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Sociopastry posted:How in the gently caress do I do character descriptions Have them look in a mirror but it's cracked so they can't see anything
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Feb 2, 2018 00:55
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| # ? May 10, 2024 06:32 |
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write an entire extended history novel within your novel about the important events that led to the conception of the character you're describing. then throw that all away and write one to two sentences about their most distinguishing characteristics.
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Feb 2, 2018 01:00
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anime was right posted:write an entire extended history novel within your novel about the important events that led to the conception of the character you're describing. then throw that all away and write one to two sentences about their most distinguishing characteristics. The old “novel within a sentence” trick, eh?
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Feb 2, 2018 01:05
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Sociopastry posted:How in the gently caress do I do character descriptions Remember that the operative word is character. Don't just say "Bob had black hair", say "Bob liked that his black hair added an air of menace." Don't say that "Lisa was short", say that "Lisa actually enjoyed being petite because it led people to underestimate her."
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Feb 2, 2018 01:46
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Stabbey_the_Clown posted:Remember that the operative word is character. Don't just say "Bob had black hair", say "Bob liked that his black hair added an air of menace." Don't say that "Lisa was short", say that "Lisa actually enjoyed being petite because it led people to underestimate her." You can also do a lot to describe people by comparing them to other people in the scene. People compare themselves to each other all the time, so it's only natural to have a character think something like that. Example: 'Julie had cut her hair short, which was something Mary had always wanted to do but never had the guts'. Now we know something about Julie's appearance, something about Mary's appearence, and something about Mary's fears/values. Three facts, one sentence.
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Feb 2, 2018 02:06
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Sociopastry posted:How in the gently caress do I do character descriptions What kind of character descriptions do you mean? If you mean in-book physical descriptions, you might find this post useful (it's annoying to do double quotes, so you'll have to go look at the original lol) Dr. Kloctopussy posted:How do I insert physical descriptions?
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Feb 2, 2018 02:17
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Also remember that by describing a person's surroundings you are also describing them.
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Feb 2, 2018 02:17
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Sociopastry posted:How in the gently caress do I do character descriptions Don't bother unless it's a detail that reveals something about the character. ex: A character who's dressed tidily or sloppily says something about their personality. Listing their eye color, hair color, hair length, height, and weight to the ounce like you're filling out an RP character sheet does not. Also, read more. Specifically, books similar to the time period/tone/whatever you're going for, and pay attention to which bits of description stick in your mind and which don't. Or any book, doesn't have to be the same as you're writing. In the first Collegia Magica book, the character Ilario, ostensibly a knight, is introduced as a fop dressed in clashing colors, way too much lace, and a ridiculous feathered hat. At one point the protagonist notes that the feather seems to slump with him when he looks disappointed. It paints a clear image of someone who's a bit absurd, over-the-top, like a cartoon character plopped into a serious adult fantasy novel. Which is the point for that character, for reasons that become apparent later on. Carol Berg does like to describe clothes more than is strictly necessary, but in a way that reveals the characters--both the one wearing it, and the one observing it. That example's stuck with me for years now. I consider her one of the best character-focused fantasy authors I've read. You could do worse than read her books for examples. I'll try to think of other sources. Haven't read much in a while.
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Feb 2, 2018 02:44
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The character descriptions I remember from the Abhorsen books were either things that were a part of someone's character as well (Lirael is pale and dark-haired, unlike the rest of the tanned, light-haired Clayr, which is one of the reasons why she feels distant and alienated from them) or that added flavor and specificity to a plot beat (describing what clothes someone packs for a trip, or the outfit someone gets when they assume a new role.)
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Feb 2, 2018 08:22
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One thing to not do is something I read in a lovely teen sci fi romance. Practically every scene involves a description of every characters' hair. I don't have any idea about these characters' motives or morals but I can tell you what their goddamn hair looks like. And I'm 400 pages into the thing!
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Feb 2, 2018 15:40
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apophenium posted:One thing to not do is something I read in a lovely teen sci fi romance. Practically every scene involves a description of every characters' hair. I don't have any idea about these characters' motives or morals but I can tell you what their goddamn hair looks like. And I'm 400 pages into the thing! what if im using each character's hair as an analogy for something HUh Huh!?! what then huh (oh god im a hack)
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Feb 2, 2018 18:23
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apophenium posted:One thing to not do is something I read in a lovely teen sci fi romance. Practically every scene involves a description of every characters' hair. I don't have any idea about these characters' motives or morals but I can tell you what their goddamn hair looks like. And I'm 400 pages into the thing! Are you sure you weren't reading one of those books of different haircuts they put out in barbershop waiting areas?
