Descriptions of characters can be among the more enjoyable aspects of writing fiction. There is a lot to think about when we create a new character, so its important to monitor their descriptions.
The very first thing writers often think of when bringing characters to life is their physical description. The reader is told of the character's dashing good looks, curly blonde hair, and clear blue eyes. This is great for helping the reader to get a view of the appearance in their mind's eye, but the most memorable characters are those who have special characteristics.
The bald man who is squidgy around the edges, or the woman with the bags under her eyes and a stray hair under her chin ignite the reader's imagination and allow them a little more fun.
Zadie Smith does it beautifully in White Teeth - a favourite being the woman from the council who she says 'even on dry days resembled a long-haired cat soaked to the skin.' Nothing else needs to be said, and we remember that character vividly in our own imaginations!
I'm not saying all characters should be outlandish or strange looking, but adding quirky details stimulates interest, and creates depth. The main character of course, needs to be loved by the reader, and it is often helpful to give them traditional 'good' looks, as they are memorable for so many other reasons.
When drafting stories and thinking up character profiles, don't end at physical descriptions. A good technique is to use character profile sheets that omit physical description for the most part. Instead, type the main characteristics of the desired physical attributes into a search engine such as Google Images. For example, type the keywords: tanned, male, strong jaw line, blue eyes, and cap. It's easy to select an image from there that will prompt the imagination. This becomes the vision of the character.
Using this vision in mind, it becomes easier to focus on other descriptions that create depth to characters such as: What keeps them awake at night? How do they identify with stress? What do they find amusing? What is the toughest moral decision they have ever been forced to make? And, how is their heart in conflict with itself? These are the real descriptions that bring your character to becoming real.
In addition, experiment with your character before letting them loose in your story. Getting to know characters 'off stage' before they act out their scenes can take things to a completely new level. This brings them to life and adds another dimension to your authentic character profiles.
The very first thing writers often think of when bringing characters to life is their physical description. The reader is told of the character's dashing good looks, curly blonde hair, and clear blue eyes. This is great for helping the reader to get a view of the appearance in their mind's eye, but the most memorable characters are those who have special characteristics.
The bald man who is squidgy around the edges, or the woman with the bags under her eyes and a stray hair under her chin ignite the reader's imagination and allow them a little more fun.
Zadie Smith does it beautifully in White Teeth - a favourite being the woman from the council who she says 'even on dry days resembled a long-haired cat soaked to the skin.' Nothing else needs to be said, and we remember that character vividly in our own imaginations!
I'm not saying all characters should be outlandish or strange looking, but adding quirky details stimulates interest, and creates depth. The main character of course, needs to be loved by the reader, and it is often helpful to give them traditional 'good' looks, as they are memorable for so many other reasons.
When drafting stories and thinking up character profiles, don't end at physical descriptions. A good technique is to use character profile sheets that omit physical description for the most part. Instead, type the main characteristics of the desired physical attributes into a search engine such as Google Images. For example, type the keywords: tanned, male, strong jaw line, blue eyes, and cap. It's easy to select an image from there that will prompt the imagination. This becomes the vision of the character.
Using this vision in mind, it becomes easier to focus on other descriptions that create depth to characters such as: What keeps them awake at night? How do they identify with stress? What do they find amusing? What is the toughest moral decision they have ever been forced to make? And, how is their heart in conflict with itself? These are the real descriptions that bring your character to becoming real.
In addition, experiment with your character before letting them loose in your story. Getting to know characters 'off stage' before they act out their scenes can take things to a completely new level. This brings them to life and adds another dimension to your authentic character profiles.
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