Physical Attribute Entry: Teeth

Before we get to today's entry, Becca and I want to wish our pal LENNY a Happy 13th Birthday! If you want to find out more about this amazing kid and super-intuitive writer-in-the-making, please stop in at his blog, Lenny's World! You will be glad you did!









Physical description of a character can be difficult to convey—too much will slow the pace or feel 'list-like', while too little will not allow readers to form a clear mental image. If a reader cannot imagine what your character looks like, they may have trouble connecting with them on a personal level, or caring about their plight. 





DavidShankbone


One way to balance the showing and telling of physical description is to showcase a few details that really help 'tell the story' about who your character is and what they've been through up to this point. Think about what makes them different and interesting. Can a unique feature, clothing choice or way they carry themselves help to hint at their personality? Also, consider how they move their body. Using movement will naturally show a character's physical characteristics, keep the pace flowing and help to convey their emotions.






TEETH


Descriptors: white, polished, orderly, straight, crooked, snaggle-tooth, twisted, yellowed, nicotine-stained, grey, rotten, pearly, buck toothed, healthy, bright, jutted, cracked, missing teeth, braces, crowns, capped, baby teeth, over sized, spaced, gaps, worn, overbite, under bite, sensitive teeth, aching, veneers, broken, dentures, false teeth, bridges, grinding, painful, implants, crowded, blackened, cavity-riddled, bumpy, loose, fanged



Things Teeth Do (and other words/phrases to describe those actions):



Cut: rip, slice, tear, shred, rend, split, cleave, pierce, strip


Chew: masticate, gnaw, mash, dent, grind, flatten, crush, chomp, nibble, wad


*Special* Teeth also impact the sound of a person's speech. Someone with missing teeth might adopt a slight whistle to some of their words. When dentures are removed, some words can sounds a bit muffled or slurry.



Key Emotions and Related Teeth Actions: 



Rage: Bearing the teeth at another; forcing harsh breaths through clenched teeth; biting to hurt or maim

Frustration: Tight jaw, teeth clamped; grinding teeth, tapping teeth together

Desire: licking teeth; rubbing the tongue over grooves, pulling in moisture; playful biting



Simile and Metaphor Help: 

                        




Straight: His smile was a white picket fence.

Whitened:  The politician flashed so many 'trust me' smiles that I felt like a celebrity facing down the paparazzi.




C lichés to Avoid :



Having "horse" teeth, that people from Britain have bad teeth; being told candy will rot your teeth; clenched teeth



HINT: When describing any part of the body, try to use cues that show the reader more than just a physical description. Make your descriptions do double duty. Example: Alan was efficient to the core. He didn't savor his food, taking small, considerate bites, pausing to reflect on the complex flavors of the citrus duck and saffron rice stuffing. No, instead he shoveled in bite after bite, his teeth tearing and mashing, consuming fuel to power the machine.






BONUS TIP: The Colors, Textures & Shapes Thesaurus in our sidebar might help you find a fresh take on some of the descriptors listed above!