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Feb 2, 2018 22:55
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After The War posted:Are you sure you weren't reading one of those books of different haircuts they put out in barbershop waiting areas? was it written in a clipped tone of voice
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Feb 3, 2018 00:33
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Ironic Twist posted:was it written in a clipped tone of voice reported
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Feb 3, 2018 02:40
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Thanks, all. I've struggled a lot with describing physical aspects of my characters without doing that thing I hate where the author's like "so and so looked in the mirror and described themselves perfectly"
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Feb 3, 2018 02:49
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Ironic Twist posted:was it written in a clipped tone of voice It's fair to say. The style first appears to be a dyed in the wool approach--and it's true to its roots, to be honest--but when you really start to split hairs the approach is a tangled mess. If the author just trimmed it down, or cut it entirely, the final volume's twist ending would have paid off. My opinion might be coarse, but I might not be the mane audience for this genre. As for actual content, characterization in The Hunger Games: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/mar/28/hunger-games-cast-racist-imagined quote:And as several people have pointed out, author Suzanne Collins made it very clear indeed that Rue was dark-skinned (black, as opposed to the more ambiguous description of Katniss as "olive-skinned"), as was her co-tribute from District 11, Thresh. So it comes to this: if the casting of Rue, Thresh and Cinna has left you bewildered and upset, consider two things. One: you may be a racist – congrats! Two: you definitely lack basic reading comprehension. I haven't read the books and barely watched the movies, but a lot of dumb racist people were upset that characters were non-white. The books (apparently) established their skin tone but since it wasn't put as "[main character's] black friend enters the room" every time she enters a scene people just made their own vision of the character(s). In that way, less detail can be good for an author to engage the reader; in another way, maybe be specific about race only just to piss assholes off. The Sean fucked around with this message at 05:15 on Feb 3, 2018 |
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Feb 3, 2018 04:58
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Ironic Twist posted:was it written in a clipped tone of voice The Sean posted:It's fair to say. The style first appears to be a dyed in the wool approach--and it's true to its roots, to be honest--but when you really start to split hairs the approach is a tangled mess. If the author just trimmed it down, or cut it entirely, the final volume's twist ending would have paid off. My opinion might be coarse, but I might not be the mane audience for this genre. goood puns Unfortunately I hate puns, because I'm a horrible fusing of flesh and metal that breaks every law of both god and man. Also I just realised that handing out whimsical six hour probations for pun chains is a thing I can do, haha. Do with this information what you will, people of CC sebmojo fucked around with this message at 09:06 on Feb 3, 2018 |
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Feb 3, 2018 09:03
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sebmojo posted:goood puns oh no he's power tripping (no pun intended)
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Feb 3, 2018 09:21
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Sitting Here posted:oh no he's power tripping (no pun intended) 
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Feb 3, 2018 19:57
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he really has his "butt on" the pulse (USER WAS PUT ON PROBATION FOR THIS POST)
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Feb 4, 2018 07:02
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TLDR: Give up writing nobody reads anyway. Put all your effort into narrating audiobooks. Which isn't writing. You're just telling stories. Totally different you know what just give up and go play Skyrim some more.
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Feb 5, 2018 21:11
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magnificent7 posted:TLDR: Give up writing nobody reads anyway. Put all your effort into narrating audiobooks. Which isn't writing. You're just telling stories. Totally different you know what just give up and go play Skyrim some more. In a sense video games are the new books but you dont write them: you play them.
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Feb 5, 2018 21:23
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sebmojo posted:In a sense video games are the new books but you dont write them: you play them. oh good I feel a hell of a lot better then.
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Feb 5, 2018 21:57
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sebmojo posted:In a sense video games are the new books but you dont write them: you play them. Well both the Metro and Witcher series did it this way, so might well be the way to go.
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Feb 5, 2018 22:22
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Is a character using a mirror bad? I thought everyone had mirrors.
