How to describe POV characters?

Most people don't constantly think about their own appearance, which can make first person appearance describing a little awkward. But there are some legitimate times we do think a lot about how we look --usually when we're insecure about our looks or self-critical for some reason, or when we have some strong reason for picturing how we appear to others. Consider:

I felt so self-conscious --the only black person in the room, and the only person under drinking age.

or

Forty is when I started to notice those changes in my body --a bit more padding on my belly, a bit more gray, salted in with the black in my hair.

or

I know they considered me unfeminine. They talked behind my back about my short-cropped red hair, my defiantly unsexy glasses. But I didn't care. I wasn't here to fulfill their fantasies, and the sooner they understood that, the better.

These descriptions do double or triple duty. They give you some visual information, but they also provide hints towards context, relationships and attitudes. That's always the right approach for adding descriptions that aren't going to bring the narrative to a screeching halt.

posted over 5 years ago

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Chris Sunami‭

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Have them be mistaken for a celebrity

He felt a tap on his shoulder. It was the woman who was staring at him before.

"Excuse me, aren't you... No... Has anyone ever told you you look just like..."

Yes, lots of times.

posted over 5 years ago

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Alpha Osto‭

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+1 wetcircuit; my initial thought as well (have other people comment on their appearance). So, something different:

You don't need a mirror for the MC to comment on themselves, particularly with friends. The key here is that if her/his looks matter to the story, there are consequences (and if there are no consequences, the looks don't matter).

And those consequences, in their personality and interactions and thoughts and relationships and even behavior, can reveal the details of their looks. If the character cannot reach something on a high shelf in a grocery store, she's short, she asks a tall guy for help. Vice versa: If you want to tell us Mike is tall, have him pass by a short girl (or grandmother if you want to ensure no romantic interest) that asks him for help reaching something; and he does her a favor.

If you don't tell us anything, we'll presume your MC is average, or above average, since we tend to project our own desires on them. Figure out how the unusual features have impact on their life, or make something up so they do.

e.g. for a female MC with green eyes (her unusual feature):

Karen said, "Guess what? On my shift I saw a little girl with exactly the same green eyes as you! Isn't that weird? Maybe you have a half-sister out there!"

I said, "Well, since they are my Mom's eyes, it would mean she had another baby after me and gave it up. I think I would've have noticed!"

"Oh you're so literal. Maybe you had a baby and didn't notice!"

"Sure, that's it. When I was twelve. I felt really weird one day, must've been then."

e.g. for a female MC that is plain:

"I'm not like you, Karen, if you ask him to dance, he'll be happy. For me, there's a good chance he'll say no thanks, and you know Karen, right? Does she like me?"

"Then tell him I don't, because he's a jerk!"

"That's not exactly the outcome I'd be hoping for."

Karen rolled her eyes. "So if you think Jay is a jerk, why do you like him?"

"He is such a jerk! But remember Mike used to get grabby with Linda, all the time? You know why he quit? Jay pushed him off. And Mike was pissed off, and Jay was like, c'mon pussy! And ever since then, I can't get him out of my head."

Karen frowned. "Well now I like him!"

"Great, you two will be so wonderful together."

Karen laughed. "How about I will like him for you. We have to get him to know you, somehow. Like work on a project together."

I make these examples purposely long to demonstrate a technique; you find a way for the trait to have some consequence, minor or major, but you bury the reveal of the trait in a scene that isn't all about the trait. It comes out in conversation, or personal thoughts, or the reactions of others. It is surrounded with other information. It is conveyed in character. You can do this with multiple scenes for multiple traits (but most people don't have too many unusual traits). The reader will still get it, but you haven't pulled out the "mirror inventory" scene.

posted over 5 years ago

CC BY-SA 4.0

Amadeus‭

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This depends on whether you're using past-tense or present-tense narration: whether the narrator is looking back at things that have already occurred, or describing events as they occur.

If you're using past-tense narration, the narrator can always describe themselves while setting the scene, just as a normal third-person narrator would do. One of my novels uses first-person past-tense narration, and I set up her description of herself like so:

Apart from the [giant robot] in my backyard, my life really wasn't that interesting up until my first battle. But I suppose I should talk a little about it anyway.

She then provides a paragraph of personal information, a brief physical description, then segues straight into the actual storyline.

If you're using present-tense narration, it's going to look a bit odd if the character suddenly pauses the action for a couple of paragraphs to describe themselves. The best approach may be just to drop bits and pieces here and there when they become relevant, either through the narrator themselves or through other characters pointing them out.

posted over 5 years ago

CC BY-SA 4.0

F1Krazy‭

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How does their appearance affect their actions?

I'm short, so I have to get BBQ tongs to reach spices on the highest shelves.

My hair's not naturally this red, so I have to decide on a box of color or schedule out a block of time to get it done at a salon.

Glasses can be dirty (especially after crying) or also protect against impact. They also make it hard for me to look at websites with possible hair/make-up things and be able to envision them on myself.

My pale skin means I strategize before spending a day outside - I always have sunscreen in my bag, but for an all day thing, I hope I can take breaks in indoor hiding spaces?

My skintone also influences clothing choices. Bold/Jewel tones are mostly great, but BLUES make me look like a corpse -- they bring out my blue-undertones in my skin.

posted over 5 years ago

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April Salutes Monica C.‭

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