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.

Whether you’re building a new world, introducing a complex backstory, or creating high-stakes conflict, the temptation to explain everything right away is real. But dumping too much information too quickly can kill your story’s momentum, overwhelm your reader, and break immersion. Today’s Tony Tips Tuesdays™ is all about avoiding info dumps—and instead, mastering the art of showing, sprinkling, and layering information throughout your story.