Character physical descriptions

[David]

How much detail about a character's physical description do you include? Do you make your main female characters look like Greek goddesses with long blonde hair, slim waists and other attributes, or do go for a more modern appearance, including descriptions and locations of piercings and tattoos? Do you include skin color or other characteristics a reader might associate with a given race?
I need to do a better job describing my characters' appearances. The question I'm trying to determine is: How much is too much? How much is not enough?
Also, when you refer to a portion of someone's anatomy, especially when the scene is erotic, do you use an anatomical term such as nose or eyes, or slang such as honker or orb? What do you find keeps your readers interested without offending them or boring them?
My goal is to learn and improve, not offend you or a reader.
You can contact me directly at davereyn83@gmail.com or leave a reply here with any responses.
Thank-you for your time.
>>David Reynolds

[Nat]

If you do add the descriptions, I usually put it in action. He runs his hand through his fluffy blond hair, or something, not just say he has blond hair.

I try to include important stuff, like a scar, or drowsy eyes, or if they dress a certain way that explains their character. Are they sloppy, are they immaculate. Expensive clothing or ripped up jeans.

Make description work doubly for you.

Never Never use orb... imho.

You'll offend someone someday. It is inevitable. :(

Keep writing and keep learning!

[Jesslyn]

Like Nat said, try to tie it into an action. One of my favorites with insecure characters is to have them compare themselves--"I couldn't help but compare her black hair to my own, seeing how hers rolled off her shoulders in long waves." And now you know she has black hair.

Never try to describe a character all at once. I don't want to sit and read a paragraph about how they look. Try to take their most descriptive features, as Nat said, and show them first. The rest can be sprinkled here and there.

Never use slang like "orb" in erotica....

[Keith]

I try to only put description in when it's relevant. My current works are in first-person, which has created some challenges and sometimes it may be chapters before the reader learns anything concrete about the character as a consequence.

I think the main issue is to make the character description, as the others have mentioned, part of the story. It's also related to the POV of a given character as well. If my character doesn't care about eye color, for instance, it will never come up, unless there is a specific plot element (which hasn't happened yet). It might be easier in third-person to give more description, but I personally would rather challenge my readers to use their imagination, so am often terse in my character description on purpose.

Definitely don't need to get carried away, though. Just like sticking with 'said', stick with standards like eye and hair. Over flowery descriptions force your reader to focus on your prose rather than your story.

[David]

Thanks for the tips. I've tending to follow Keith's comments in past work: I intentionally leave most of a character's description up to the reader's imagination. This way they see themselves as that person, drawing them deeper into the story.
While I don't have any tattoos, I can understand how one or more can fit a story. A tat works as a conversation point to engage two characters or as motivation. For example, someone has a tat in memory of someone. Recalling the memory of them causes them to take an action.
Thanks everyone. Let's keep this discussion moving.