When is the best time to introduce characters (descriptors) into a plot? I have started writing what I suspect will be around 8,000-10,000 word story. It begins with an email from an ex-lover and the main character teetering on whether to re-enter the relationship and then remembering what had happened the last time they met in explicit details. Then moving to further introduce how they met and further background information and experiences.
Is this wrong or do I need to build some basic character information into the beginning of the story? I apologize for such a basic question, yet I am finding it difficult to introduce the main characters in the beginning and want the reader to develop their own opinion with the use of subtle clues regarding the individuals instead of just stating who the characters are and what they look like, do, preferences. Is it wrong to begin with an explicit beginning?
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
a little ground work wouldn't hurt kinda give your reader an outline.....take what you want and leave the rest....good luck
Thanks so much for your response!
I think you were on the right track from the get go. It always makes for a stronger story when you gradually introduce your characters with subtle clues, slowly working their physical appearance into the action, and revealing their characters through what they do, rather than explicit statements. Weave a story. That's why we're all here.
You should check out some of Sprite's stories to see how it's done. I'd like to think I do the same, but there's certainly no shortage of good examples amongst the Recommended Reads and Editor's Picks categories.
My latest story is a racy little piece about what happens when someone cute from work invites you over to watch Netflix and Chill. Generally I introduce and develop their character etc during the story, generally during a sexual experience. I talk a lot during sex in real life and in my stories tend to bring the character out whilst we are fucking and talking, particularly his past. Sex to me is an enjoyable and delightful experience and never rushed if possible. Pillow talk is wonderful as well afterwards. This is when I have learned a lot about my partners in real life and tend to do the same in my stories.
In the first paragraphs, all a reader really needs to know about a character is their name and the action they are a part of that will pull the reader into their world. The other details (physical description, favorite hobbies, weird quirks) can be sprinkled through the story like breadcrumbs, one here, another there. Gradually you build the character, and reveal their motivations, fears, secrets etc.
The more you can engage the five senses and emotions in your story, the more real your characters will become to the reader. If you do it right, the reader won't even question all the things they still don't know about the character. Instead they are focused on the intensity of what you are revealing, and they get caught up in the big story of the characters life, not all the tiny details.
When writing a sex story, I try to keep character descriptions short and sweet and give as much information as possible in a short paragraph.
I'll post an extract from a story that I've been working on:
"Jamal was thirty-five, ten years older than Tina. He was tall with a big build, and wore nothing but shorts and sandals with gold jewellery on his neck and fingers. His arms and shoulders were muscular. Tight sinews crossed his pectorals and abdomen, but his legs were scrawny, frightfully thin. The dark skin of his torso dripped with sweat, trickling down to the waistband of his shorts. He had long dreadlocks tied back in a neat ponytail and a gold tooth."
Maybe it's a character flaw (forgive the pun) but I personally like knowing physical stuff early because when I read I am trying to visualize. If I'm 3/4 of the way through the story and get details like that thrown in then, well I'm already down another road. But I guess most of that naturally flows as you paint the picture for the reader.
As I work on my first story (about 3500 words at maybe the halfway point?), I don't have the physical descriptions in the first paragraph (I frame the story a little first) but the superficial details follow shortly thereafter, with 'character' details more flowing from conversation throughout.
Detailed descriptions have their place, but the details are best salted through where they are appropriate. I am not a fan of just dropping in a description. For instance, I'll describe what the character looks like as they come to meet another character or salt in an appropriate descriptive detail where it is needed.
OTOH, in my RR "In the Dark", neither character is described save in the vaguest details. It all takes place in the dark and not "seeing" anything is part of the feel of the story.
I also tend to not describe first person narrators save for details germane to the story. How often do you go around describing yourself to yourself?
Thank you to everyone who has responded to this thread. You have imparted valuable insight to me as I have been struggling with the character introduction part of this story. I am almost 7,000 words into the story, with this portion looming. So I have continued to write and sprinkle in details when I feel they are necessary attempting to let the reader draw some of their own conclusions throughout the story. I will back track and complete the basic information closer to the front. I was just stuck on where to go with this and moved further into the story, therefore I guess writing it ass backwards.
Thank you!
That's brilliant. 
