Character First Impressions: #Preptober, Day 9

Today, let’s talk about the kind of first impressions your character makes.

They say you only have one chance at a first impression, which is a bit of a tautology. Nevertheless, it’s true that first impressions can be hard to shake. What kind of first impression does your MC give readers?

When we first meet your character, on page one, what are they doing? Are they doing something they normally do, or are they in the middle of an action that might compromise them in some way? Are they embarrassing themselves, or committing a crime? Are they just doing what comes naturally? Think about how others might perceive whatever they’re doing. Does it seem normal or bizarre? Would they stop and wonder what on earth your character is doing?

Puzzling behavior is often interesting. It also helps draw readers into a scene.

Some behaviors and impressions that you might want to avoid, on the other hand, are mundane tasks. Waking up to the sound of an alarm clock, for instance, is typically pretty boring for readers. So skip the mundane and get right to the real action.

When we first meet my ninja, Ara, she’s swimming in a lake, having fun, splashing around. But then, she discovers something unusual, something glinting across the water, and begins to swim toward it…

I’ll leave you with that mystery, for now. So what’s YOUR main character up to today?

Want to prep with me?

Fill in the same info for one of YOUR main characters, post it on your blog, and be sure to use the hashtag #Preptober on social media so we can find each other.

Don’t forget to grab a free copy of my Preptober Prompts Printable, which you can print out for personal use.

See you tomorrow with a new prompt!