Making a statement: Introducing characters

If you asked me the most common problem I run into with new authors it would be that they fail to grasp how to introduce characters. I blame the school system in part as it has failed miserably in teaching writing beyond the stereotypical, mundane copy paste format. Students are often never challenged to introduce characters in ways that are genuinely engaging, and, it is easy (particularly with the rise in comics/TV) to just focus on the visual. 

IF you want to make characters your reader will remember and love, you must first understand that readers are not looking for a shopping list! This shopping list type of introductions is frankly, a plague upon amateur writing. It is soooo boring and is actually harming your story more than helping it. 

An example of shopping list writing . . . [literally just made this up off the top of my head]

"He was a middle-aged, average height man, black hair gone grey in patches. He stood five foot seven and, despite his stature, commanded a presence of authority. That being said, his grizzled, burned hand held no room for doubt as to his purpose at the meeting."

Now, does that capture anyone's interest? No. Just no. If anything, it makes you skip, hop, and jump through the description until you get to the "good part." Then, later in the story, authors expect the reader to remember those details. It's nigh on impossible!

Some tips on writing actually motivating introductions . . .

Use comparisons, particularly unique comparisons, don't rely on stereotypical ones
SPREAD IT OUT. You have a few lines to grab their attention, but the whole section to cement the character in the reader's eye
Avoid shopping lists or their hybrids "aka" the mirror descriptions where the character looks at themselves or thinks about their physical traits. 
Use all or a lot of the senses. Don't stick to just sight. Sight is a small portion of the big picture. Learn to use words that imply several senses at once.
Use words that elicit different emotions and reactions.
 

A sample of what I hope would come off as a good introduction . . .

"The long neglected hinge joints squeaked in protest as a figure several inches clear of the door-frame limped into the captain's quarters. Instantly, Anne felt as if she had been tossed onto the set of a Moby Dick stage production. From under the hood of his canary yellow rubber jacket she could make out two beady brown eyes appraising her as if she were some nasty, slithering thing that had wheedled its way into his net. Without preamble or ceremony, he staggered into the nearest chair, eliciting a groan from its spindly legs. Then, just as suddenly, he withdrew a weather-worn pipe from his outer pocket, lit it, and began blowing the fowl scent of musty tobacco about the confined chamber."

Hope this tip helps. If you want to practice below, comment a practice sample like I did above and I'll critique it for you! 

— Bluegrass