary setting, there isn't really a need for that.

[basil_kunn]

A good piece of advice I've learnt is to introduce your character in a scene that forces them to make a decision. Their reaction and decision introduces the audience to their personality. And the decision they have to make can introduce the themes and style of the overall story. It can also aid in foreshadowing the climax, which often involves an important decision to be made that relates directly to the themes.

[OttoGruenwald]

Introduce with actions that define the character. The Power of Stardust opens with Spectro barely surviving a battle which shows why he's desperate and why he's on edge when the Stardust situation happens. It also shows the state of the world and why Stardust wants to "fix" it.

The Power of Stardust | Tapas

Ghost Guide generally follows a "ghost of the day" format. So it opens with a ghost or a haunting and then psychopomp appears to solve it.

Ghost Guide | Tapas

[GamerPrincessXI]

Someone gave me some horrible advice, then. They said that I shouldn't start out in the middle of the action, they called my story a mess. Then they told me to start over.

[nostalgicroxas]

That person's never seen the success of Law and Order. That entire series opens up with the first 5 minutes of 'the crime' and the rest is the group trying to figure out what happened, but it always starts with the action. NCIS follows the same formula to a degree, even when introducing new long-term characters- it introduces them with action.

[GamerPrincessXI]

I know right. I've watched that since the beginning.