A major difficulty is to make the introductions brief, yet memorable, a challenge made doubly difficult by the fact that the story is a narrative poem. However, although the writing is slow, I feel I've succeeded in sketching three-dimensional characters in as few a words as possible.
Below is part of the description of Earl James of Perth's son:
This sullen boy, clept Andrew, stayed detached
From other lads, yet grew to be unmatched
In horsemanship and battling with a sword;
Then adolescence guided him abroad
In search of wilful lasses living near
The castle gate, or else to hunt for deer
Amongst the forest trees, till every day
Was spent pursuing one of either prey.
By next week, I hope to report on murder being done - in my story, that is.
Below are links to my two Global Short Story Competition winners, my short-listed story for the National newspaper, Abu Dhabi, and my Canterbury Tale published by Coscom Entertainment:
http://coscomentertainment.com/?p=159
http://www.globalshortstories.net/winningstoriesjuly09.pdf
http://www.globalshortstories.net/winningstoriesdec09.pdf
http://www.thenational.ae/arts-culture/short-story-a-day-for-decisiveness
Happy writing!