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Feb 7, 2018 06:48
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sunken fleet posted:Is a character using a mirror bad? I thought everyone had mirrors. Having a character look in a mirror and describe themselves is an overused way to convey the physical appearance of your character. Books are still getting published where it happens though, so it's not an absolute no-no by industry standards, at least. But really, when you look in the mirror, do you mentally describe yourself? Do you think "My honey blond hair was shoulder length, ending just above slim arms and a pair of modest breasts. My blue eyes stared back at me, surrounded by thick lashes." No, you're probably like "poo poo, hair is a mess and don't have time to fix it."
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Feb 7, 2018 07:29
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its ok just have your character take a selfie or look at their own FriendSphere profile and talk about their picture there
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Feb 7, 2018 07:32
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all my characters are blind and feel their own faces to describe them.
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Feb 7, 2018 08:10
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What if they look in the mirror....and the mirror....looks back
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Feb 7, 2018 09:04
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I used a mirror once. Once.
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Feb 7, 2018 16:51
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Dr. Kloctopussy posted:What if they look in the mirror....and the mirror....looks back Don’t let your characters be rude, strike up a polite conversation and introduce themselves!
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Feb 7, 2018 17:01
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sunken fleet posted:Is a character using a mirror bad? I thought everyone had mirrors. Conversely: when is using a mirror good?
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Feb 7, 2018 17:18
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The Sean posted:Conversely: when is using a mirror good? How else am I going to know if my fedora is askew just so?
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Feb 7, 2018 17:31
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Cpt. Mahatma Gandhi posted:How else am I going to know if my fedora is askew just so? You'll know in your soul
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Feb 7, 2018 17:59
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The Sean posted:Conversely: when is using a mirror good? I think when you the character has gone through a series of bad events. Using a mirror and washing up is considered "down time" and when they look through the mirror they just how much they have gone through. (Note, this isn't used to initially describe your character, it's done after, so we get the contrast) It's significant because we not only get a description of the injuries and you get to see the characters reactions and thoughts as they see how much damage they have been put through. It can also be used as a nice "cooldown" scene if you have had a bunch of action scenes.
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Feb 7, 2018 18:30
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Honestly I think the whole mirror trope is one of those bugbears of modern writing that got lifted from film, since it sort of makes sense (though really, not that much more sense) in a visual medium for a character to stare at themselves in a mirror and kind of take in their appearance or the tribulations they've just been through. Like so many other devices, especially those lifted from visual media, I think it's one that isn't inherently bad, but 90% of the time they're done out of laziness or convenience, not because looking in the mirror is something essential that your character must do to achieve a goal or because it's in a thread of thematically-related scenes. If you're doing it, ask if there's a better way to achieve the same end, because I guarantee whatever you come up with will at least make my eyes roll a whole lot less than a character staring in a mirror. That said, I think it's always interesting when a thread like this takes a known overused/bad writing device and asks, "hey, when is this thing actually good a/o the right choice?" So I'm curious to see what could be done with it.
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Feb 7, 2018 18:49
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I'd think about the only time you'd actually use a mirror to describe a viewpoint character from scratch is if somehow this is the first time they've seen themselves in a reflective surface. So if the character was blind and can now see, or lived in a cave or a primitive life in a place without still water to see themselves in, or is somehow experiencing a Quantum Leap situation, then sure. You miiight be able to get away with a descriptive detail if it's in comparison to something extraordinary. "Bob glanced in the hall mirror and stopped, amazed. Somehow, his normally brown hair had gained a shock of grey at the temples within the past half hour." It's also possible to use a mirror if the character is a massive narcissist. "Bob smirked at his glorious reflection. Shoulders still broad. Eyes still twinkling blue. Blond hair still perfectly coiffed. He felt something shift, just a bit, in his groin area. Aw yeah."
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Feb 7, 2018 19:00
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poo poo, I meant that to be more rhetorical but I wasn't clear. It's "good" when it's actually furthering the plot, is the answer. A character examining wounds or a new blemish works, too.
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Feb 7, 2018 19:18
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clearly the trick is to cold open to a wounded protagonist
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Feb 7, 2018 19:22
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| # ? May 10, 2024 06:32 |
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anime was right posted:clearly the trick is to cold open to a wounded protagonist being chased by something, thinking how they would be in the clear, "if only I had _______"
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Feb 7, 2018 19:23
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