Visual character description and detail

As long as I can imagine something that makes them different from other characters, then I'm fine, but it is nice if there is a little bit more information than that.

 

Now I see where you're getting at. I thought it was more general.

Like, when introducing your character you say, a Spanish kid came onto the scene, he was tall, stocky, and had dark hair. He wore a cowboy hat on top of his head, a plain white T-shirt, blue jeans, hiking boots, and a pair of sunglasses. He had a stick in his hand that he was using as a walking stick and was accompanied by a Croconaw.

 

It's certainly important to find a balance. I feel like if you're using OC's, however, it's fine to be detailed, although there isn't much use going into the smaller details like describing their face shape or anything like that. However, I think that it's okay to describe, say, a scar, if said scar kind of... has importance when it comes to that character, if that makes sense.

Her pale blonde hair, kept tied into a ponytail, bounced against her shoulder. Her bangs swept across her forehead, with a curly strand of hair framing her face. She was an average height- not to tall, or short, but just average. Her bright blue, catty eyes...

Maybe that's a bit too detailed, but I also did use extra words to try to lengthen the chapter overall. Alternatively, there's stories I've stumbled upon where the only thing described of a character was their hair and eye color, if at that. Sometimes, those things weren't even described at all, and descriptions were mostly left to the reader's imagination.

I feel like lack of a description for a character can make it hard to relate to them on a certain level because (for me personally) I can't put a face to that character. It's like when someone tells me about someone, and I know the name, but I don't know the face, so I can't exactly understand the context, if that makes any sense at all. I suppose it really all depends on your writing style, but I don't mind some extra detail, especially when it comes to describing people.

 

I like to have at least some character description, though if there's going to be any descriptions going on, I would prefer it to focus more on the clothes, for some reason. I feel like clothes can say a lot about a person. For example, I may or may not point out that a character that I write about has slightly spiky dark hair, but I will definitely say that he wears a blue and orange striped shirt with matching fingerless gloves, dark ripped jeans, and a leather jacket. He's a unique character, and he has a unique style. If it gives the readers a better idea of who they're reading about (especially if it contributes to their personality), then I don't mind physical description just as long as it doesn't go too far.

 

All I need is a few prominent details for me to construct an image of a character. I don't mind a more lengthy description, as long as it adds to the story somehow. I just can't stand it when the author grinds the story to a halt so they can tell the reader exactly what a new character looks like.

Compare:

The tough-looking girl was tall, with short brown hair and green eyes. She wore blue shoes, an old red jacket and a tank top.

With:

She towered over everyone else in the room. Her worn jacket was stretched tight across her broad shoulders, half-concealing a shirt that had been practically torn to pieces. Her filthy, scuffed shoes squeaked as she continuously shifted her weight from one foot to another, her piercing green eyes darting from face to face like a predator seeking unsuspecting prey.

There's more or less the same information being conveyed in both paragraphs, the difference is in what they tell the reader. The first paragraph just describes the girl; she has brown hair and green eyes. Even though the second paragraph's longer, it feels less boring because constructs a character and sets a mood by giving specific details. The audience questions what Scary Girl wants, what she's thinking, what happened to her, etc. They don't need to know that her hair is short and brown.

Additional information on a character's appearance can be slipped in throughout the text. Maybe the POV character later comments on how Scary Girl's brown hair had been hacked short, or notes that her nails have been chewed on. It's tempting to try and give the reader every detail about a character at once, but it's usually best to give a handful of important features first, and reveal extra details later.

Sorry about my rambling, this has just become a pet peeve of mine. I just finished reading a story where whenever the characters changed clothes (and that happened too often), you got to hear what they were wearing down to their every accessory and... I mean, unless the colour of their clothes can ward off wild animals and their bracelets are sub-machine guns in disguise, I don't care.

 

Have to admit, while I was reading your list of character details my eyes glazed over until I reached the end. For starters, that happens a lot unfortunately, but I also just hate lists like that. There's no way that I'll remember the character's looks from one singular uninteresting list of words. Generally the only thing I need about the character is what makes them stand out from everyone else. That can be facial structure to simply eye color. However, just saying their eye color isn't my style either. For better or for worse, I like to weave features and ideas into the story. This means that I generally don't say something or show a particular character detail unless the story/situation calls for it or allows me to show it. Since I write first person characters, these moment don't come often.

Also I don't hold onto the image of a character the first time I see it. As they say, repetition is the key to memorization. Now I'm not saying that I like the author listing off the character details multiple times or reminding us in in poorly written ways, but instead I like it when the traits of a character are portrayed in subtle ways that often have double uses. For example, "He grabbed his thick greasy black hair and held him in close" or "Her sharp lavender eyes forced him into submission." Most of the time, this is how I remember what a character looks like rather than a list at the beginning.

I honestly haven't written very many character descriptions because I have a very hard time imagining the face of whoever I'm writing about and I haven't written many characters. So I don't have any example from my writing to show here. However, when I write, I write minimalist when it comes to character details and I try not to distract from the story with the visuals.

 

This is more or less the approach I like to take within my writing. I find it better to incorporate character description throughout a scene so it flows more naturally. For example, instead of saying outright that "Sally had messy red hair", I'd fit it into a scene where it makes sense to describe. Working with the same example, I'd probably write along the lines of "Sally frustratingly tried to tame her ginger hair, which was knotted and messy from the party she had been at the night before." This type of description I usually reserve for the protagonist, as it flows nicely into scenes and more description. The key is to give enough to guide the reader's imagination without being too intrusive.

When it comes to describing other characters, I try to use my regular approach where possible and stick to brief description otherwise. The old professor at the university doesn't need too much description if he only shows up once to deliver a line and is never heard from again. With such basic characters, I usually try to create one feature that sticks out for them, such as a big nose, odd hair colour, or maybe a unique mannerism. This method makes them interesting enough to be important while they're around, but not important enough to steal a scene (although sometimes it can be fun if they do!)

 

I usually just show them through bits and pieces from a character’s actions. Such as “Frazzled, Nathaniel slammed his head into the wall, his dark curls slightly cushioning the fall.” Description is the last thing I do.