Whether your character is a hero, villain, mentor, or sidekick, how they show up on the page shapes how your readers connect with them. So why waste the opportunity? Today, we’re talking about how to make your character’s first appearance unforgettable.

Just like filmmakers did with the Back to the Future trilogy. The final moments of the first film flipped everything on its head: just as Marty settles back into normal life, Doc Brown returns with the unforgettable warning—“You’ve gotta come back with me! Back to the future!” In that moment, the hook was set. Cliffhangers like this don’t just drive sequels—they create legacy. In fact, the end of Part II launches us straight into Part III.