Physical Attributes Entry: Butts

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. 


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.









BUTTS




Descriptors: round, flat, huge, tiny, muscular, fat, bony, lumpy, curvy, cute, hard, tight, dimpled, hairy, pimpled, smooth, fleshy, jiggly, bouncy, firm, doughy


Synonyms: rump, bottom, rear end, ass, backside, trunk, bum, derriére, fanny, gluteous maximus, posterior, tush, buttocks, cheeks, tail, keister, behind, hiney, caboose, arse



Famous References from Pop Culture: 


Kim Kardashian
Baby Got Back (Sir Mix-a-Lot)
Beyoncé
Jennifer Lopez


Simile and Metaphor Help:                         



He was a definite hard body. I'm pretty sure if I flicked his ass, it would ring like a bell.
I swung my legs out of bed and stifled a shriek. Gingerly, I poked at the wooden slabs that used to be my glutes. Must've overdone it with the lunges yesterday. 



Clichés to Avoid : smooth as a baby's bottom; butts so big you could show a movie on them; doing a job half-assed; rigid or stuck-up people described as having a pole up their ass





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: I sat carefully on the plastic chair. It creaked but held my weight as my rear end oozed over the sides like batter in a waffle iron. Someone groaned behind me. Then a snicker. I opened my history book and pretended to read.




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


And here's one for all of us who were alive in the 80s: