1. Sleepymate

    Sleepymate New Member

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    How to introduce characters?

    Discussion in 'Character Development' started by Sleepymate, Nov 10, 2009.

    im wanting to introduce characters in a flashback as children and was wondering if anyone had any tips or suggestions for this?
     
  2. Robert Lipscombe

    Robert Lipscombe New Member

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    flashback to a specific event, with specific words spoken [in the authentic childlike way]..just perhaps a few lines, framed in the contemporary adult narrative...also, you can use a cue [like looking out the window at an old tree, or finding an object in a trunk..this is the Proustian technique [a madeleine biscuit brings back memories of his childhood to the bedridden writer]..
    the child is remembered looking out at the same tree, or playing with the object
    good luck
     
  3. Kirvee

    Kirvee New Member

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    Basically what Robert said, but I think you can also introduce characters via flashback without a cue.
     
  4. Kreszent

    Kreszent New Member

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    The method of introduction would vary depending on WHEN you are introducing the characters, I'd think. Are you introducing this/these character(s) from the beginning, or are you introducing them later on?
     
  5. mammamaia

    mammamaia nit-picker-in-chief Contributor

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    what's your reason for doing that?... my best advice is, if you don't have a really good one, then don't!
     
  6. bruce

    bruce Active Member

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    I try to avoid flashbacks because they stop the forward movement of the story.
     
  7. Sleepymate

    Sleepymate New Member

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    thanks 4 replying im thinking of switching between past and present so the reader can see how experiences in these characters pasts have resulted in the situation they're situation in the present im just having trouble working out how to do so in an engaging way
     

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