How to introduce viewpoint character's physical features.

[anhalo]

Hi,

I was just curious on the best way to introduce the physical features of a viewpoint character, when you are trying to limit your third person to what they can see.

Maybe them inspecting a reflection of themselves in a mirror or in water?

Many Thanks!

Anhalo

 

[digs]

There's probably a few sneaky ways to do it. You could have them dressing: "She tucked her red hair under her cap." Or compare them to other people: "Her mother shared her red hair and pale complexion." Or have another character describe them: "'I love your red hair!' the orphan cried." Or, "'I love your hair!' the orphan cried, staring longingly at her red locks."

These are pretty clumsy and basic examples, but you can tailor them to suit your story. Basically, there's lots of ways!

 

[HareBrain]

"Oh, my God!" cried a voice behind him. He turned to see a woman in outlandish clothes, staring at him agog.

"I can't believe you're visiting this dimension too!" She thrust a small notebook at him. "Can I have your autograph?"

"My what?" he said, drawing his sword.

Doubt clouded the woman's features. "You are Sean Bean, aren't you? You look just like him."

 

[Anne Lyle]

Maybe them inspecting a reflection of themselves in a mirror or in water?

I wouldn't recommend it - it was probably clever and original the first time a writer did it, but now it's a hoary old cliché. Which is not to say that your character can't look at themself in a mirror ever - just don't use it to catalogue their features. How often do you look in the mirror and think about the colour of your hair or the shape of your eyes? You're more likely to be thinking about how too many late nights have left dark circles under your eyes, or wondering if it's time you had another hair cut - either of which could be great opportunities for characterisation, btw.

In fact, unless it's pertinent to the story, most readers don't care what colour a character's hair or eyes are. For example I specify that my hero is quite dark for an Englishman, because this was unfashionable in Elizabethan England (dark hair and olive skin being associated with enemy nations like Spain), and helps to explain why others treat him with suspicion. On the other hand the main reason you know one of the other PoV characters' colouring is that he is present in scenes from the two others' PoV, so I am able to describe him the way I would any other character.

If you do have a good reason to describe your protagonist, there are a number of ways, most of which digs covered. They mostly fall into:

1. Slip it unobtrusively into the narrative or dialogue.

or

2. Have the character think about their appearance for a specific reason. In my forthcoming book I have a teenage girl disguised as a boy, and her first scene involves a conversation with another character (an actor) in which she's worrying about her disguise being seen through:

‘A pity,’ he said. ‘You have the fairness of complexion for women’s roles, even at your age.’

That was true enough. Though not as fair as Parrish, she had long been able to rely on her pale colouring to explain her lack of a beard.

 

[Susan Boulton]

it's a hoary old cliché.

Yes it is, but it can be used if you twist it a bit. Say, not a straight forward blow, by blow description, but by having something in the character's personal appearance that reflects to the reader his mental state/internal view of himself and his place in his world, either negative or positive. (Does that make sense?)

Or if you need to have a description of a character have another character comment/think on it. I recently did this, as the way one of my POV characters sees another character is very important, it reflects his opinions of others and his surroundings. Also by informing the reader of how this one character looks I can play on the slight confusion and interest it will bring to the reader, as I hint how others see this character. Layers on layers, internal perception vs external looks, use it.

 

[digs]

How often do you look in the mirror and think about the colour of your hair or the shape of your eyes?

I often look in the mirror and think about the colour of my eyes

 

[HareBrain]

Eliza looked in the mirror. Not to see the colour of her hair or the shape of her eyes, for a lifetime of familiarity with her reflection told her that her hair was a fetching shade of marmalade, all five feet of it, and her eyes like ovals of polished clinker. No, she looked in the mirror for the specific and justifiable reason of viewing the progress of the massive zit on the left side of her nose.

 

[Anne Lyle]

Yes it is, but it can be used if you twist it a bit. Say, not a straight forward blow, by blow description, but by having something in the character's personal appearance that reflects to the reader his mental state/internal view of himself and his place in his world, either negative or positive. (Does that make sense?)

That's what I was trying to say, but possibly not so coherently (posting just before I had to get ready to leave for work!)

