Giving Your Character The Introduction They Deserve

Giving Your Character the Introduction They Deserve

The simple directness of Neil Gaiman

Shadow’s Introduction from American Gods

I think the way Gaiman introduces Shadow is just near perfect.

“He was big enough and looked don’t-fuck-with-me enough that his biggest problem was killing time. So he kept himself in shape, taught himself coin tricks, and though a lot about how much he loved his wife.

The best thing — in Shadow’s opinion, perhaps the only good thing — about being in prison was a feeling of relief. The feeling that he plunged as low as he could plunge and he’d hit bottom. He didn’t worry that the man was going to get him, because the man had got him. He was no longer scared of what tomorrow might bring, because yesterday had brought it.”

In the opening page, Gaiman describes:

Shadows appearance.

Shadow’s passion.

Shadow’s Mentality.

I think the way Gaiman introduces Shadow is just near perfect. It’s nothing too flashy and Gaiman just comes out and states “Shadow loved his wife.” 

Now you try! Emulate shadows intro. What does your character look like? What is his passion, how do they think? Write two sentences about each and mold them into a paragraph. See how it turns out. What? You already have an agent?? Good job.

Bod’s Introduction from The Graveyard Book

“Bod was a quiet child with sober eyes and a mop of tousled, mouse colored hair. He was, for the most part, obedient. He learned how to talk, and, once he had learned, he would pester the graveyard folks with questions”

From this we have.

Bod’s appearance. (Sober eyes/ mouse-colored hair)

Bod’s actions. (Obedient)

Bod’s mentality. (He loves to ask questions and learn about the world around him)

Again, three characteristics all rolled up into a direct introduction. 

It’s ok to be direct with appearance, but show how your character thinks when you are introducing them. It can be as simple as, “so and so loved to ask questions.“

Richard Mayhew’s Introduction form Neverwhere

“The night before he went to London, Richard Mayhew was not enjoying himself.”

If you don’t see that pattern yet, then I’ll tell you. Neil Gaiman is simple and direct. This is really all we need to know about Richard: “He was not enjoying himself,” because once Neil contrasts Richard’s mood with the scene (they are in a bar celebrating), then we get an idea of what type of person Richard is. So the advice from Neverwhere is:

Be direct

Contrast how your person is feeling and thinking about to what is going on around him.

Final Thoughts:

It’s ok to be simple. It’s ok to tell.

“Bod was a quiet child.”

“Richard Mayhew was not enjoying himself.”

“[Shadow] kept himself in shape, taught himself coin tricks, and though a lot about how much he loved his wife.”

Here are some examples I wrote just now:

The thing Susan thought about the most, was how she was going to die.

Elliot liked to punch people in the gut. Elliot was an asshole.

Woah, slow down there Neil

More!

How to tackle the middle of the book - 4 tips from Neil Gaiman Novels

Forever and Always - Part 3

Title: Forever and Always

Word count: 978

Characters: Blu and Girl

Warnings: Angst, crappy writing

Notes: I made this all the way back in 2017. Never got around to doing much with it. Shame. I enjoyed writing it. Even though it made me sad. So I’m posting it, unedited here.

———

September 21, 2018

One parent who doesn't care for his daughter. He sees her as an accessory, she’s only needed for formal events so that his coworkers know that she actually exist. That is my relationship with my father or as I more commonly call him the monster.

"How was school today?" The monster asks, his face hidden behind a newspaper. That's what makes me despise him I can't recall the last time I saw his face. "It was fine, I have a big science fair coming up. My teacher said my project is amazing, Blu is even part of it." I boast proudly, ever since I’d quit baseball I'd had time to work on my grades. I am kind of known to be a nerd but that doesn't bother me.

"Is that so, how nice," the monster responds. He turns the page, he doesn't seem proud of me he never does."Dad maybe…maybe you could come?" I suggest mindlessly twirling my fork in the air. He chuckles before answering, "I don't think so Champ, maybe next time."

There won't be a next time. This is my last year at home next year I’m going to college in California. I want to go to art school to learn animation techniques. I’m going to work for Disney. Maybe I’ll even make a short about Blu. "Oh okay, I think I'll go eat up in my room." I whisper, I don't know why I'd gotten my hopes up.

