DEEP IMPACT: How Your First Impression Can Leave A Lasting Impression
- Keldrick Mobley
- Jul 11, 2018
- 3 min read
We all know the saying that you never get a second chance to make a first impression, right? Of course we know it because in a way it's true! First impressions shape the way we view everything from people to products. I had a friend tell me she didn't like banana pudding (which I love!) and her reason was that the first time she had it, it tasted horrible. Shame! The first impression we get from the characters you introduce us to are just as important as the journey they go through. Apply these tips and I'm sure you'll be introducing us to some of the best characters we've ever met. (That goes for books or movies!)
In my book Lions For A Day (which you can totally buy on Kindle just by clicking that link...) I introduce the world to Kiera Vidal. She's the star but you won't know it when you meet her. Nothing about her stands out from her job to the way she dresses. Her interactions with people are limited thanks to her awkward demeanor. She's the kind of person that if you ever saw her, you'd quickly forget you did. Why? Because that's what I want you to see. It was important that I show you her in this light so you can track her transformation as the book goes on. When she picks up a gun and fires it for the first time, its jarring to you as the reader because, so far, this isn't what you'd expect from her.This, of course, is done on purpose. The setting we meet her in, the clothes she's wearing, the way she talks when she is introduced is setting the stage for you.
I'll give you a more relatable example. Hopefully you've heard of a little movie called "The Matrix" and I won't be spoiling anything for you. Think about what we see Neo doing when we FIRST meet him. He's sleeping at his computer. That tiny detail is SO important to the theme of the film and very telling about him once we get to see the story unfold. Do you think his journey would've had the same impact if he was already a kung-fu master that was aware of what the Matrix was? Of course not! We had to see him go from one place to the other in order to get why he was the ONE.
I'll give you another set of characters from Lions For A Day that I think should help paint the picture a little better. Kennedy Wright is the muscle for the Wright brothers. When we meet him the he's pumping iron in the gym. Jackson Wright is the brains behind the the two. When we meet him he's playing several games of chess online versus the worlds masters and beating them with ease. From this alone we can gauge what is important to them and we'll know what to expect from them going forward.
The key is to give the reader and the viewer a glimpse into the world you are presenting and then you SHATTER it. A good character is going to be able to handle whatever you toss at them no matter the setting. Of course you're gonna ease into it of course. If your character flips sides too quickly it'll throw off the readers and viewers and they will not like that. Remember, your character is on a journey and we are along for the ride. Any sharp turns will result in us not wanting to go along with them. A good writer will drop tiny hints for us to pick up on here and there so when we get to where you're trying to take us we can say " I SAW THAT COMING!" even if we didn't.
Don't be afraid to take chances. The bigger the risk the more satisfying the reward. Drag them through hell if you have to because in the end it'll be worth it.
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