tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post8404461332950947193..comments2024-03-16T11:09:05.148-07:00Comments on TalkToYoUniverse: TTYU Retro: When do we need to know what a character looks like?Juliette Wadehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879627074920760712noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-11420441880245252782013-02-12T22:49:18.696-08:002013-02-12T22:49:18.696-08:00When do you describe? When it matters - to the des...When do you describe? When it matters - to the describer. When the describer naturally thinks or speaks along those lines.<br /><br />When there is a physical difference from what the reader might otherwise expect.<br /><br />Maybe when you're going to connect a stereotype that is appearance-based - or its opposite. A fiery red-head - or a red-head so meek you'd think she was trying to put her hair out by the way she pulled her knit cap on.<br /><br />I like the mirror in a specific place: for a narcissistic character. When appearance is a very important part of the character's job description - an actress whose physical beauty is her meal ticket.<br /><br />As for the vaguely Asian character, accuracy of description - details like epicanthic folds, angle of eyes and eyebrows, posture, slightness of stature - all factual details, can preclude using a term such as 'Asian,' especially for an alien.<br /><br />Write 'Asian' in the rough draft - then revise (see your post on metaphors) for a fresh, non-stereotyped description with some attitude.<br /><br />Readers don't know how much fun it is to specifically go out and dance around a description, editing it to get it just right for both the actual description and all the nuances.<br /><br />Wishing you many endorphins. <br />ABEAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6320269312957801390.post-37541194299861417942013-02-12T13:17:33.486-08:002013-02-12T13:17:33.486-08:00Mirror scenes work best, from what I've notice...Mirror scenes work best, from what I've noticed, when they convey more about the personality rather than the actual appearance of the character. Alberich in Exile's Honor stares into a pool of water in the first chapter after a battle with some bandits. It's very introspective and part memory as he tries to analyze what makes him different from his peers as though the difference of personality might show on his face.<br /><br />I have a pseudo mirror snippet in one of my stories, where there's a mirror present, but my character avoids looking at it because she knows what she'll see and doesn't want to. Not only does the avoidance provide insight into her personality, it also leads into a hint about what her upbringing was like.Jaleh Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02467289924719654371noreply@blogger.com