character descriptions - Writers Forum

saundersc01 · 04-16-2006, 05:30 PM

I'm writing a story now that has three girls as the main characters...I guess what I'm asking is how vague or detailed should I make the desrciptions without getting boring? They are all Greek, skinny and pretty.

Ted T. · 04-16-2006, 05:42 PM

Go for one characterising physical detail for each, and maybe a secondary one for the main personna.

After that, have them characterised by what they do and say or how others react to them.

Aztecsfinest · 04-16-2006, 05:42 PM

An example of your current descriptions would help. Perhaps they are not as boring as you think.

For my female characters I use detail, I mainly describe the face first, then the hair and then (*ahem*) the body. I use a respectable description of course, don't mention the breasts for the love of god! Unless that's what you're writing...

I would need an example and perhaps I could improve on it for you!

saundersc01 · 04-16-2006, 05:45 PM

well, this is what i got so far...Petra was of average height and had her hair pulled tightly back into a pony tail that reached half-way down her back. She was wearing a black, knee length skirt and shirt. Melitta opted for the less conservative look and went with her hair down, skirt half as short...i'm really not good at character desriptions, i never know how much to describe...

Anarkos · 04-16-2006, 05:48 PM

If it doesn't matter, don't mention it.

mammamaia · 04-16-2006, 07:01 PM

what matters is if this is a story or a novel... in the latter, you have more time and opportunity to round out the characters both physically and emotionally... in a short story, you have to give a quick take on them that will still make the readers picture them and develop a like or dislike, as the case may be...

what you have is pretty boring and borders on an info dump... and, as anarkos wisely noted, if a detail isn't important to the plot, leave it out...

remember the rule, 'show, don't tell!'... showing would be more like:

Quote:

Petra had an annoying habit of tossing her waist-length pony tail over her shoulder, in total disregard for anyone standing near enough to be whipped, as it flew. Her standard garb of black shirt and modestly-longish skirt was in stark contrast to best friend Melitta's much less conservative style--loose hair that provocatively covered one eye, and skirt half as short, top twice as tight.

that's just one example of how you can do it... the details aren't necessarily what your characters exhibit, but i wanted to show you how to make characters come more alive, when you describe them... hope it helps...

love and hugs, maia

saundersc01 · 04-16-2006, 07:06 PM

indeed it does help, but i should have pointed out that this was a funeral scene...it will be for a novel, so i guess i would have plenty of time to acurratly portray the habits and features of the girls.

imrhati · 04-16-2006, 08:53 PM

well use one main trait that is stereotypical i.e. slutty, vain, shy, courageous. there are tons of them.

cbrmale · 04-16-2006, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saundersc01

indeed it does help, but i should have pointed out that this was a funeral scene...it will be for a novel, so i guess i would have plenty of time to acurratly portray the habits and features of the girls.

Maia showed how you can integrate description into something bigger. Think about her example, and maybe something like putting a toned-down version of her description of the girl in the short skirt and then noting her appearance looked out of place at such a solemn occasion or whatever.

A person's clothes tell a lot about the person, so the clothes and therefore the description you write, should match how you intend each girl to behave as the story progresses. Conservative, wild, frivolous, sexy.

Anarkos · 04-16-2006, 10:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imrhati

well use one main trait that is stereotypical i.e. slutty, vain, shy, courageous. there are tons of them.

How about no...

bamagirl1984 · 04-16-2006, 10:32 PM

I say integrate your descriptions into the action of your story rather than mention them outright. (Let's say the three of them are in a bathroom together, getting ready for a night out. One girl could pull her blonde hair into a ponytail, for instance. You could incorporate more getting ready action into beats, like Julie put her foot on the counter and stretched her long leg. "I think I have a snag in my stockings.") Not the greatest examples, but that kind of thing. Even if this doesn't happen in the first chapter, I don't think people care what your characters wear or look like as much as they care that they identify with them. In my opinion, the best way to give readers a sense of the characters is with good dialogue, not description. I've never posted on a writing forum before, so I'm sorry if I came off sounding too blunt. Good luck to you!

Aztecsfinest · 04-17-2006, 12:55 PM

Ah, I see. The descriptions are far too detailed. Leave something for the reader to work out on their own, for example if I was reading something I wouldn't care if the main character has a mole behind his/her ears.

The church was brightly lit, mocking such a dark occasion 'insert name' thought.
She walked up the aisle her 'describe' shoes clattering (or whatever) on the aisle.

Do something like that! I'm sorry if it is of no use.

bamagirl1984 · 04-17-2006, 10:47 PM

I thought more about this question last night. There are some authors, and some writing styles, that permit up-front character descriptions as soon as you're introduced to the character. I don't personally think that's the best way to go, but it can be done.

aliceedelweiss · 04-17-2006, 10:56 PM

Theres a lot of ways you can go about this. From what other people have said, I think you can get the idea. But I just have one thought to ad, why not try them all? Try every different way you can think of to describe a person, and then pick the one you like or that fits best. maybe you just want to tell the read how they look? (hopefully not in an info dump...) or maybe it comes through the story slowly with action? It all depends on what you like.

Haruka · 04-17-2006, 11:01 PM

In my experience I've learned that head-on character descriptions are boring and a big turn-off so, unless (and I strain this) it's REEEEEEEEEAAAALLY important don't describe it at all. What you can do is do it in little pieces, details here and there instead of doing it all together.

Eg. "Her long black hair was starting to be a nuisance even tied up in a ponytail.......she regarded herself in the mirror one more time, congratulating herself on her excellent choice of short black skirt with an elegant blouse......instead Melissa opted for a more subdued dress.......matching well with her short hair and simple personality...."

Just insert actions and/or descriptions of something else in the '....'