Character Descriptions

[Megan]

Hi there

So... it always helps to know what a characetr looks like... it helps you picture them in the story.

How soon after introducing a character should you ideally describe them though? do you need to do it right away, or could it wait a few chapters?

cheers
M

[Diana]

I learned over the years to only describe very few aspects of a character's appearance and let the reader build the image for him or herself. When you add in their personality, it rounds out the whole picture.

The one thing that many authors do is describe their main character down to the last shoelace which leaves no room for imagination. That is a desperate mistake! However, in the long run it it's up to the author and how he or she wants to work it.

[Megan]

Thank you Diana, that's really helpful :)

[Doreen]

I tend not to describe my characters a lot, and I wondered how other writers handled it. So I re-read one of my favourite books (Slighlty Dangerous by Mary Balogh) specifically looking for descriptions.

She doesn't describe them much either - a few salient details, that's all.

So that's what I do.

[Sarah]

That's really helpful Diana! Just passing by, as I noticed the thread title.

[Daniel]

Victor Hugo goes into gerat depth when there is some emotional crisis the character has to think his way through. I recall hating Lawrence for the same reason...pages of detailed analysis.

I think for the most par good writers use a variety of ways to ensure by the time you finish the book you know who the people are you have been reading about.

:)

[Megan]

Thank you everyone... I appreciate your feedback :)

[Emily]

I didn't describe mine much either, but was hammered in reviews for not doing so. Though, I as a reader get bored when there is too much detail.

[Library Lady 📚]

It depends a lot on genre. Some expect a rundown of what each character is wearing (just a sentence, but always there) every time they walk on stage. Others never describe appearance.

I like the descriptions in The Hunger Games. She never tells us exactly what Katniss looks like, but we know she has a braid and wears leather boots, etc.

I don't mind descriptions as long as they aren't harped upon over and over (Twilight, anyone? lol). Romance tends to do that, but it's gotten a bit better.