CornerScribe

Get to Know Your Characters: Get Physical

I’m not a big fan of long physical descriptions, as a reder or writer. However, I think it’s a good idea to know what your characters look like, even if you never give your readers most of this information. At the very least, it will help you avoid mysterious growth spurts, hair changes, and similar transformations!

Make some basic notes about what your character looks like. If you have a photo you’d like to use, that works too.

• Height
• Build (stocky, thin)
• Hair color, style, length
• Eye color, shape
• Scars, tattoos, etc.
• Teeth (white, missing, etc.)

You should also make notes of any mannerisms that your characters have. Here are a few examples.

• Blinking
• Fiddling with glasses
• Chewing lower lip
• Hand wringing
• Nail biting
• Adjusting clothes
• Scratching
• Fidgeting
• Foot shaking

I’m sure you can think of a dozen others. The point is, everyone has little mannerisms that you recognize. Think of your best friend. Does she twist her hair when she’s nervous? Does he rap his knuckles when impatient? You can use little quirks like this to make your characters seem more real.

I prefer to let these type of mannerisms develop as I write the rough draft. Then, I may go back during the editing process and work in a few to highlight the emotional state of my characters. I try not to overdo it, or people start twitching and fidgeting all over the place .