Physical Traits Entry: Athletic Build

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.









ATHLETIC BUILD






Descriptors: Broad shoulders and back, narrow waist, flat stomach, toned and enlarged muscles, lean frame, low body fat, well-proportioned, a ripped physique


People Likely to have an Athle tic Build: professional and amateur athletes, health-conscious individuals, physical trainers, firefighters, police officers



Famous Examples :


Bruce Lee
Channing Tatum
Usain Bolt
Lolo Jones
Michael Jordan
Bo Jackson


Simile and Metaphor Help:                         



Andy stuffed stack after stack of pancakes into his mouth, his muscles bulging in his perfectly-proportioned body like boulders being pushed to the surface by tectonic activity. It wasn't fair, the differences between guys and girls. I picked at my fruit salad and scowled.
Muscular and scowling, she held the tennis racket like a club and hopped from foot to foot—a lion, scenting weaker prey and biding its time. I gripped my own racket to keep it from shaking and swallowed. Hard.


Clichés to Avoid : the athletic body being compared to a machine



Twists on the Stereotypical Athletic Build:


Athletic builds are almost always tanned, dark-skinned, or some other enviable shade. How about an athletic body that's a little less desirable, like pale, veined, acned, or sickly?
This body type is almost always well-proportioned according to society's standards. What about an extremely short person with an athlete's body?
Athletic bodies usually take a lot of deliberate work to get into the desired condition. A character with a naturally athletic build who doesn't have to work at it can cause for some interesting conflict among jealous or petty friends—especially if the character doesn't have the typically disciplined mindset to accompany it.



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: The treadmill beeped and Jess slid off, trying not to fall over. The workout had been a killer, and then the run on top of that...She wiped her face and caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her muscles stood out, nearly pulsing after what she'd put them through. And by the looks of it, she'd managed to work off that cookie from yesterday. But volleyball tryouts were tomorrow, and she wasn't the only one vying for a starting spot. She tossed the towel over her shoulder and headed for the pull-up bar.