"That's fine Champ," the monster grumbles.

I take my time taking my plate off the red velvet table cloth. Slowly I make my way down the empty hallway, pictures of the monster decorate the wall. Blu whimpers probably sensing my sadness, I just ignore him. I quietly tiptoe up the flight of stairs careful not to make a sound. I gently turn the golden doorknob then lightly push the door open.

My bedroom is beautiful it's a true symbol of everything I love. Twinkle lights hang from the ceiling like scattered pixie dust. The walls are painted a beautiful Royal blue the same color as the night sky. Various dog toys and Disney knickknacks are scattered across my desk. Multiple sketches of Blu and other characters conjured from my own imagination litter the wall.

I push a few random things out of the way then grab my apple laptop. Flipping the top open I frown, sticky notes off various colors and shapes decorate the screen creating a collage. I quickly peel them off making a mental not to trust my friend with my laptop ever again.

I bite my lip waiting for Skype to load up. Blu jumps up and lays down on my lap. The dummy thinks he's a lap dog when in reality he's crushing my legs. I don't try to move him, he's just trying to comfort me. Blu knows my relationship with the monster isn't as it should be.

My best human friend's smiling face pops up on the monitor making my face break into a grin. "Hey Tom how's it going?" I greet trying to contain my laughter but ultimately failing. Tom was pulling off the most adorkable face I'd ever seen. I only wish I could see it in person.

"You okay Libs you seem a little down in the dumps?" He asks seriously. Tom is awesome, he's funny and very considerate. He takes my sadness very seriously, he almost beat a kid up at my school up once because the bully made me burst into tears, which is pretty hard to do.

Tom and I met on the busy streets of NYC we literally crashed into each other. Blu had decided it would be fun to chase a kid with a hot dog, I can tell you it wasn't. Lucky for me a kind boy my age caught him before he ran into the streets. Tom and I have been friends ever since, though sometimes I think Tom loves Blu more than me.

"I guess so it's just my father. He can't come to the science fair." I sigh twirling a strand of hair with my finger. Tom furrows his brow in confusion,"did he give you a reason?" I shake my head making my long tangled hair whip from side to side. "Nope," I say licking my salty lips loudly popping the 'p'.

"Hey you've still got me and Blu." Tom offers, I shrug gently petting Blu's soft fur. "Yep, a dork and a dog, what more could a girl need?" I snort, Tom chuckles. In the background I can hear someone yelling his name. "Hey I've gotta go Libs, mom calls. Talk to ya later," he says giving me a small wave goodbye.

"See ya later Tom." I whisper tightly hugging Blu's neck like he was a pillow.

"Okay Blu what do you wanna do?" I mutter into his fur, he snuffs getting dog snot on my leg. I gag sometimes my best friend can be really be disgusting but I put up with it. Blu has always been there for me, he's hasn't really left my side since I'd adopted him. I couldn't remember a time where Blu hadn't been there to comfort and console me. He loved me for me, not because he felt obligated to, but because he is my best friend.

Blu is my best friend I care about him more than my own life. I'd put myself in harms way to protect him if I had to. Blu is my entire world, in my opinion Blu is the center of the universe. My life would be incomplete without him. Blu has always loved me unconditionally, he has always been there for me, Blu would never leave me. It's Blu and I against the world forever and always.

So while I work on the first chapter of my proposed Umbrella Academy fic. I figured I’d post some OC head canons following some of my favorite oc’s I’ve created thus far.

Forever and Always - Part 4

Title: Forever and Always

Word count: 969

Characters: Blu and Girl

Warnings: Angst, crappy writing

Notes: I made this all the way back in 2017. Never got around to doing much with it. Shame. I enjoyed writing it. Even though it made me sad. So I’m posting it, unedited here.

———

December 23, 2024

"You can take as long as you like just call us when your ready." The veterinarian's voice was soft and distant. I could barely hear the door close behind him as he left. This room isn't making things any easier. The walls are plain white and the floor is concrete, I feel like I'm trapped in a prison cell. I slide down the wall finding it difficult to breathe, am I actually drowning? "O-okay," I say my breathe is shaking and my whole body is trembling. Did the vet leave? Is he still in the room? I can't bring myself to look around, I can't recall if he did or didn't leave.

Blu trots over to me he can tell I'm uncomfortable. He doesn't even realize what's going on. He doesn't know what is to come, I can't bring myself to tell him. Blu had gotten old, he can no longer jump in the car by himself. That playful twinkle could no longer be seen in his eyes, now his eyes were surrounded by white hairs. Hair that had replaced his once vibrant grey fur.

"Blu I don't know what I'll do without you," I choke out. I stroke his fur it's still as soft as the day I'd gotten him. I will forever look back on that day fondly, the day a little dreamer in rain boots, a tutu, and a tiara found her best friend. I wish I could go back to that day, and tell her of all the adventures she and her little pup would go on.

"I want you to understand that I still love you, but this is for your own good." I bury my head in his fur inhaling his doggie smell. I can smell the fresh cut grass he rolled in this morning and the bacon I dropped on him during breakfast. "I made a list I want you to hear before I say good bye. It started when I was six and it ends today."

"Blu I made a list a of reasons for why I love you,"I take his head and press his forehead against mine. I look into his eyes and smile. I'm sending my best friend away today, but at least I know Blu has lived a long and fulfilling life. I take a deep breathe then begin. "One hundred and five, your my dog. I don't have to share you with anyone else. You'll always be mine don't you forget that."

"Sixty-seven, your super protective some might say overprotective. You didn't need to bite Cassie that time she playfully punched me." I laugh, Cassie had gotten so mad at Blu. She was never really a dog person, I believe Blu knew that. From that point on I always had to warn my friends about the overprotective fur ball when they came over.

"Thirty-one, your a real cuddle bug. Thank you for letting me use you as a pillow or stuffed animal the many times I cried myself to sleep." Sometimes having a best friend to cuddle and listen is all that I ever really needed. People always try to cut you off and never listen, but a dog truly listens. They can’t talk so they listen. Blu knows how many times I just wanted to be heard.

"Eleven, you make me happy to be alive. I won't say I was ever depressed, but knowing you were always by my side made the world a little brighter." For an unloved thirteen year old who saw the world as one big nightmare come true, it was always comforting to know Blu was there. Blu had always been there for me. He was there when I turned sixteen and no one could make it to my party, he was there when I had received my scholarship, and he was there when I said yes to my friend. He had been my only family and I didn't want to let him go.

"Three, you have always comforted me." Blu was there for me that rainy night of June 19th, he let me sob into his fur for hours. When I lost a baseball game he would suggest a game a fetch the only way a dog could. He would drop a ball at my feet and wait for me to pick it up and throw it. It would always lift my spirits, I would hug Blu after and praise him for bringing it back. He was the friend that could always make me gr

Being Peter Parker’s Younger Sister Would Include…

•Looking up to your older brother a lot. Peter doesn’t really get why but he’s happy about it nonetheless

•Despite the good relationship you guys have there are arguments about for example you always borrowing Peter’s things but Aunt May is usually able to break things up

•Peter helping you with your homework and teaching you concepts whenever you have trouble

“I wish you were my teacher Pete. I’d be getting As all the time”

•Playing video games together, even though you’re younger Peter does like to hang out with you

•Being invites out to hang out with Peter and Ned because your brother doesn’t want you to feel left out

•Having movies nights with your brother

•Peter having to take days off from being Spider-Man so that he can babysit you for May

•Your brother getting low key jealous whenever you claim to like a super hero that isn’t Spider-Man

“Thor? Really? What about Spider-Man?”

“He’s okay I guess”

“… you take that back”

•Inheriting a ton of nerdy habits and interests because of your brother’s influence

•Peter always looking out for you, even when you don’t know it as Spider-Man while you’re out with your friends

•Finding out that Peter is Spider-Man at the same time your Aunt does (mainly because of her shouting at the top of her lungs after she saw Peter in his suit) and being pissed that it took so long for you to find out

“Why didn’t you tell me?!”

•Becoming the head of the Spider-Man fan club once you know the truth. You already thought your older brother was cool but this was far beyond that

REQUESTS ARE OPEN

Good stuff.