Developing Characters

As long as you have created enough interest in the early part, and built some interest in at least one character, then revealing the others slowly won't hurt at all.

I think you should avoid 'not engaging your readers at all', rather than worrying about 'engaging readers with everyone' early on.

So, as long as you have some reason for me to keep reading whilst you slowly reveal more, then I'll keep reading.

gdm.

I totally agree with GD Marks. I don't describe my characters unless there's an attribute necessary for the story. You'd have to let them know Long John Silver had a wooden leg and stuffed parrot on his shoulder. But all else, I let the reader put their favourite person (perhaps themselves) in the heroine's role and their favourite hate in the vilain.

As for development. I seed as much as possible early, without having it look like a Yates gardening catalogue. So my heroine has a black belt in karate and loves riding horses. That's easy to introduce without a ripple in the progress of the plot. The main thing is not to be seen to be setting the scene.

So pick what has to be known early. If it is a general attribute, it should be known soon. But if there is a specific fact, it can be snuck in the chapter before it's needed.

If they develop so much they change, I'd adjust from page one so it works.

I botched my last novel attempt trying to force personalities onto characters. They'd have to act in unnatural ways. I'm rewriting the first half.

You want to engage your readers very early and make them care somehow for the mc. So come up with a way to do that very early and let the rest of the description and revelation dribble out.

Think about meeting your mc in real life. What about her might intrigue you and make you want to learn more about her? What situation might she be in or what can she say/do/look like/think (assuming you could read her thoughts) that would make her stand out to you? What makes her something more than one of the hoardes of people you encounter in your life merely by passing them or brushing elbows with them?

Think about people you've come to know in your life. What was it about them that made you single them out and make that extra effort to get to know them better?

Beth

I am doing that too. Other people are commenting on his sordid past instead of just coming right out and saying, "He did this, he did that." It (hopefully) keeps someone reading.

I think character development over the book is necessary. I also love seeing minor characters grow into something I never saw coming.

That said, your MC needs to at least be well defined so that even if they are mysterious, you know the reasons behind their actions.

I agree with cwfgal--and really, most of what has already been said here. You have to engage readers early on with characters who are interesting, even though their personality or appearance hasn't been completely explored yet. You have to give them a reason to keep turning the pages, to see that character development play out as the story goes on. But you need to have that foundation for an interesting character right off the bat, or that slow development will get lost and the reader will probably give up in frustration or boredom.

Is there any other way? I don't like to read : Sally was a pessimistic gal. She wore all black, she refused to sign a long-term contract because she feared death around every corner and she wore bunny slippers. Only bunny slippers, it was her one attempt to hold onto something in life, even if it was just a grey old pair of bunny slippers - eyes gone, ears drooping, perfect metaphors for her life.

I like to see them going about their day, or life, or setting out for the quest to get dragon gold and getting to know them as we go.

What my MC cares about comes first. His appearance can't, because no other POV character sees him until chapter six. From hints sprinkled in the first chapters, the reader should already have gotten all but the hair color and eyes.