 

[Grimbear]

Maybe them inspecting a reflection of themselves in a mirror or in water?

Massive cliche in my opinion.

Been done far too many times and mostly badly.

The only real way is to do it in parts like describe the character a bit at a time as opportunity arises. Or - use humor, or make her deformed.

I've read many times were characters go through some inexplicable and inappropriate self-inventory on rising or something. They describe themselves and go on to list their good-points, general character and failings.

Always makes me groan.

Grim

 

[RJM Corbet]

"Oh, my God!" cried a voice behind him. He turned to see a woman in outlandish clothes, staring at him agog.

"I can't believe you're visiting this dimension too!" She thrust a small notebook at him. "Can I have your autograph?"

"My what?" he said, drawing his sword.

Doubt clouded the woman's features. "You are Sean Bean, aren't you? You look just like him."

OHMG the cliches. Please someone, feed him maltesers ...

 

[Colbey Frost]

Maybe vanity could be a part of the characters flaws. This would make it easier for you to add what you want but it will also give more depth.

Also, what men and women see in the mirror is different...

 

[digs]

I have to say that, no matter how many times the mirror thing has been done, if someone did it seamlessly I probably wouldn't care or even notice. Skilful writing can excuse a lot of things.

 

[Anne Lyle]

I have to say that, no matter how many times the mirror thing has been done, if someone did it seamlessly I probably wouldn't care or even notice. Skilful writing can excuse a lot of things.

But if you have to ask how to do it, you probably aren't up to that skill level yet.

 

[Susan Boulton]

That's what I was trying to say, but possibly not so coherently (posting just before I had to get ready to leave for work!)

Apologies, I was using your post to address the OP, not you, as I know you know, if you get my meaning.

 

[anhalo]

A lot of interesting ideas here =)

Thanks!

 

[Anne Lyle]

Apologies, I was using your post to address the OP, not you, as I know you know, if you get my meaning.

I realise that. It was meant as a compliment

 

[Boneman]

Do you definitely need it? In detail? The description, that is. It was only when I read this thread that I realised I've finished a 1st draft of 141,000 words, and because it's written in the first person, the only physical descriptions I've given are that the hero is sixteen years old and 'I was reckoned to be strong for my age, but....etc etc'. And that he grows his hair and his girlfriend shaves him once...

After reading this thread, I asked my three beta readers for a description of said hero. It was very imlluminating, as a) they were all different and b) they had his physical description firmly fixed. There are some elements that can be left up to the reader.

Patrick Rothfuss (oh the shamless name-dropping!) told me that there are quite a few clues we can give to distinguish a character visually: names, speech pattern, physical characteristic, mannerism, a limp, etc as long as they're not all overdone, which becomes boring... When he was discussing the Chronicles of Amber with a friend, they had a lengthy discussion about a character's physical appearence, because both had entirely different pictures in their minds. Pat said he had created a picture on his mind of the way he wanted him to look, which was nothing to do with how essentially he was described physically in the book.

So even if you do describe the character, many people form their own picture from other clues. I think we all do this, don't we?

Roger Zelazny never used more than 2 or 3 details, that gave a big impression, because readers ignore description.

So I'd say don't try too hard, your readers will all come up with different pictures anyway. Just a few clues, and they'll picture him in their own way...

 

[RJM Corbet]

... So I'd say don't try too hard, your readers will all come up with different pictures anyway. Just a few clues, and they'll picture him in their own way...

Spot on. One needs clues but long descriptions of physical appearance are usually boring and amateurish and a sign of what is yet to come ...

 

[STING]

Spot on. One needs clues but long descriptions of physical appearance are usually boring and amateurish and a sign of what is yet to come ...

Except perhaps in comic stories? Where description of a character's body or part of a body adds to the comic stuff? Not long descriptions, of course. But more than just clues.

 

[RJM Corbet]

Except perhaps in comic stories? Where description of a character's body or part of a body adds to the comic stuff? Not long descriptions, of course. But more than just clues.

Yes. But you know even Sheakespeare in the written plays allows the characters to define themselves, or another character will make a comment:

'Yon Cassius has a lean and hungry look, such men are dangerous' -- tells us everything, in just 12 words.