7 Ways to Introduce Your Main Character and Keep Readers Hooked

If your reader isn’t drawn in to your main character by the first few pages, they won’t make it to your plot twist, your powerful message, or even your second chapter.

That’s why how you introduce your main character matters more than most authors realize.

Here are 7 proven ways to make that first impression unforgettable:

1. Start in a Moment of Weakness

Let readers meet your character when they’re vulnerable—grieving, relapsing, hiding. That emotional honesty builds instant empathy.

2. Show Them in Community

Reveal your character through interactions with friends or family. Dialogue and relationships give us natural insight into personality.

3. Lead with a Quirk

Start with something unique: a habit, a skill, or a strange reaction. A strong quirk can make your character feel real and memorable.

4. Drop Them Into High Stakes

Put them in a situation where they have to make a tough decision right away. When lives, emotions, or reputations are on the line, readers engage.

5. Place Them Somewhere Unfamiliar

Throw your character into a setting they’re not used to—and let the discomfort reveal who they are. Tension is a tool.

6. Open with Tragedy

Let grief or loss reshape their world in the opening scene. Done right, tragedy can become a powerful storytelling launchpad.

7. Start in the Middle of Action

Whether it’s a chase, confrontation, or near-disaster, action draws readers in fast—especially when it reveals character motivation.

Why This Matters

Your main character is the lens through which your entire story is told. If that lens is blurry, readers won’t stay. Draft 2 Done™ helps you sharpen your opening—and the emotional connection that follows.

Want to Know if Your Opening Works?

The First Five Chapters tier of Draft 2 Done™ is perfect for this. For just $50, you’ll receive detailed, expert feedback on your opening scenes—so you’ll know if your character introduction grabs the reader or needs revision.

Don’t leave your first impression to chance.

👉 www.JosephEditorialServices.com/Draft2Done