Mastering Character Descriptions
When you’re writing a book, and collating a wide or small cast of characters upon the stage of your story, do you know what they look like? Do you not have an immediate vision in your head of what they each look like or dress? Or do you have a crisp image, or a drawing or photograph even.
Regardless, there comes the first instance when your characters each make their first appearance in your story, and so there also comes the process of how you describe and introduce them.
The major joy of books and novels is the joint collaboration between author and reader. Hundreds of readers may read the same book but view its contents and events in different ways. Even viewing the same character in two completely different shades. As per usual with most information you indulge in delivering, I’ve learned that you never want too much or too little.
I’ve heard some readers say they want no character descriptions at all. They wish to sculpt this new person themselves in their own minds. This baffles me but to each their own. However, almost everyone complains when the introduction and description of a character goes on for far too long in one sitting. More than a page I dare say, could be deemed too much.
Therefore, I personally think that the introduction of a character, and everything about them should be “introduced” throughout the entire story right to the very end. A book long “Introduction” if you will.
Follow me.
If a scene you’re writing takes place in a specific environment, you wouldn’t quite dump all the necessary information right at the front before proceeding with the plot. Right? You would include the right pieces when necessary throughout the scene and show important features when necessary to the story.
Likewise, when it comes to a character’s appearance, backstory, behaviour and personality, dumping all of that upfront before the character even has a chance to speak for the first time, isn’t easy to digest all at once, and it certainly isn’t fun to read.
Your entire story is an opportunity to slowly reveal pieces of your characters over time, giving little subtle peeks into their world and how they live in it.
As far as direct description goes, covering the bases on hair, eyes, face, skin, clothing is up to your discretion, but also not necessary. Reader’s may not hold these details too close to heart unless you stress their importance to the story (if any).
Clothing may be the best choice out of all these, as fashion is how we can (or even can’t) express ourselves. The style, the cleanliness, the era etc.
Anything specific that may have your character stand out and be memorable is definitely worth mentioning, especially if it is tied to the character’s current or backstory. Readers may not always remember what shade of green your MC has, but Long John Silver has his crutch, Harry Potter his lightning bolt scar, the Artful Dodger and his…
…actually, that’s an amazing example. Look at Dicken’s “Oliver Twist” and read the author’s vivid description of the Artful Dodger when the pickpocketer first comes to page. Even the simple phrase of “as dirty a juvenile as one would wish to see; but he had got all about him all the airs and manners of a man.”, delivers a rather good idea of the boy not just in appearance, but in possible behaviour and bravado. Again, capture the “idea”, the “essence” of a character, and that may stick harder.
A character’s appearance is the product of that character’s life, the reflection of their nature, personality, behaviour and even intentions.
The way the Dodgers clothes are described as many sizes too big and carrying all manner of filth goes many lengths to show the character’s financial situation and/or even a high sense of self, so to speak.
Another point, actions speak louder than words. Humans do everything for a reason, seeing characters perform deeds or actions can speak volumes on what kind of person they are, be it pickpocketing a gentleman or rescuing a cat from a tree. First impressions for the first appearance of a character are just as important as those in real life.
Even the way you could describe a character doing something can reveal more about them than if you were to condescendingly spoon feed information to your reader.
Long delicate fingers elegantly swirling a spoon by its end without making any clink in the China teacup, might tell you what this person might be like. But withered hands with cracked knuckles that shake as they stir a spoon that rattles in a tin mug, gives a different view of a different person altogether. Even if, they are performing essentially the same action. Being choosy with our adjectives, pays off a lot.
As a little exercise for yourself, pick any character in a story you are writing (or just one you like from another existing work!) and try to describe them using five separate words. Not ones to form a sentence, just five individual words to define that person.
Now whittle them down to three of your strongest, then two (pick and swap out new ones if you wish).
Finally, I want you to try and describe your character using one word only.
A word that gives the reader the biggest idea of who your character is, with the minimum word count.
I don’t wish to batter you with the annoying adage of “Show don’t Tell” but let your character explain and express themselves, and if you already know your characters top to bottom, that may deliver amazing results indeed.
Thank you for reading and have a beautiful day!
Daniel
